The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-05
pressing deopest gratitude for all that had been

pressing deepest gratitude for all that had been
done.
a widow very i'll, with sick son, came under
the care Of the Society. She was assisted for
some months, when an absent son returned
and the family declined further help, pouring
beneiictious on the Society, which the mother
said had been a perfect godsend in their Attic
ton.
A widow and her daughter were reported III
of typhoid fever. and were duly cared for
About the same time poor but worthy mem
Der of Forsyth Post Auxiliary (open TO all,
both rich and poor.) sent for the president of
the Society. She was found In deep aiSictlon,
her eldest daughter having died of typhoid
fever. She asked only sympathy, as she had
son and daughter at work and able to take care
OF themselves. In the course of two weeks a
message came again from the same house. The
poor mother was stricken this time, and lay
burning up with fever in the little front room
Of the cottage, the young daughter in the rear.
A nurse was provided and everything done for
the poor woman's comfort, but after lingering
some weeks she died and the daughter was
sent to the hospital, where, with purer air and
Surroundings she quite recovered.
During the seYerest weather in January last
poor widow, the wife as well as the daughter
Of 4 soldier, was discovered without food fire,
or even bedding to keep up artificial warmth.
The poor woman was out of work, and her son
earned but forty cents a day. She was pro-
vided with suitable bedding, provisions and
other comforts.
A widow drawing a small pension was as
sisted by the Society. She supported herself
by dressmaking, but was taken very i'll, and as
there was no one TO nurse her properly, was
taken TO the Protestant hospital. When she
died she was buried under the auspices of
the Society IN the widows and orphans lot at
Forest cemetery and her grave properly
I marked.
4 soldiers widow was reported at the station
charged with beating her crippled child, and
the officers of the Society were urged to appear
against her at the police court. They did so.
After investigation il was found that when
ever the woman drew her quarterly instalment
she went on a terrible spree, when the poor
child was the victim of her assaults. The
woman was condemned TO the workhouse, and
/ the child removed beyond her power to friends
in Michigan.
Many other cases. similar in character to the
foregoing. NAV be cited, but enough has been
] given 10 indicate the nature and scope Of the
work OF the visiting and Supply committee.
! Tie report of the chairman before me closes as
follows: !" We have interested others, so that
! the work has been done by families under our
! care by people outside cur Society. / have
money handed me TO use as / think best for
/ cases which come under the notice of these
people. Thus you see that outsiders certainly
/ nave confidence III our N0rk, ana certainty 1
know that as long as there are soldiers widows
and orphans 10 care for they viii find sym
! pathy, and OF that kind which is deep enough
/ 70 work and see that these families are re-
/ lieved"
/ To the question that has repeatedly come to
me, " Do you assist any outside of the Post? +"
/ ] would say, most assuredly we do; and not
/ only that, bat that nne-tenths of our entire
( work is in aid OF parties outside. The man
! who can keep up his membership with the
Post is the man who is able to support his
/ family, provided he keep his health and
I strength, or that no pitiless panic is sweeping
men from their posts OF duty. 1t is only when
he sickens or dies that his family need assist
ance in the line OF temporal wants.
Visits of sympathy and coincidence in times
/ of sickness and aiiiiction Is an important part
4 Of the work of the visiting committee and
| helps to strengthen the tie that binds the old
/ soldiers Of the Union and their families and 10
keep alive that oneness of feeling that charac-
1 terized the unselfsh patriotism of the old war
4 days.
Ny next paper win be largely taken up
with the work Of the home and employment
1 committee. And again let me say that any
and all questions forwarded to me- or through
/ THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, viii be answered as
/ fully and clearly as possible
KATE B. SHERWOOD.
Pres. Forsyth Post Auxiliary.
/ TOrFDo O.