Some of you have asked how our little ones spent Christmas-day, and
I am very glad to tell you of their happiness. When Christmas-eve
came, they were in great excitement, wondering whether Santa Claus
found the letters that they had put in the chimney, and whether
each one would get what he or she had asked for. As bed-time drew
near, we noticed on the part of those who had been up a remarkable
desire to get to bed, and, when there, some very unsuccessful
attempts at getting to sleep. Seven o'clock found them all quiet,
and stockings fastened at the foot of each crib.
By five o'clock the next morning the girls were sitting up in their
beds, with the contents of their stockings before them. Now you
want to know what they found in those stockings. First, Santa Claus
had put in a big orange, then a cornucopia of candy, and then--he
had really brought them what they asked for in their letter; if it
were too large to go in their stocking, he had put it on the foot
of their bed, and on the top of all was a horn. At six they sang
their carols. After breakfast all hastened to obtain their horns,
and for a while there was a great deal of noise; several had never
had a horn before, but they needed no instruction as to how to use
it. Between their toys and "playing party" with their candy and
oranges, the morning passed quickly away. In the afternoon they had
a happy hour with their fathers and friends, telling them of all
that Santa Claus had brought, and when bed-time came they were very
tired little heads that rested once more on their pillows, and with
the oft-repeated wish that "Santa Claus would come again to-night,"
they were soon fast asleep.
But there was still another treat in store for them. The Christmas
tree was on the following Thursday; and a very happy group
assembled on that day, not in the ward which you heard about in the
last letter, but in the reception-rooms, which are as large as the
ward, and could accommodate all the patients. It would take too
long to enumerate all that wonderful tree had upon it, so I must
leave you to picture it for yourselves, for without doubt you have
all seen just such a one, and had some of the pretty things from
its branches. It will be enough to tell you that the boys were made
happy by soldier caps, guns, and swords, so that with the drum
Santa Claus brought they can have a grand parade. And the girls
have plenty of dolls to nurse and care for, for although apparently
quite rosy and healthy when they came off the tree, yet the very
next morning I heard that they were suffering from various
diseases, so that the bed, which also was on the tree, was
constantly being remade for a new patient as soon as one was
pronounced "well enough to sit up." And frequent doses of medicine
and pills were administered; these last were the tiniest little
round candies, and after many attempts at persuading her child to
swallow, the mother would often take one herself to show how easily
it was done. While some nurse, the older ones, who have work-boxes,
make garments for their tiny patients. Thus the happiness brought
by their Christmas gifts will linger with these little ones for
many a day, cheering and shortening their weary hours of suffering.