Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-04-25
| WISCONSIN WOMAN IN ERIE.
The Work of the Missionaries i'm Re-
lieFing DestitutiOn.-Sad Suffering of
the PeOple-.Feeding the Poor.

CIV Ii LSAOlAAii3 N1llCS W
friends as follows, under date of Janu-
airy 49, n ~ z~g0,G
You will begin to wonder what has
become of the inhabitants of Turkey.
The prospects are now, that YOU Will
continue to wonder, as / see no way OF
enlightening you as to our welfare. al
though [ am now writing in hopes that
something may turn up. The opport1,-
mites for receiving letters, or sending
them outside the walls of this besieged
city, are few and far between. We have
had no letters from America since be-
fore Christmas. To-day we have learn
ed that letters from there reached Iligia,
about five miles distant from here. a
few days since, but there they were
seized by the Russians. Whether we
shall ever receive them remains to be
seen. Word comes from Russian head
quarters saying that if there are any
English so unfortunate as to be inclosed
within the walls of this city, and want
their letters, let them come and get
them. Thus, you see, if ever we do get
them, it will be by little effort on our
part. However, we sha make the at
tempt. 81
Our stay here this winter seems almost
like Il dream, although [ assure YOU it
has not been wanting in reality. Dur
ing the last three weeks the weather has
been freezing cold, dull and cloudy with
an abundance. of ssaw-storms. This
extreme cold weather on the one hand
seems like a great blessing, as it pre-
vents a great spread of the typhus,
while on the other it only increases the
suffering of those who have no food.
Our work here among the poor has
7 been steadily on the increase, until it
has now become formidable, and still
these poor, cold, and hungry people
flock to our doors in such numbers that
for want of means we are obliged to
turn them away. How hard it is to do
this. when we see them standing before
us only half clothed, and shivering with
cold, while the tears are streaming down
their pinched faces, and to know that
We are sending them away, perhaps to
starve. 1t almost takes heart of stone
to be obliged to turn a deaf ear to their
entreaties. These poor creatures throw
themselves at our feet, and kiss them
and our clothes, while they beg for a
morsel to be given them and til cir
starving children. We now out of what
little means have been put into our
hands provide with food about twelve
hundred human beings; that is, we keep
them from starvation.
Please take peep at the American
mlssioners' home, IN Erzeroum, when
these poor gather at our doors for the
little we have to give them. You say
you cannot find airy entrance through
the great multitude standing at the door
waiting to be admitted. / do not doubt
your word, as know too well from ex-
perience how they would besiege one
in our style of dress-and cry for aid.
After crowding and pushing, you have
finally succeeded in gaining an entrance.
Just at your left you step into the room
where the baking of bread is going on,
on a somewhat enlarged scale. The
very sight of so much bread makes YOU
feel as if you should never want another
mouthful, but see how eagerly these
half-famished creatures grab every
crumb that falls. After leaving this
room, and few steps before you to the
right, is the room where are admitted
those who have been supplied with
tickets. In one corner of this room be-
hind table, with pen in hand, sits your
scribbler. Each one of this waiting
company passes in order up to the table,
and hands the ticket upon which is
written the date, and how many breads
are to be given, when the ticket is again
returned, and the bearer passes on to
my right, where the bread is dealt out
by a Protestant brother. THE native
Protestants are all willing and anxious
to help us. You are interested in this
room. / am sure, as you watch the
countenance of the poor creatures light
up with JOY on receiving their
portion, witch is to last two days. Per-
haps you have become wearied before
the close of the two or three hours gen
orally required for this work. and have
taken yourselves to the room where the
distribution of flour and wood is going
on, IN the same order as you have seen
in the bread room, under the direction
of Mr.. Cole. The last ticket has been
returned to the bearer; the last bread
and flour handed out, and you wonder
yet Why there are so many waiting and
crying. These are the new corners,
and waiting to have their names taken,
and the place of residence, as a
thorough investigation of their homes
must first be made before they can be
furnished with tickets, or supplied with
bread or flour. The last one finally dis
posed of, we are left to draw a long
breath, and prepare ourselves for a
tramp around the city for the investiga-
ton of houses. While we are thus en-
deovoring to supply their bodies with
the bread so necessary, you may be
sure we do not forget the wants of the
never-dying soul, but try to let drop
some words which we hope and pray
might lead them to think of the here
after, and their souls salvation.
. Since | commenced this letter time
has slipped by, until now, the last day
of January, has come to say good-by.
Karan Ia native woman) and myself
spend the time in visiting from house
to house among the poor. vi
Feb. 19.-After so long time there
is at last an opportunity of sending this
letter. The work among the poor goes
on as usual. Friends from outside keep
US supplied with funds for the starving,
for which We are thankful. Little Alice
Bird, of Michigan, sends me fifty cents
to help along in the work. The Lord
will surely reward her. [ should like
to be acquainted with her. We expect
to see the Russians n all their glory to-
morrow. The Turks are very sad, as
they are. now removing their sick sol
diers to neighboring villages and bring
ing their cannon into the CITY,
. 4 Robbery.is now going on at fearful