The Portland daily press., 1865-01-28
Incidents About Home.

a sun-stroke. Up to that time, by industry
and frugality, his family was well provided for.
Home was blessed with the comforts, though
not with the luxuries oflife. The little daugh-
ter felt that her father was the best of fathers,
and the wife looked with feelings akin to pride
on the noble form of her husband, and antici-
pated much happiness in his society. But
from the hour of this misfortune. the bright
skies through which the sun Of prosperity that
arose so clearly In their matrimonial morning,
began to look hazy, and continued to thicken
as the day moved on. Two years of irregular
labor, by great effort and with failing health,
ended by fall into the river, when he was
nearly drowned. This rendered him incap-
able of providing for his family. - s. s.t
On the wife, after this accident, devolved
the care Of providing for them all, the future
wearing dark and dreary aspect. What to
do was question bearing heavily on her heart.
She can do plain sewing. but the price paid
for making clothes by army contractors, who
are getting rich by their contracts, will hardly
find the family in bread. She has father In
the eastern part of the State, who has the dis
position, but not the ability to take care of
them ALL She cannot go there. Shall she go
out to work Her husband needs her con-
slant care, for he is failing in bodily and mem
tai strength. She cannot consent to have him
sent to the Insane Hospital, for her early love
is strengthened by misfortune, and she means
to stand by him to the last. ~
Weeks aud months wear away. andshe finds
nerseII u..srs.--, the tasik of supporting the
family. The little snm of money which had
been saved is all spent. Shoes and clothing
are wearing out and cannot be replaced. The
present appearance of home contrasts painful
ly with its former bright and coy look
What to do,is the question which comes again
with increasing force One of the most pain
full points in human experience is now reach
ed. Her situation must be made known, and
assistance must be solicited, and this after
many struggles, she decides to do. With feel
ings struggling violently against resolution,
she calls on the writer, and makes her circum-
stances known. With quivering lips and tear
full eyes her sad story is told, Ipromised to
give relief, and after considering her situation.
advised her to ask aid of the Overseers Of the
Poor. Though much against her inclination,
her good sense led her tofollow the advice.
From that time, with what aid she gets from
the city, and from benevolent societies, and
with what little she herself can earn, she has
struggled along with a scanty substance,
faithfully taking care Of her husband, who is
as helpless in every respect as an infant, and
very much more troublesome.
Why, it may be asked, do not benevolent So
cieties more amply supply the wants Of such?
Simply because hundreds in our city who are
solicited to give, do not. But why do not the
Overseers supply them more largely? Be-
cause, it is feared, the public would not sus-
tain them if they did, But Of this more here
after.
Two more families will be mentioned at the
risk of making long article. The first con-
sists of father, mother, and three young
children. The father has been unable to work
since last July Visiting them. we find them
all in one room, which is about seven feet high,
the father lying upon lounge, and the moth
er hard at work ironing. She tells US that
they are warned out next week. and though
the tenment is poor and their rooms are small,
yet she is sorry to leave 1t, for it Is good sit
uation to obtain work. The city helps this
family once in a month. Often the mother
works until near midnight, yet finds her fami-
ly lacking many of the neeessaries of life.
Thus she tolls, and will continue to toll, with
little prospect for the better for along time to
come. .t1 ia f
Application for the other family referred to,
was made at the Office, and soon after the
agent went TO see them. A mother In feeble
health, her married daughter and her two
children, one three and the other six years
old, constitute the family.
In q corner of the room in which they live, is
a bed on which lies the daughter sick with
lung fever. The mother is absent and con-
versation must be directed to the sick wo-
man. Tenderly and cautiously the purpose in
visiting was made known and effected. The
mother had received the widows WOOD but
what is half a cord OF wood, two feet of which
is spruce, to burn night and day during sick
ness F? .q e 1sl5ao 1000
"Is your mother able to support herselfs" l |
inquired, s'She can do but little,n was the re-
ply, and continuing, "she would be glad to
have help. Ny husband is away 10 the war
has done nothing for me for more than two
years. get State aid, and work in shop,
and that has supported u.s. As she told her
story, she in vain tried to suppress her swell
ing emotions, and turning her face away, gave
full vent to her teara,
There are times when everything in the |
past comes rushing into the mind-when the
picture presented on the imagination Is as Wv
Id as sunlight, and the future opens to the
mind as the past. Then, in an unusual de-
gree, is realized the need of religions power
TO soothe affiiction and to bear up the spirit
After such painful agitations of the mind.
when the assurance ofpardon and grace comes
rom our Father In Heaven, no words can tell
is b,essedness. Such assurance for their sup
port can all women have in their trials.
OFT.