THE QUIVER SANTA CLAUS.
The children's festival—as the Christmas season is rightly called—is already within the horizon of preparation. A few weeks more, and our young people will be enjoying the delights of Yule-tide, not the least of which is the perennial Christmas Stocking. Most of us remember the eager—almost feverish—anticipation with which we tied up our little stocking at the head of our small bed, in the full faith that the mysterious but kindly visitant of Christmas Eve would cram into it all sorts of lovely things; and how when morning dawned, our first thought was to reach it down to our pillow and explore its wonderful recesses. But there are thousands of little children to whom these raptures are unknown. They do not appear to have been put upon Santa Claus's visiting list; and it seems hard that this venerable gentleman should pass them over. These poor and friendless little ones, to be found in every town and in many of our villages, want a kind-hearted neighbour who will mention their names and addresses to that genial but omniscient saint, and then, presto! there's joy for a forlorn little chap or maiden "on Christmas Day in the morning." We therefore earnestly invite all fathers and mothers, and uncles and aunts, and all who love to see the children glad on the Saviour's birthday, to co-operate with us in providing Christmas stockings for those forlorn youngsters, into whose life scarcely a ray of brightness ever enters. Not much is needed to give them this boon by way of the Christmas stocking. A few wholesome goodies and a simple toy will amply suffice to supply them with a fund of innocent excitement and enjoyment. A sum of one shilling will furnish a stocking and pay the postage, when combined in a large contract. We have the happiness to announce that the proprietors of The Quiver have kindly consented to head our subscription list with a sum sufficient to provide the contents of
FIVE HUNDRED CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS FOR POOR
AND FRIENDLESS CHILDREN.
This is a good start, but this number will be quite inadequate to the innumerable demands which are sure to be made upon us. We therefore earnestly ask for further contributions from all child-lovers who would sorely regret to see any tiny mite left disappointed on Christmas Day.
We shall also be glad to receive recommendations from our readers (as before in the case of our Christmas Hamper Fund) of suitable cases for the supply of stockings. The special forms for this purpose will be supplied in our Extra Christmas Number, and if filled up in accordance with the directions there given will be dealt with in the order in which they reach the Editor, as far as the funds will permit. All contributions to the Christmas Stocking Fund should be sent to the Editor of The Quiver, La Belle Sauvage, London, E.C., and all amounts of one shilling and upwards will be thankfully acknowledged in our pages.
Special Presentation Plate.
A separate large-size reproduction, printed in colours, of Mr. W. Holman Hunt's great picture, "The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple," is presented with this part; and, should there be any difficulty in obtaining it, our readers are requested to communicate at once with the publishers, giving the name and address of the bookseller or other agent from whom they purchased the number.