The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
WOyAN'S AUXILIRRlES
The Visiting Commitiee--ItS Duties and
0bligatiOns--Practical Illustrations.
w.

5mDorfant part OF the work Of a Momans Aux
Hilary IN a large town or city would come under
the charge Of the visiting and supply commit
tee. This committee should be under the diree-
-fion Of a methodical and systematic woman
possessing both earnest sympathies and dis
criminating judgment. The duties she wlii be
constantly called upon TO perform viii be OF
character to tax both time and patience. She
must have competent assistants and advisers,
but great part Of the work OF the COMMITTEE
must come under her own supervision and
guidance
In order to make these papers as practical in
then application as possible l viii again draw
my illustrations from the work Of Forsyth Post
Auxiliary for the wear just closed. Taking up
the report Of the chairman Of the visiting com
lnittee, we find that an average Of six families
was Supplied every week throughout the year
in all, tMenty-one families, embracing sixty
three persons. fOrtv-Bne OF whom were children.
The FIRST case cited was the family Of a soldier
who was IN one of the city hospitals sick, sent
there at the expense of the Post. At home was
the mother With Eve children, nearly all Of
whom were also sick. The family was supplied
with food, medicines, and other comforts until
their healthwis restored and the father able 70
resume his work.
But here was one Of those eases where appli-
cation FOR assistance was not made. The old
soldier thank God, is SIS a rHle as proud rs he
is patriotic In every human breast where
herOism has its growth there also fOurisbes the
manly spirit OF independence and selfrespect.
The same qualities which lead a man to face
the cannon's mouth without aiachiBg VIII 7lso
help him to endure misfortune. even starvation
itself rather than become an alms-seekcr, even
among his comrades in arms. So it IS that a
great part OF the work of a Woman's Auxiliary
and its great charity arm, the visiting commit
tee. Is IN seeking ont those who are in need. A
friendly visit Of sympathy and coincidence Is
always welcomed, even when there IS no need
for more tangible aid. Lovingly, gently, ten
derry enter these homes Of sorrow and iInp0y-
erishment Yon VIII never find the heart
closed to your profered sympathy. or the door
slammed upon your retreatiRg footsteps.
The next case in the report is a friendiess
old lady with pension Of 3 per month. She
asks and receives temporary aid while she is
disabled from the effects OF a fall. When she
has recovered she falls back upon her little
pension Tor support except an occasional dOna-
ton from the Society IN the way Of clothing or
other small comforts.
A widow who had been supporting three
children but who is incapacitated for work by
the severe illness Of daughter. IS temporarily
on the supply list She Is given provisions and
medicines and SITS arc provided fer the
sick child.
A young woman. 0se husband, an indus
triOus German nd -laber Of the Post. died
suddenly. is l,u * children, al under
six years old san aged mother also TO be
cared for I'll .aan OWNS little house, but
her income is entirely cut of. Ii is Inidsum-
1neT. and the pale-faeed, sickly babe is left 10
the care of the older children while the poor,
broken-hearted mother gees out 10 wash from
morning until night 70 earn mouthful for the
little ones. But there is no 8pp,ication for
help no complaint. A soldier who served in
the same regiment finds ont their needs. He
sees the president Of the Auxiliary. Get into
nv carriage" he says. and / viii take YOU
around to see Them 1t was a touching picture
they found of real want and brave resignation
gentle little girl with the dropping baby face
hanging over her shoulder; the patient little
children about them waiting Tor eveBtide, the
poor tired mother, and the pittanee of bread
she would bring them. Before the visitors left
the mother returned frcs:a her la5OTs. il was
late Of a summer evening and she had been ont
since six o'clock in fhemorning- done two
washings. The pnened little face put on q
faint smile, and the little hands reached ont Il
mother who had been so long away. Yes,
the mother said. she would be SO glad of {
little help. for then she would not need to be
50 long away from The baby" Never word q
the toll and the hardships: nevera word of hel
broken home and the once helpful and hopeful
father asleep In the little German cemetery
with wooden cross at his head. 1t has been
both a privilege and pleasure 20 care for this
family, so helpless and vet so helpful, CRATE
1ul Tor al that Is done. Heaven does IN 81
many ways cheer the hearts of those who carry
heart-iight and hope-hght TO broken home:
like these.
Next comes a widow with an invalid son
herself an invalid, suffering from her spine anf
utterly broken down from overwork dnTing th'
long Illness Of her husband and the early period
of her widowhood. She IS assisted regularly
supplied with clothing, food. ard medicine, and
ha
piled daily with new milk to dTinl-his InaiI
sustenalce. But III As size is, this worthy
woman. yet lrds strength to keep her two small
rooms Il model of neatness ana frugal care. Sh,
draws 40 pension and bEt 5or tse asa Of thl
Society would be ia the iafirm4ry with herpool
boy
Another widow with six I:ttle children
whose husband. an industrious Irishm2n, dies
Suddenly last fall, comes up for net;ce. But il
this case the little children are worse than
fatherless. as the mother has taken 10 drlnl
and by no means does what she oaght. Sd
VIII neither give her consent for the children Z
20 10 the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans HON
at Eenia. Ohio or work for them az care 10
them as she should But unworthiness IS or
OF the obstacles with which al who labor 60
The uplifting 0l their fellow creatures must con
tend. and III 40 tiIne have the innocent chiiGre
been left to suffer foi the mothers fault.
To the question 50 often asked, Does Il pa
70 care 10r ineSc peOPick would aGsHei
most emphatically. yes, It does pay. / pays
not only in the sense Of daty performed, bu
EhrOngh the consciousness that the create
number Of those benefited arc worthy Of al
and more than you are able TO give. EFerybod,
can afford 10 be deceived now aud then, or L
aid the unworthy TO some extent rather thar
That tie helpless little ones dependent on then
should suffer Then, the Law GOES upon "a
presumption that It is better that the gEilt-
should escape than that the innocent shoul
suffer. Changing the motto somewhat "
should say: Ii is better that the unworth,
should receive aid than that the woTthy shoab
suffer the lack Of it.
Next is a widow suffering from creeping "a
Talysis. bcd-ridden. and who, the past year, ha
become totally blind. She has yos;ag soIi, 4 a,
bic and interesting boy, who is the hands an
feet and eyes and strength Of his mother. 70
years she has not walked but, as long AZ Sd
was able TO- helped to support herself AN
child with her ocft handiwork much of whis
she has taught her boy. When the ladies' hel
their bazaar last spring Tor the relief fun.
among the articles on sale were some prett
card-bcaTd decorations which the grateful bo
had made TO help swell the fund for the wild
owed and orphaned. The mother has neve
succeeded IN getting a pension, although lac
claims have beer long on lie. And here al
two more who would be dependent upon III
cold charities of the county fsoor-ho@se, bu: f
the glorious Grand Army.
A widow with five children, who contribute
TO the support of her Family by washing com,
under the head Of the worthy cases also.
widow with two daughters, all gently bre