Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-02-19
Tho Poor wnoxs IN New York.

Incur last issue we had q paragraph refer
inc to the lberality Of Mr.. D sshler, formerly
citizen of this State, in giving fifty bar
rels of flour to as many poor American
widows of the city Of New York. We
were not aware at the time that to that act
is to be attributed the formation OF the
Willows r lief Association of that city !;
\ b,t such il seems is the fact. The Tribune
gives several touching cases related at the
meeting to which the act gave rice, of the
hard struggles with poverty which many
poor widow in that great city is called upon
| to endure
! Among many other very interesting cases
| mentioned, was that OF a widow oil u master
| mechanic, who had never known the want
of any luxury in heryoung days-Who lived
with her'husband in the most respectable
and comfortable circumstances, with the
will aud ability to help others, but who ny
the long sickness and death OF her husband,
/ four years ago, was left with nothing but
erwel furnished house to support herself
AMI two lovely children. Much OF the per-
sonal property had to be sold TO pay off liz
tie debts, doctors bill, funeral expenses and
| rents; since which, by the most untiring in
dus,ry, she has been able to keep one room
i looking neat and comfortable, and her chill
!! dren we'll clothed and at school, and hide
! from her acquaintances the fact that she OIL
! ten suffered for want of little necessaries,
! but never asked charity or credit, until last
| fall her health gave away, and lately she
4 has been unable to get work for her needle
/ which, heretofore, has taken the highest
premiums year after at the fans; and finally
s.e was obliged to ask credit for fifty pounds
I Of flour: which" said she TO the VISITOR
+. almost gone, and God only knows where the
next is to come FROM ! cannot ask to be
/. trusted again. cannot ask chafty-l have
no relatives that can apply to- cannot
| make known my pressing necessities TO
! those who knew and associated with me IN
DAYS oil prosperity. still hope to get work
/ and then | can live independent and not
! h umbe my children to the level oitteggars.
/ | have always trusted in God and never re-
pinned | do trust in Hin still; feel comb
| dent that my trust is a reliable one.' 50
we trust that it will prove. This day she is
giving thanks to God over bread baked from
t a portion OF that flour, and " hen that Is gone
she must have more. Such woman and
such children must not be reduced to beg
gary.
| Another very modest, delicate young wo-
| man. six months u widow, with two lovely
children. one an infant, and u feeble mother
also a widow, living in well fu' nished rot ms
| as neat as the bes, in the city has no means
I of support exeep, the little that she can earn
with her needle, Her husband was piano
maker--alwuys lived well, and was always
careful OF his feeble wife, but could not lay
up an, thing for her support after he was ta-
| ken away. A trihing assistance will help
that woman to live without degrading "thas
pride so natural to an American"
There is another very interesting cas-, OF
which the visitor remarks-"and thereby
hangs tale" 1t is tale OF truth that
beats romance. II is a tale OF widow OF
man once worth hundred thousand collars
Ia lady who has moved in the best socle-
ty, reduced 10 the necessity OF working day
and night copyst, when she can get
work to do, and who, with her four nice
children. the Oldest of which is sick'y, has
suffered the pains OF cold and hunger this
winter, because she could not, would rot
beg, or eat bread ,hat she did not earn, if she
had labor for her hands 1t 10 almost need
less 10 say that il there had been a"prohbi-
tory law" in her husbands days his wife and
children would not nov be in want.
Another widow OF q respectable clergy
man walked with worn-out shoes from Hnr-
lem because too poor TO ride, to ask lady
friend IN the city to apply Tor portion OF
that -four to avoid exposing herself and her
poverty 10 strangers.
Another, who the visitor says rs young
and interesting with two sweet children, one
two years and one four months old: was the
wife Of clerk, and always lived well till his
death three months ago. She can make
/ dresses, but cannot get work. Her rent 10
paid for the present, but she Will be Obliged
to sell her furniture to get food"
Another woman g years old, born IN
Wall street, husband dead eight years-ha'
four chldren-neyer knew pinching want
till this winter, when her eyes have failed
and all her four children are out OF work ex-
ccpt one, who - employed two days IN a
week in folding newspapers, which Just pays
the rent, leaving the little work that the
Others can get to do to furnish food, which
consists principally of corn meal The old
/ lady is nearly barefooted, and cannot get q
| pair OF shoes.
Eightv.seyeu similar cases are recorded,
which have been visited, besides numerous
applications, which do and some which do
not come within the scope OF the requ'si-
ZION nj the Hour Donation