The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-09-24

ANNIE COOK OF 2&0P81S.
No, che vas not IN angel. She Was
merely . woman. Indeed. society denied
her even thai, appellation, for she Va pa
riAh-an outeass. Oh, yea, che - pure
osce; bat che fell, like thousasds of Others.
And such ass beyond the pale that rears it,
impenetrable barrier between the impure
and thoss Who dvsll secure within its pro.
tsctioa. But she had heart, did this
Annis Cook-wounded and crushed - il
~, it over6oved with sympathy for the
suffering. With charity for the erring, with
generosity for Tie unfortunate. They say
no appsal to her for help va ever neg
lected. and often she left her gilded palace
Of ain to minister in pezson to some poor
unfortunate Who lay dying. poverty
and neglected. Her pune supplied their
wants, hers were the hands that batbed
their fevered brows and held the cooling
drink to their Parched lips. And when the
drssd summons came 70 bear the spirit
home, she looked . nssags into the
eye of the dying to take with them in
her behalf.
What W. it,
Who can tell what rose in the heart of
that Nagdalen that her lips dare not tell ?
Never mind, it vas understood. and let Us
hope that God, in the in6nitude of His
mercy, granted the prayer Of that weak
woman sinner.
Well, the fever came, and the panic fol.
lowed. The houses we're deserted and each
outgoing train wss crowded. Men and
women Aed for their lives; the must sacred
tie we're broken brothers Hed from sisters.
husbande left their wives and children. and
children deserted their parents.
Nothing W. left but sickness. suffering,
want. misery and death.
Then this woman called her gay com.
panioos around her and babe them begone.
She stripped her palace of its magni6cence
and gave the proceeds to those who were
burdeoed with disease and want Throw
ing vide open the doon Of her mansion.
she rendered the keys to the Howards it,
~ - hospital. Then descending those
steps for the Last time, she begsn the work
of mercy to which she dedicated her life.
From house 10 house she went on her mis-
sion Of love. By the bedside Of the sick
and dying she vas ever found-furn,sbing
Tie nscsssaries Of life, nursing the sick With
The tenderness Of . mother, writing mes
ssgss for those Who ne'er again should see
The dear ones addressed. easing the panys
Of tho dying, and rsverently and tenderly
shrouding TIE dead. She labored With su.
pesnatural strength, and although the
waning finger Of Death rose up before her,
she never faltered. The couvalescent were
grateful, the sick hailed her presence With
joy, and the dying bleased her a they
pa,sd away. Al last she, too, fell before
tie Destroyer arm, and silently, willingly,
aye gladly, followed tboss who had gone
before.
Who she Va, none ever knew. True,
her name W. Annie Cook-at least people
called her that; bat the secret Of her ex-
istsoce died and was buried with her.
Nov tell %, - world Of prim morality
and cold, prudsatial modesty-s there one
digit chance ef Heaven fnr this poor. BE-
trsyed woman! Will those pearly gates
b closed upon this repentant Aagdalen,
and yes open to thosssel6sh, hollov-hearted
ereaturss Who left their kith and kin to
perish in poverty and disease!
No, che vas not IN angel. She Was .
paziah and IN outcast but from the SIM
PIE lights before %, If ever sinner VAS
nads worthy By noble atouement, it wae
Annia Cook.