Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-06-02
Mlislellaneous.
THE LITTLE SISTERS.

Almsgiyiug takes the place of the work
| house system, in the economy of a large part
Of Europe. The giving Of aims to the help
less IS, moreover in Catholic couatries. a re-
ligious office The voluntary surrender Of
gifts each according to his ability, as a means
Of grace, is more prominently insisted upon
than among Pedestrians consequently sys-
teinatie taxation for the poor is net resorted
to- No. is there so great a necessity for it
as in England for few nations have so many
paupers TO provide for as the English are &C
cistomed to regard as "a natural clement in
society; and thus it happens, that when. about
ten years ago, there was in France no asy-
lam but the hospital. for aged and ailing poor,
the want Of Institutions for the in6rm but
healthy was not SO severe as TO attract the
public eye
But there was at that time poor servant :
woman, native Of tie village Of La Croix, in
Brittany Jeanne Sugon was her uame-who
was moved BY the gentleness Of her heart, and
the iervor Of her religion, to pity certain in
firm and destitute neighbor to take her to
her side as . eompaEion, aud to devote herself
to her support. Other inhrm people earned.
" eHti utilttooitSss Nldiht Jil lct dttcitlttH.
She went about begging, when she could not
work, that she might preserve life as long as
nature would graut it to her in6rm charges
Her example spread desire tor the perform
ance ot smilar good Offices Two pious wo-
men. her i.eighbors, united with Jeanne in
her piuus ofliee. These women cherished as
they were able, aged and intrm paupers
nursed them IN a little house. and begged for
them in the vicinity. The three women, who
had so devoted themselves, attracted at;en-
ton, and were presently received Into the Or
der Of Sisters of Charity, in which they took
for themselves the name OF Little Sisters oil
the Poor - ELITES seURs DIES pAuYREs.
I The first house of tie Little listers of the
4 Poor was opened at 1T Scrvan, in Brittany
\ healthy flower scatters seeds around We
saw that forcibly illustrated. ia the progress.
/ from an origin equally humble, of the Rauhe
( uaus. near llambureh we see it now again,
4 in the efforts of tie Little Sisters, which
( f urisbed and iructilied with prompt useful
ness. On the tenth anniversary of the es-
Establishment ut st. Seryan, ten similar houses
had been founded in ten different French
towns.
) NC Il tAtttS toUSHfN iiNt WIFI tHtlT CuuIgGS
in the most frugal way, upon the scraps and
waste meat which they can collect from the
surrounding houses. The voluntary contri-
buttons by winch they support their instiiu-
tons are truly the crumbs falling from the
rich mans table. The nurse fares no better
than the objects Of her care. She lives upon
I equal terms with Lazarus, and acts towards
bin IN the spirit OF a younger sister.
The establishment at Dinan over which
Jeanne Sugou herself presdcs. being under
repair, and not quite TT for the reception OF
visitors, We will go over the Sisters house at
Paris, which is conducted ON exactly the same
plan.
We are ushered into small parlor, scauti-
ly furnished, with some Scripture prints upon
the walls. A sister enters to us with such a
bright look of cheerlulness as faces wear when
hearts beneath them feel that they are beat :
ing to some purpose in the world She ac-
cedes gladly to our desire. aud at ouee leads
US into another room of larger si1e, in which
4 twenty or thirty old women are at this mo-
ment finishing theIr dinner; it being Friday,
Z rice stands on the table in place OF meat -
4 he sister moves and speaks with the gentle.
T in, or are near to the state Of second child
/ hood You see an old dame fumbling eager.
4 y over her snuff box lid. The poor creatures
are not denied luxuries; for, whatever they
eau earn by their spinning is their own money,
aud they buy with it any indalgences they
please; among which nothing is SO highly
priced or eagerly coveted as pinch Of snuff
Ia the dprmtores on tile first floor, some
lie bed ridden Genter still, if possible is
now the Sisters voice. The rooms through
cut the house are airy, with large windows,
and those inhabited by the Sisters are distin
guished from the rest by no mark Of indul-
gence or superiority.
We descend now iuto the old mems depart
ment; and enter warm room. with stove
in the centre. One old fellow has his feet
upon little foot warmer and thinly pipes
out, that he is very comfortable now for lie
is always warm The chills Of age and tie
chls Of the cold pavement remain together
IN his memory but he is very comfortable
now very comfortable Another decrepit
man. with white hair aud bowed back who
may bave been proud in his youth, Of rich
voice for love. song, talks of music to the SIS
ter, audi on heing asked to sing. bluzcs out
with Joyous gestures, aud strikes up a song
Of Beranger's ia a cracked. shaggy voice.
witch sometimes like liver given 90 alw
underground lost entirely, and then bub-
bles up sgain, quite thick with mud