CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE WAR
pending upon voluntary contributions. Nor was the work confined to the regulation garments. Each committee used its ingenuity in supplying the unexpected. One, for instance, made some rag dolls, “pretty enough to bring a ray of joy to the heart of the most saddened child,” for the little ones in France and Belgium, and received in return the following letter:
“To the Secretary of the Comforts Forwarding Committee: Thank you so much for the darling rag dolls; they will bring joy to many little French kiddies on Christmas morning, when they will know that the good American Santa Claus sent his message of love.
“Tell all of your workers that they are doing an immense amount of good by making these toys for the children of stricken France. We must not forget that it is as important to support the morale of the civilians and the soldiers, as to care for their physical needs. The little children must have toys, as the soldiers must have letters, to soothe a present pain, and to reveal a future of hope.
“We must, in so far as it is possible, dispel from the minds of the children of France, the horror and suffering of this war, for France's great hope lies in her little ones.
“On behalf of our Committee, and on behalf of the children of France, I thank you and all who have so generously helped in the making of this precious gift.
“I am, very truly yours,”
(Signed by the Secretary, American Fund for French Wounded.)
One Committee gave to a base hospital unit, leaving for Italy, thirty beautiful rag rugs for their own use, besides supplying each of the two hundred men with a good pocket knife, in a leather case, each bearing the name of the Committee in gold.
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