Christmas in a Children's Ward

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume IV, Issue 4, 1 October 1911, Page 176

Christmas in a Children's Ward

Christmas is coming ! ! And long before the day arrives small people are anticipating the delights to come. There is much speculating as to what Johnnie and Mary will have from Father Christmas. Well, the time comes and a suitable tree is procured and set Tip, the proceedings being watched with much excitement. The dressing of the treejjproceeds : a Father Christmas is perched on top, and all sorts of good things are hung round, many helpers making light work of it, and then the tree is finished, and everything is ticketed and numbered. Everyone is remembered, and little boys and girls who left before Christmas are invited to come and share the fun, as the more the merrier.

Evening arrives, all the children are dressed m white or blue, and with ribbons for the girls to match, and ties for the boys. All the nurses who can be spared, and also friends and doctors as well. Everyone who comes gets a ticket — -just draws it from a box — and all the patients, those there and those who cannot come, the nurse m the ward taking theirs. Then the fun begins. First there is a dance by the nurses, then the matron calls out a number from the tree, sisters and others cutting them off. Everyone looks round to see who has 21, one hears someone near, all look round and there is a general laugh, and up comes a man for a cradle, and to a general chorus of remarks he sidles into his seat and presents it to a child. This goes on till all the tickets are used. Perhaps the doctor gets a most

absurd thing (generally a put-up thing, who knows), for it is the chance to have a laugh. The article is dangled up for all to see, and up he comes laughing as well as. the others ; and it is kept,' as. a^ni<£nieuto. . There were charades acted m full costume, and great, fun they were,, taking the name of the ward. The last scene was very realistic, and represented an accident, m which an injured limb had to be removed.. A doctor was m evidence, and so were many kitchen utensils : as meat saws, knives, steel, strainer, etc. There was much fun guessing the meaning of ft. Then followed supper for patients and friends, and such chattering and compaiing ! And then clearing up and putting everything away, and many little heads to be patted and soothed .to. sleep. And then the real Father Christmas to come and he or she was a real one, dressed up, m red' gown anel. cap, and. flowing beard, with all the parcels m a big basket, with just what each one^ wanted ; and it is funny how Father Christmas alwa}^s knows. The lights w r ere lowered, stockings hung, and m most cases accompanied by a pillow-case. Then Father came down the chimney and crept round and remembered all, and the real Santa Claus was there to see that each had what was theirs. Then all was quiet till morning, when there was such fun -undoing the- parcels ; then showing all to friends and nurses who came round, and a bare tree standing there to remind one of what had been. And if anyone feels dull let' them come and -spend Christmas m a children's ward m a hospital. Grown-up patients are not forgotten, anel we all agree that it is one of the best times of our lives. The dinner is something to be remembered ! One poor woman was heard to say that " every Christmas she worked hard to give the chilelren a good time, but never was remembered herself." But she was quite overwhelmed with all. the kindness anel good things she got, and just what she wanted. Santa Claus has a way of finding out what is the desire, and tries to gratify it. Then with carol singing, hymns, and greetings, passes away one of the oldest traditions of centuries. Each year reminding us of One who never forgets. "A Subscriber."