Come celebrate the indomitable spirit of little people. Facing poverty, war, personal tragedy, they rise above adversity, embracing the smallest delights in life.
Austrian boy receives new shoes during WWII
How could parents make sure that their children were getting sunlight and fresh air when living in apartment buildings? The baby cage, ca. 1937
Little girl comforting her doll in the ruins of her bomb damaged home, London , 1940
ca. 1927
.Animals being used as a part of medical therapy in 1956
Santa Claus in New York, ca. 1900
Artificial legs, United Kingdom , ca. 1890 
Operation Baby lift: Vietnamese orphans transported by
airplanes to America in 1975
mother of nine9 
That is why children are our future. Beautiful
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so much hope then for the future
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Those are amazing pictures, Melanie. Thank you for sharing a part of the past with us. I had no idea they had artificial legs in 1890. The outdoors baby cage, interesting! Just love the little boy’s smile, with the new shoes and the little girl and her doll after a bombing. Someone was there to photograph those moments, most of those photographers may be gone, but their sentiments still live on for us.
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P.S. I wonder if the little boy with the shoes was smiling so big because his other shoes were too tight!
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Each one of these pictures is so thought provoking…
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They are all great story prompts
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The animal therapy picture brought back pleasant memories for me.
In 1976, as a junior at Texas A&M University, I was a pledge of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. I had this bright idea to take pets to what was then called a “nursing home” to brighten the day of the elderly people living there. People thought I was nuts. “They’ll never let dogs into a nursing home!” Well, they did. Not only dogs, but cats, birds, snakes, lizards, any kind of pet. One of our members even brought a gallon container with some angel fish in it.
You should have seen the smiles on the faces of those “old people.” They were the happiest people on Earth that day, and the pets were having a pretty good time, too, especially those dogs.
I made it a monthly service project, and I’m proud to say that 36 years later my chapter still visits what is now called an “assisted living home” with their pets. It’s one of the larger service projects the chapter has each month.
Sadly, most assisted living homes won’t allow pets, wrongly I believe because they bring in germs. I think the world is too germophobic. Our immune systems need germs to help create antibodies for the more dastardly diseases.
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beautiful, I am still grinning and can’t stop.
A friend of mine dresses her jack Russell in seasonal coustumes, everything from an easter bonnet, pumpkin suit and reindeer antlers. he pulls a little cart filled with treats at a retirement home. Everyone lights up!(of all breeds to bring!)
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It’s hard to choose a favourite, Melanie. It’s wonderful how adaptable children can be.
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agreed
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