Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-01-14
A Place for the Old Folks.

"There is no place for old folks" said
an Octogenarian. In some senses this
is sadly true. The old home broken up,
the weary pilgrims pass from one child's
house to another, feeling nowhere quite
at home They fear they are in the way
or they can't bear the children's noise,
and at last sadly conclude that there is
no place for them. No place? Let us
make one then. II you have but one
room log-cabin give grandpa the warmest
corner and the easiest chair. LIS your
house small? Build on, or clear out.
Do not tuck them in back room; they
will have dark hours enough even ii you
set them in sunshine. Give them the
best room in the house If you have to
pack away your parlor furniture to do
it. You won't have them long and when
they are gone you will love to think OF
it. Make their room bright with bios
SONS and "green things growing" and
let the paper and pictures be cheerful.
Bring the baby there to crow and laugh
but don't let him stay too long. Few
have nerve enough to bring up the
second generation. Especially let them
have a fire and light to themselves
though it cost You . sacrifice to do 1T.
However they may enjoy the family fire.
side there are times when they impera-
lively need quiet and seclusion.
The aged like to feel that they are of
use. Let them help you. Said one:
always let grandma wipe the dishes when
she wants to. She can't see a bit. !
have to wipe them over after her. but
neuer let her k7aow IT. Grandpa often
strikes up beautiful intimacy with
baby. What model nurse he makes.
Baby feels the magnetism of his steady,
firm handling, and the weary mother
runs to finish her waiting tasks while he
is in such good hands.
Let grandmother knit, if tits cheaper to
buy the stockings than the yarn. All
honor to the shapely homemade foot
stitch by stitch. This lost art should be
recovered, if only for quietus and pas
time in our experimentation. Then, too,
the aged are sometimes haunted by the
thought that their children are in hurry
for their property. If, to rid themselves
of this ghost, they give 1t into their
hands, it is about equivalent to the leap
from the frying-pan into the fire. May
they ever go barefoot who wait for dead
mems shoesl'
lIttlc dtlcutluuS dIC peculiarly az
ceptable in advancing years. Steady
the trembling step without seeming to
do so. Tempt the failing appetite with
delicacies and favorite dishes. The
young may be spoiled by indulgence,
but it is pretty safe to pet post-meridian
people. Teach the children to bring
their grandparents the first fruits and
flowers, and in numberless ways make
them feel that their presence is precious.
1t has been feared that in the next CEN
fury there would be no old folks to take
care of. There are some hopeful indica-
tions to the contrary, and If by chance
we find ourselves then on the list now is
our time to invest care and kindness. for
with what measure we meet it shall be
measured to US again. Do all you can
for the dear old folks, and when-coming
some morning to their pleasant chamber
you find that the peaceful spirit has
fed, the consciousness of this will be
your greatest comfort, your highest con-
ISOLATION, next to the assurance that they
are at home in some of the many man
sions prepared for them, happier, far
happier, than we could make them,
cherish them though we may never so
tenderly. -Christidn at Work.