The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-24
iInciden IT'S abou, Home.

Whata bitter cold morning-how the poo
must suffer with the cold )" said Madame d
who happened to get into her sitting room be
fore the rock-maple, which was blazing briskl
in the Franklin had thrown out much heat
What bitter cold morning." as she gave al
involuntary shudder and drew her chair near
er the fire; 'how the, poor must suffer; and
there is neighbor Field over the way, who live
in that old hou se-the whole family must hav
suffered severely last night"
John, as soon as you get your work done up
carry him load of wood, ard carry him som,
provisions also. -dcH rn ut gr9
John busted himself in doing his morning
work, and made a beginning to get wood and
provisions for. neighbor #. In the meantim,
the temperature in the sitting room had chang
ed ABOUT 70 degrees, and Madame u. s thought
had changed from the sufferings of the poor t.
something more pleasing to herself.
You needn't carry any wood now, she said t.
John, as he at that moment entered the room
the weather has moderated very much, and
neighbor f. will not suffer to day.
Thus spake Madame d., who had the misfor
tune when brought up to think that happiness
consisted in providing only for ones SELF wher
for time the pinchings of cod overcome for q
few moments her natural selfishness, and SO
she spake when her sufferings subsidized, and
selfishness returned and resumed its wonted
supremacy over her. ,q--f..-ir<,sr a,n (
There are many such to-day who may be
moved by tale of sorrow, whether true or
false, or by the sight of suffering, think little
OF the poor when distant from them. We have
charity to think that the two thousand and
more which return the circulars empty to the
Provident Association every year, would not
do so if they could see and feel the suffering
which is endured the present winter in the
city. have material enough to write several
articles on the wants of the poor. but as they
are similar in character, will at this time state
only a few. . 5r. sr-t.. .a4t,i .-..i., i..,.
But first want to state that do not think
the poor have suffered so much in any one
winter during the same length of time for
many years as they have for the past fifteen
days. l went to see one family consisting OF
husband, wife and a little girl about five years
of age. The father had been sick during the
summer, the mother was near confinement,
audlying in bed to keep warm, and the little
girl sent into the other part of the house to
keep warm by their neighbours fire. There was
no fuel in the stove, and no money to procure
any. .aaa9c sseet q 81, .a-+-t-s.as.,,,.-
The father of a large family, steady, indus
trious man, who went fishing in the summer
but would not realize enough to pay for his
family's bread, told me that he never suffered
SO much with the cod in his life. could write
an interesting chapter about this family, but
suffice it to say, that he went without his break
fast that morning, and could procure only some
bread for his family while he went without
himself. 1l1aG I.HU -44 s1.eY
{ Aud another is the case of a woman whose
history is full of thrilling interest, struggling
to maintain respectable appearal ce and to
educate her only daughter. She had been con-
fined with a lung fever Tor weeks; had expend-
ed all her scanty means of living, and was still
very feeble and unable to earn anything to
meet continuous daily expenses. This is
case where the suffering of mind endured is
greater than in ordinary cases, and needs much
more aid than we usually give from the trovi-
dent Association. Help specially sent to this
woman would be doing great good. il} ,te-.
Mr.. Editor, with your permission, will en-
deavor to write few articles under the head
ing of this, for the purpose OF showing your
eaders the condition and wants of the poor
,mong US, and to stir up their hearts to feel
nd do their duty towards them. OPT.
M. i. A. DEBATEs.-At the weekly debate
Saturday evening the following gentlemen
.Sere admitted members of the Association:
Albert Smith, A. j. Chase, A. A. Atwood, Jas
Is. Dodge, A. G. Dam, George A. Barstow,
sterling Dow, George P. Gross, A. A. Libby.
-fhe resolution for debate, antagonistic to boat
lg and base ball clubs, called out avery full
attendance of young men, and the discussion
ras nearly all on one side. Mr.. M. N. Rich
pened the discussion with an apology for the
solution it was his fate to defend, aud was
',llowed in the negative by Messrs. F. E. Jones,
II. G. Patten, of the Una Boat Club, and Frank
T. Smith, OF the EoD Base Ball Club. The re-
,lution was voted down by an overwhelming
,aiority, and to keep it down, we suppose,
lother in favor of out door sports, was intro
, iced by Mr.. Charles HI. Haskell and passed
ithout discussion. t.F .,