Dr. Nelaton is a famous minister in Dublin, and every year he, with
other good people, gets up this great feast for the children.
About eight hundred of them came last year. Some of these were only
half-clad, and all were very ragged. They were seated at long, narrow
tables, which were covered with a white cloth, The children from the
ragged schools wore aprons in bright colors, to hide their rags. Each
school had a color of its own. These aprons were only lent them for
the day, and the children felt very fine in them. But there were two
long rows without any aprons. These were little ones who had been
picked up along the streets. Each ragged scholar had permission to
bring all the children he could find. And, oh, how ragged and dirty
these two rows were!
But they brightened up, just like the children with aprons, when they
saw the feast. A huge mug of steaming tea and an immense bun to each
child! Rarely did they have such a treat as this. And how they did
eat! Each child had all he wanted. It would have done you good to see
their poor, pinched faces beam with delight.
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