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Photographic

Sdences

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I
I

CHRISTMAS

IN THE

Hospital for. Sick CfiiLDREU,

St ■ ■. V

TORONTO.

./;.l

A Letter to the Well Children of Canada, who helped
to make Christmas a happy time for their

little Sick Friends

♦ ♦

TORONTO:
xiART & COMPANY, 31 & 33 KING STTIEET WEST.

1888.

» ♦ »-

TDRDNTD, Xmas, 1687.

** Twas the night before Christ-

EAR CHILDREN

mas " — no ! 'twas the day before Christmas, and the
door-bell had gone mad ; usually a well-behaved bell,
seldom ringing in the morning, while the nurses were busy
with their little folks, or the maids with their work, but
this day it considered no one, but kept on ringing hardly
allowing time for the maid to reach the first room, where
there was a table, and empty her arms of the parcels handed

in at the door^

What made all this commotion i It was the loving hearts
of the well children of our city, and all over the Province,
sending their gifts to-the little sick ones, who are unable to
<yo out themselves or even see a toy save that sent into them.
Gift after gift came pouring in from so many kind hearts
till our matron's sitting-room looked like a very disorderly
toy shop, v/ith a large department devoted to fruit and con-
fectionery.

It was one woman's work, and she kept very busy, to open
the door and take in the parcels, some coming long distances
by expresSj that our little folks might have them by Christ-
mas day. One package came all the way from Bermuda.
One of our nurses, who was *' off duty " (invalided), sat at a
desk and had her hands and head quite occu})ied making
entries of all that came, and as far as practical, dropping
notes of thanks to the kind donors.

Parents came with little gifts " from home " to be put in
the stockings; something for "under their pillows," and as
each requested, so we did, on the foot of each little cot,
"nurse" tied a borrowed stocking, no child considering its
own large enough for Santa Glaus to fill. The next day,
Monday, the same lady who for the past few years had
given the Christmas dinner, sent it as usual, and for sick
children, it was astonishing what an amount disappeared.

But the day of all da\s in the Children's Hospital is

"TREE DAY,"

held this year on Thursday, the 29th. The tree was planted
in the girls' ward, first because it was the largest, and second,
because the boys were in a better state to be moved tu ^n
than the girls to be moved up. While we were decorating
it the little folks would stretch their necks and exclaim, as
a doll of larger size than usual or more gorgeously apparelled
appeared from the huge basket on the floor and try in vain
to catch a glimpse of tha name attached to the slip. We

hung pretty fairy dolls on the tops and tips of branches,
oranges prettily decorated with gay ribbons on heavier
boughs, strapped dollies to the main stem, put marble bags
and candy boxes in eveiy available spot, nearly overbalanced
ourselves in trying to tie flags on the top that seemed " so
near and yet so far," placed the larger boxes of toys around
the base of the tree, and finally hung a tin toy horse, or
elephant, marked for the doctors, and dishes and dolls for
the ladies of the committee, should any be present.

At a quarter to three the boys came down, most of them
being able to walk with the aid of crutches. Their eyes
grew very large, as they were allowed to walk round and
round the tree, but not to touch or look at any of the names
on the things.

At three sharp all joined in singing, *' Hark! The Herald
Angels Sing." At the last line of the last verse sleigh bells
were heard in the distance coming nearer and nearer, and as
the last notes died away (which they did very suddenly), old
Santa Claus himself came rushing in. He greeted the child-
ren all round, said he could not go to every house on Christ-
mas Day, so had to have *'Their Tree*' on Thursday, 29th, and
was in a great hurry to get oflT to other trees for {Sunday
School children, so all must pa^ attention and answei* to
their names when called.

Miss Cody, our matron, and the writer began at once to cut
down and hand to old Santa, who in turn handed to each

child. At first there was a slight fear over them at coming
so near so I'evered a personage, and all dressed in fur, but as
he could call them by name and ask after their various ills '
with a tender sympathy, they soon began to feel more at
home with the funny old man.

Round and round he ran, first with dolls for the girls,
tlien hoi'ses and reins, with bells attached for the boys, then
candies all round. Next came books and boxes of larorer and
more expensive toys and games. Every child had all he or
she could manage to hold with the assistance of laps as well
as both hands. The children enjoyed it exceedingly when
Santa Claus called out Miss Buchan, the treasurer, and
gave her a doll about three inches long. Next, Mrs. Donald,
the secretary, and presented her with a set of tiny dishes ;
but the fun reached its climax when he took a wooden *
dancing doll from the tree and read off my name. He
stoutly maintained there was no such name on the Hospital
books among the patients, that it was a hospital for sick /
children and there could not be a Mrs. in it. I was on the
top of the ladder at the time and dozens of little fingers were
pointed at me, crying out: "There she is, Santa Claus!
there she is ! " After searching every cot, he found me at
last and looking me carefully over, told me he thought I was
well enough to be ciismissed, therefore he would not provide ^
for me next Christmas.

After all was over, and Santa Claus had gone away, the

girls were told to invite the boy a to have tea in their ward.
Tables were brought in and set for them, and a happier lot
of children could not be found.

Can you imagine the scene! All around the room were
ranged the green cots, each holding a little child, some sit-
ting up, some too ill for that, even on " Tree Day."

In the centre of the room, the tree, robbed of all its glory
save a few flags at the top, then three tables where the boys
were seated. Against the wall were stacked, like rifles, a
group of crutches of various sizes, telling how few of those
happy fellows could move without their aid. Attention !
All eyes closed, all heads bowed that could bow, hands were
placed together, and boys and girls bound together by the
sad heritage of suffering, united their voices in the hymn : —

Be present at our table, Lord ;
Be here and everywhere adored ;
These mercies bless, and grant that we
May feast in Paradise with Thee.

And then at once began their meal. How we wished thaf
you all could have seen them. Some of the smaller boys
hardly dare trust their treasures out of their own keeping
even while they ate their meal, but the extra dainties pro-
vided for so extra an occasion prevailed, and hearty justice
was done. Once more eves closed, hands as well as voices
were uplifted in their song of Thanksgiving, —
We thank Thee, Lord, for this our food.

■^:

The bovs remained " to visit " a little while, till the dishes
were cleared away. Then '* Good nights " were exchanged,
and they returned to their wai'ds upstaii-s very tired, but
very, vei*y happy.

The usual routine of preparing the little folks and their
sores for the night was attended to, and the day containing
HO much excitement as well as joy for the sick little folks,
came to an end, and when night nurse came on duty at seven,
the greater number were fast asleep, each holding one or
more of the treasures gleaned that day from the tree.

May the same Saviour who took the little ones in his
arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them, pour his
best blessing on every little child who sent one gift, however
small, to the suffering flock in the Toronto Hospital for Sick
Children.

Believe me ever the friend of all children.

L. Mc Master,

PreMdent Hospital for Sick Children,