  DO you know where it came from? Far down in Maine, four little girls, Lottie, Sibbie, Minnie and May, looked into each other's eyes one day, and with hearts full of love for the suffering little children who could not run and play as they did, they resolved to give up some of their time each day to preparing a box for a children's hospital. The box was some happy weeks in growing. Dollies after being dressed by patient little fingers, hopped into it gladly as if to say, "Just think of me going to comfort a little sick child. I am so glad to go." Cunning little wooden barrels and boxes that were manufactured in that Maine village, rolled and tumbled in too; toys that looked as if then their whole mission in life were to amuse hospital children, tucked themselves into all the nooks and corners until I can whisper to you all, dear members of the Pansy Society, there wasn't a bit of room left. Oh, what a rich box! The dear little girls, those four members of the Pansy Society who believed in making others happy for Jesus' sake, put the precious box on the cars all nicely addressed to Boston. It travelled and travelled till it came to my hands; and then it took a wee journey to the hospital where it was opened by the good head nurse, who is superintendent of the wards. I can do no better than to give you her words in the letter she stopped in her busy life to write me concerning its arrival. She speaks of the reception of the box, "that your little friends from Maine so kindly and lovingly put up for the sick children, and can I trouble you with one message of 'thank you'? Our hands are full, and all playthings are appreciated. One of the dolls has fallen to a little girl who has recently been through a very serious operation. She clings to it night and day, and as she is too sick to have the out-of-bed children play with or about her bed, dollie is quite sure to be long-lived." Only think of the blessed mission of that one doll! That the suffering child away from its mother can "cling to it day and night." O, children, is there any sacrifice too great to be made to have the blessed privilege of comforting Christ's little ones, and helping them bear their sufferings! Dear Minnie, Lottie, Sibbie and May, your "box-full of happiness" will never cease growing. It has made the little hospital children happy, and your own hearts warm and tender with the love that is like unto Christ's. May this New Year bring to you and to all the members of the Pansy Society many sweet, loving thoughts and desires toward making others happy. This is the best wish of my heart for you. Margaret Sidney. P. S. Will the four little Maine girls please send me their address? The old one has been lost, and I want to write them a letter. double line decoration |
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