Kenosha tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1855, 1855-02-15
From the N. Y. Tribune.
To the Hearth-Stones of America.

firesides, we appeal-to the country as wei
as the town,
: We are astonished at the development,
J made since the publication of the existence
of our Association one week ago. Their
we announced fact that astonished the CT
ty; that we had on our books the names o.
more than one hundred widows, nearly al
with small children, ard some of them sad
ly in want of immediate help. Now we an.
nounce that one single member of the A
sociation, during one week investigated over
fifty cases, many Of which, if the detail,
were given, would harrow up the souls o.
the most callous.
We give the following as the facts of q
single case:
A family composed of a mother, born
one of the best New England families
ried to man with name that thrills thro'
every American heart-whc, in the prac
tice of his profession, gave his family all the
comforts and many of the Injuries of life,
but died early, leaving his wife and six
children unprovided for-the Youngest, a
girl, now seven; the next two. boys, 10 and
12; three girls, Ia, II and 19-who all
lived well, and dressed well, and were in
prosperous business until few months ago
when the wholesale employer and furnish
er suddenly broke up and went to Calfor-
MIA, leaving them with a great rent and
nothing TO do.
In vain they tried to get work, and, as
the necessity grew stronger, they were, per-
haps, more importunate, and were ans wer-
ed NO, at every shop, and rudely repulsed
by those who tend rich mems doors, when
they sought work at private houses.
Despair now seized upon them. Their
money was all gone, and yet they must live
still hoping that their trouble would be
only for little time.
To that greatest of all curses to the poor,
they went for relief-to the sign of the three
golden balls.
First. they pawned the treasured gifts of
rings and jewelry; then the silver spoons;
then, as the cold weather came on, the
summer dresses, shawls. capes, collars, la
ces, bonnets; and still inexorable hunger
and cold visited their door, Then went
winter dresses; everything fit for the street;
every little article that could be spared
The landlord had forced the mother to mort
gage her furniture for rent, and they had
pawned out the knives and forks, and plates,
and cooking utenslsby stealth Everything
was now wreck. They could get only
now and then a loaf Of bread, and tear it
apart and divide it between them.
| From the condition of Addressed, hon
est, industrious American women eight
months ago they were reduced to a condi-
ton that beggars description, yet they
would no. beg They were Americans
Hope had now lorsaken them, and for two
days they sat covering without fire in a
cold room, STARVING.
Yes. Americans! it is true. On the 25th
day of January, 1856, in the rich Eighth
Ward of the City of New York, an Amer
lean family, able and willing to work, were
starving-would have starved, but for this
one cicumstancc-they read our advertise
ment.
Il lay said the lady-she is lady
'on Thursday night upon that poor old
lounge, for our bed and bedding have been
long gone-here in this cold room, without
food or fire. l would have gone out and
begged for my children, but my daughter
said mo, we are tired of life, why seek to
prolong our misery-we can only live now
as beggars-we had rather die And they
all huddled together in their miserable nest
to keep each other warm. ! could not
sleep, could pray, and did most sincerely:
ooh, God, give us our daily bread; forgive
US If we have been led into the temptation
of preferrng death to life; incline the heart
OF some ofthe benevolent of this city to learn
and pity our destitution, or save my child
rem from this sore famine l then felt easy;
| almost felt sare my prayer was heard and
answered. In the morning, as usual, we
borrowed paper to look for advertisements
for work The first thing that met nv eve
was an advertisement headed American
Widows Relief Association but my heart
almost sank back again to despair when
saw that enc handred already preceded me.
But l had hope, and fixed up this little
girl as well as could, and sent her trem-
bling to your house. 1t is the first time
that one of my children ever went out to
beg
'Shc was 50 long away that had almost
lost hope again; yet | still trusted that nv
prayer would be answered. Heaven knows
it was
No mothers heart leaped with such JOY
as mine did when | heard her foot upon the
stairs, and looked down and saw her bun
dle-saw her heavenly smile-heard her
Joyous cry of oh, mother-oh, sister-oh,
brother-see here-see here They saw
a FIVE dollar gold coin. They laughed, they
wept. they danced, they were crazy, and,
| must say it, never shed such holy tears,
or uttered such thanksgiving before.
'Oh, gentlemen, am thankful How
shall thank you enough? Who shall |
thank9'
Thank Heavenn
L have-IId dol ever will; was proud
Il am humbled'
1t is impossible to depict the scene wit
messed by two of the Association who went
, to visit this family; the little girl had told
! her artless tale, but without giving them
any idea of the extent of restitution. The