The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-12
The Court, sizes OF the Poor.

have often been touched by the gen.
crosby of the poor among themselves, at
times of trouble or special want. II sick
ness disables the mother of family, how
ready are the peighbors with such help as
they can give One will undertake the
weeks washing, one will see that the bak
ing is done, another will come in morning
and evening to "tidy up" the little rooms
or lend hand with the children. Doubt
less many such deeds are done which are
recorded only on high, but now and then
they come under our observation as we go
about among these humble brethren and
sisters. Two shop-girls were recently
overheard planning to share between them
the work of third who had been called
home, and thus save her wages for her.
"She needn't get substitute" said one.
"If we're little spryer than usual, we
can do her work ard ours too. Will you
agree Let's ask Mr.. Sullivan if we may"
Yes, indeed" said the other. "Her
mothers sick, poor thing She'll need all
her earnings" A faruily of motherless
children received, during an entire season,
the weekly services of kipd.bearted
washerwoman. Time was money to this
woman, for her skilled labor was in de-
mand and money was precious, for she
had many mouths at home to fill. But
she deliberately gave up other engage
ments and devoted one day each week to
these needy neighbors, and when offered
payment by interested ladies she refused
to take it. "Sure and it's meself that
wishes ] could give MORE" she said. l
wondered if any one else gave in her
proportion. A well known figure in
certain town is old Silas, the ash.man,
much in request at house-cleaning times
"a friend in need. A young woman,
weighted with worse than worthless
husband and two or three little children,
had passed through long and distressing
illness, and was slowly coming up to life
again. Old Silas conceived the knghily
desire of giving this woman little pleas.
ure He borrowed an old carriage, brushed
off his bony, dusty horse and dressed him.
self in his SUI day suit, costume the
most striking feature of which was the
unwonted white shirt with its conspicuous
sleeves. Thus appointed, old Silas set
out for his doughty deed, and took his
dropping, faded lady for long country
ride. 1t was an amusing spectacle, but,
l think, as it passed through the streets,
it called up tears and smiles. l have
been touched by these things, said.
have been instructed and rebuked, as |
have seen among these little ones so much
of the spirit of him whose life on earth
shed sacredness forever over poverty.
1t is not only among themselves that the
poor show kindness. Their childlike
hearts are quick to feel for us, their more
fortunate neighbors. A little cluster of
bright geraniums, the one cherished orna-
meut of certain poor little kitchen, was
the choicest gift that came, among show
ers of delicacies of every description, to q
lsdy's sick.bed recently. No Christmas
gift even gave more pleasure than two
holders made by poor colored woman
for one who had had the privilege of be-.
ing kind to her. "Nct for the kitchen"
explained the giver, "they are for you to
use yourself if ever you want to press out
anything" And though the stitches were
not dainty, and geometry was somewhat
at fault in the curves, they were carefully
reduced to the supposed proper size, and
covered with silk, "to make 'em soft for
your hand, you know" The same woman,
who had been famous cook in her day,
bought, at no small expenditure of
strength and means, the requisite mate
rails, and made notable loaf of cake for
the doctor who had attended her through
an illness. She came to borrow "gilt-
edged plate" and nice napkin with
which to serve up the present, and the
doctor says he never took richer fee. Is
not this trait worth cultivatiDg in the
minds of the poor with whom we have to
doP Send flower with the bowl of broth
back to you in some pleasant form after
many days. BY example, by encourage
ment and appreciation, we may help these
less fortunate friends of ours to one of the
most unfailing of pleasures-that of do
ing little kindnesses.-SOphy Winthrop, in
Christian at Wo.k.