Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-07-06
Extract from the First Annual Report Q
Syracuse Home Association.


A young widow with sick and only child, Ns
visited She came from Canada where her hush (
died, and had been for the last three months occpl
ing a perhaps eight feet by ten-witboat e.
futnitureslscpine with her SICK child tnon at -
the floor, and subssting on food obtained by va
cling from door TO door She had paid rent, unit the
few shngs she had brought were gone, ANTHEM
was indebted for several weeks rent.
Another widow with seven children was report
ed She had Just recovered from fit of Sickness,
during which she was turned into the street, bu found
temporary shelter in occupied by anothS fam
lily. lady who had previously known and eAploy-
her in plain sewing, circulated subscription hper,
and obtained the means for building shantee, mich
has been her home the past winter Places we're
found for of her daughters, and their wages 1--we,
in part supported the family. Clothing and bedflo-
thing was given them, and the children who werdod
enough went to school,
Another widow with five children wasvsied.
She owned the small house which she occupied ,bnd
managed, though in feeble health, to maintainlh her
family without asking relief from the county. Her
children attended day school, but they needed bitter
and warmer cloihng~to enable them TO go TO chirch
and to Sabbath school and they now enjoy this iv-
ege. Another widow with four children was Nth
out bedstead, table, comfortable bed, bedding or
clothing Indeed the idea of comfort seemed fohign
to her abode. Such articles of bedding and clothing
as the required, were bestowed.
One woman visited whose husband had gone
into the country TO look for work. she had seven chit
dren, poorly clad, and without stockings or shoes, an
at the time, no provisions in the house but pan Of
meal, which she converting into porrigde. An
other with three children, one of whom sick,
visited Her neat shantee, bed and scany wardrobe
betokened care and industry. Two children were a
school. Both families were aided.
One visitor reported family in extreme distress
1t consisted of the parents and eight children. The
father was in the last stages of consumption, stretch
ed on door which rested on a chair, and was cover
ed with heap of rags. Over his wasted form werC
spread some forlorn quilts. On the floor behind thu
dooress and smoking stove, developed in an old com
Portable, lay a sleeping child with its toll worn mo
Their in a slumber profound that she needed no
what was passing. On enquiry we were INFORMED
that after night of sleepless watching, she had gon
to washing, and returning with violent headache
! had thrown herself down to rest. In the minglnl
twilight and freight, and with feelings not to be dc
scrbcd the visitors survey the miserable apartment
! from which fellow being was about to pass into e
ternity. 1t a of squaid poverty, of almos
unmgated wretchedness The sick man replied il
in low husky voice to few questions His respi
ration difficult, and he was evidently near death
He fingered about week. The youngest child sur
vived the father but short time
The case reported of woman whose HUSBAND
in tle ponitenary Tor lntenpeiance, leavlhg :
her, though sick and deformed with the rheumatism
the of six children They were in extreme want
A poor who needed the care and comforts suit
ed to an invalid, wakeda long distance to make know
her necessities to of the managers The entir'
family, six in number, slept the floor with scant,
covering and their destitution of other comforts
nJa1