New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-04-14
Nem5 lmk Dauw &xibm,re
A WORD FOR THE POOR.
?. "a. Edit. u n. r. ). T,,s.sA

"
journal a, dferen; timer through the Winter have
been led 10 believe that il is a qualification 10 Won to
sssist ,ho.e who have vish TO help the poor by Civ
ng them the aid and influence Of your voice and paper
| have therefore taken tie liberty to address you,
hoping tina, should your kindness deem this wothy Of
publication, il may do some little good
Too much cannot be said in praise OF those whose
goodness Of hest prompt. the getting up OF Charity
Balls; but have they not lost sight of your ssgges-
ton. that entertainments for charitable purposes
,honld be got up in plain unosten:a.ious manner
The programme Of the soiree for the Sh Of April is
m.sni6cep Mt in the extreme; the money which will be
expended on tina, splendid supper would help
great many poor widows pay their rent, and keep
their scsnty furniture and clothing out OF the pawn
brokers' until they cosld perhaps get work II seems
strangely incor setsnt all that gogeousne9s and dis
play for the giving OF few bresdtiekets TO the
miserable poor many OF whom are homeless, freni-
lees and without any hope OF better fortune. what
ID loaf Of bread 10 the poor woman who owes Two OF
three months rent whose furniture is near gone;
while she 10 without the hope Of getting work, and
burdened perhaps with four or I'VE little mouths to
feed ] saw 9 mother, in the coldest par OF lsst
Winter who had no article of furniture in her room
but straw bed, covered with piece OF carpet and
under this, to keep them from freezing, were hudded
nee children the Oldest not ten years There was no
place for fire in the ro0m and yet the woman SAID
she would be satisfied il che could get money snoughto
buy two tubs 80 tnat snc SOutu III
and earn enough to keep ROOF over her children
What is TO become OF those in like situahon some OF
whom have never asked charity, and no scarcely feel
the psngs ofhupger in their despair who would rather
starye than beg yet would work for the merset pit
lance am not used 20 writing for Journals, aud l
pep this not with SO much concern as 10 its style as
anxiety TO speak word TO those ladies OF New-fork
who would teel it a labor OF love 70 aid ne poor
| would like 10 direct the attention OF those
who have participated in such 70 few facts
which have come under my notice, and tell them
that there many such cases waiting Aor LOT some
friendly voice to speak comfort to them their one
ness I am sure there many OF your fair readers
who surrounded with comforts OF every description,
rarely hear of such wretchedness IS teat am about
to describe except in the highly coored pages OF ro-
nance; but such cases occur every day and any ady
who has leisure and the good will to devote few
hours through the week in visiting the dwellings, OF
the poor, will encounter scenes that VIII touch her
heart and make her feel that those who live IN an at
mcspkere warmed by love, and peace, and plenty,
should az least spare a few crumbs from table %
richly laden and rca,er them among those uniortu-
mates who without each and all OF these.
Not long ago was returning rom WIS 70 some
poor people through Of the back streets in the
upper paIt Of the city, when saw child oil ABOUT
nine wears Old sitting the cold fagstsnes leading
into an alley. She looked a. If very III, and as !
rskei what she wanted. She pointed up the alley
and said "Ob do 90 and see mother or give me some
thing for sick father" followed the chlld. and at
the end of the narrow alley entered room 10 ms
y.
thin. hesrt.broken looking woman turned TO look who
opeped the door and exclaimed, Thank God, hero IS
son ebody at last" The room WAS entirely bare OF
furniture excep, two old chairs, asd bed IN winch
Law the "sick father" He turned his face, which
was male and Wild in its expression, toward the wall,
A, locked at him. as if he dsliked being disturbed
by yisitors The woman locked at me IN supplica'
ting manner, and taid he has waited and hopeu ior
hello of some kind 20 long that he feels now as If 1t
were u,eless" soon learned thel- history. Ibe m,n
had been portrait psintsr Want of employment,
poyerty melancholy, and q slckly constltu,ion soon
Frustrated him. ana by degrees they had become re-
auced 10 the greatest misery. A physician had at
tended him, but had given him up month before
cav him, saying he had so many cases on nus nands
il would be impossible to visit him. moreover ne could
not helm him. The wife had been To the Dispensary
in search Of physician bu had attended, so at
sst she sent the little child into the streets TO beg
some Of the passers by to come IN. ihey had been
without food then for two days. l had no money
with me- and lived great distance from the place.
/ scarcely knew what to do. | ielt that could not
take the time TO 90 all the way home for present
lief, for food they must have immediately. After
moments thought, vent 10 the German grocers AZ
the corner and taking gold ring from my finger, told
him / wanted some bread, butter and cheese, Tor
which would pay him in a few hours. The German
looked at ne and then at the ring very susplcousy,
and with great reluctance gave me the thipgs After
giving them to the woman turned toward home to
prepare something which the SICK man could eat. II
IVES quite dsIk when got home, after calling ON
physician who promised TO visit the sick man.
i
at the poor peoples door; there wss no light 10 the
room and spoke twice before the woman answered:
ste lad fallen asleep. 1--WE have no light said sle,
"and they would not trust me for candle at the gro
GERS" buried out and procured ight a. the corner
store When returned, ssw the little girl lying on
the bed breathing very short, and " I'll difficulty.
all afraid my child is very Ill, said the woman, and
am 80 worn with watching that am fearing every
said she, has been aseep since dark-it IS the best
sleep lie has had ,nce his illness. | told her had
brought something for him, and bent over the sick
child TO look AZ him: 1t was indeed the best sleep
The moor fellow could have taken ia his presen, mig
eryLe r1s dead, and must have been 50 for at least
Think Of it, we who il your finger sche are nestled
in beds Of down-thihk OF that poor wonan sitting IN
the dark by dead hu, band aud dying child.
In few days the chill died. The day was buried,
told the woman she should be removed IN day or
two to comfortable lodging, and would seek some
work for her; but the sad creature, worn down Wltn
Grief and want had DO care tVr herself aud scarcely
f,teped 70 what | said called the next afternoon,
but the woman was gone, one knew where. The
Germans who lived III the front house her ouy nesh-
bors could tell Inc nothing Of ber II the body OF an
uIkLoAp female were to be fund floating 10 one OF the
DDS 1 should fear 10 II, lest should recognize
hat poor heart. broken sife and other.
Do you not agree with De in thinking, that Il the
nary ladies who will e. in happy spirits 10 The sls
Zee os TburGay next, were u set an hour or t"o
spart acme day End employ them IN seeking and reley,
rg ere Too laie such cases A. the above they woud
s,susge great deal sorrow and at the came tune lty
Gentle satisfaction TO their hesrts that they ha1
ed he condition of many unfortunate sisert
AID would bot their husbands, brothers, aud lover.,
love them all the more for seeing them engaged in OIL
COS If such sweet charity -,
Before clo.ing this already TOO long article, would
ike IN me nion an other instance OF poysry which has
cJre to my knowledge Of late. It's that Of two ca
ladies who have once been in comfortable circnHs
stsIces. One is near ninety yess of age, stone Dino
and lane with the Ihtuma,isn the other, her daugh
.. = - si,tu The day Nlsited these poor crcl-