The New York herald., 1872-05-20
THE FLOWER AND FRUIT MISSION.
Something About the Sick Poor in summer-A
Worthy Charity and Its Mode Of Operations.

Now that we are nearing the dog days il is plea
eaut thing to notice that the Flower and Fruit Mis-
sion-an unobtrusive and comparatively unknown
though deserving charty--has once more entered
for the season upon It's labors of love and mercy.
In the winter the needy sick are often thought Of
The Icy rgors of the air and the fierce blasts OF the
rough, northern winds press irresistibly upon our
mindsthe necessary privations OF the children Of
misfortune and their wants are ministered to with
cheerful alacrity But in the early summer
when the gossip Of the breakfast table consists
chieny OF discussions upon the rival attractions Of
Oape May and Saratoga, of Newport and she White
Mountains, OF Long Branch ana Europe, and when
tAe hearts. OF all who are happy are 'pained witk
tbrObbngn
For the seaside pillows
Mhsre in laughter and in sobbng
oiiae the streams away,
mo" rev there are that devote even a moments
passing thought TO the needs OF the sick poori
ohastiy indeed Is the contrast between the DOS.
sble belle OF the year, directing the packing OF her
trunks and preparing for flight 70 the scene of her
ulumphs and the miserable creatures stricken
uown py the hand OF disease lying through
tne suitry heats OF midsummer pale and wasted and
heartsck, upon the cheefless pallets OF a hospital
And yet summer Ia far more fruitful than winter In
active forms OF pain and suffering Ask the house
surgeons OF the hospitals, even think for a mo.
ment what must be the effect OF the thermometer
among the ninetles upon the inhabitants OF
crowded and hideously filthy tenement houNes and
you win soon understand that IL is but too sadly
true that Natures most happy season. bright
with sunshine and gay with flowers and musical
with the songs Of joyous BIRDS brings to mapy
poor wretch even q sadder harvest OF misery tNan
The frigd horrors OF midwinter.
Of late years something has been done by sympa,
thlzing hearts and hands made diligent by love to
alleviate this sum of suffering. II can easily be
imagined how welcome to the poor patient In |
stining hospital ward must be anything that re. |
minds him OF the green fields and the fresh, glad
some smiling summer time without. How would |
you feel gentle reader, H. after weeks Of sickness
almost unto death In strange city, far from
friends and home, without money and, worse STILL
without hope, some kind hand should bring
70 your bedside posey OF familiar nowers--fra
grant beautiful, cool In such sorry plight hun
Ireds 0f poor people are even now plnfng In O
aoxeh New York hospitals. and ''mnstering angelsu
ehiy traverse the wards upon Just such errands OF
Nefcy, bearing baskets OF fruit and bouquets OF
, Wert 70 their sad Inhabitants. Idle, indeed, is
he 6peer OF the utitarian that caome and quf-
ine snd guasEa together with needful food and
oOd Nehhance, have been already provided, and
hat tn pauent could well dispense with these |
entimen M charities. Perhaps. so far as the body
concer. Ned, ne might, though any good phy. /
cisp w0ul tell you that, even from ths point OF
riew, they q, v0f very great value But soinething
slse In inyOl, ed In the case. How unutternhIv
,ad how terrIb " bowed down with hear artsictnasS
must grow the D.. or wretch who lanpnishes throngh
Iome long scknes. :. tended only by the unIoyin0