The article transcribed below appeared in the Merthyr Times 125 years ago today…
FEEDING THE HUNGRY
A CHRISTMAS APPEAL
The Christmas breakfast to the children attending the Abermorlais Undenominational Ragged School is one of the recognised annual events of Merthyr. This school, as our readers are aware, has been in existence for about seventeen years, and is undoubtedly doing excellent work among the poorer classes of Merthyr children. From four to five hundred little ones from the slums and rookeries of the town attend the school every Sunday afternoon, and the principles of religion are instilled into their young minds by a band of zealous and enthusiastic teachers. The attendance has recently increased, a fact which speaks very highly of the energy and devotion with which the school is conducted.
On Christmas morning it is proposed to give a free breakfast to 500 children at Abermorlais. This, of course, will entail a heavy expenditure, and the friends in charge of the school very respectfully appeal to the public for their generous assistance. Gifts in money or in kind will be gratefully received. The breakfast will consist of tea and coffee, cake, bread and butter, etc. This over, there will be a short service of hymns and recitations, after which fruits and toys will be distributed to the children. It will thus be seen that the requirements of the organisers are many and varied. They want tea and coffee, cake, bread, butter, fruits, and toys. We feel sure their appeal for these things will not be in vain. Those for whom it is not convenient to send gifts in kind will be at liberty to forward money, and the more the merrier. Clothing of any and every description will also he accepted and distributed to the children.
On Sunday evening next, at the Temperance Hall Mission Service, the Abermorlais children will take the musical portion of the proceedings. Here is an opportunity for the Merthyr people to have a look at these children, and see and hear what they are taught to do at the Ragged School. It will give them some idea of the splendid work carried on at Abermorlais Sunday after Sunday all the year round.
In thus appealing to the public for support, it is needless to plead the worthiness of the cause. All will readily admit that it as excellent thing to render Christmas a bright and cheerful day for these little children, whose lives know scarcely aught but grinding poverty, misery, and destitution. The Abermorlais breakfast will be to them an event to be eagerly looked forward to; perhaps it will be the only cheerful breakfast they have had for months; many of the children, without it, would very likely have to spend a breakfastless Christmas Day. To make one day of their little lives happy and pleasant is surely an act of kindness, and the public will doubtless show their sympathy in a practical manner.
All gifts and subscriptions to be forwarded to Mr. John Morgan, Waterloo Chambers, or Mr. W. Williams, Grosvenor Temperance Hotel.
Merthyr Times – 19 December 1895
