Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-09-14
GaIes arro Skettbes.
ONE woMAys WORK.
Continued from yesterday j

Lille Ieit more wholesome depreciation
than while looking into the plebian face
of this Irish woman. As the even-pulsed
hand held mine in a strong grasp and the
eyes rested on me, neither large nor
| luminous. but beautiful with tine great
mother heart looking through them. a
shame possessed me. The light of this
life iiluming my own. showed me as had
never seen before how narrow it had been
with care for the narrow, with small am
| billions. with restless self-seeking. One
glance into the face of this ignorant wo-
man, beauiifed with the peace OF we'll
doing, opened my inner sight more than a
thousand rhetorical lip sermons.
| None can measure the influence OF one
human being who has abnegated the
pride Of possession as this woman had
done.
sought to put something Of the emo
ton she had stirred within me into words;
l tried to say to her how ! wished that all
the world might know OF her life.
That does not matter. think" she
answered simply, God knows"
| | can never forget the light upon her
face, the thrill in her voice, as she spoke
these words. For one brief moment the
care OF living dropped from my spirit, and
how miserably paltry the striving after
this earth's gains will seem to US when
we look back ward from the world of clear
vision over the life that is passed.
When we regained the street my COM
panion broke the silence which had fallen
between US by asking if would like to
see Margaret's babies. / assented, and
we turned our steps toward the asylum.
/ Nn of ha nv ais nj
charity, who conducted us with kindly
readiness through the large establish
ment. Our first visit was the dining room
OF the older children, ranging from three
to six years. They were at dinner, at
lacking with hungry relish substantial
repast of stewed chicken, mashed pota-
toes and rice, dividing their attention
meanwhile between ourselves and huge
dish of striped candy. which was to serve
as desert. When they had finished they
sang for Us song of welcome. One
child especially attracted ME as she
stood with upturned, sightless eyes,
thrilling out in high, sweet treble her
Joyous carol
A tramp of little feet on the stairway
drew our attention as the music ceased,
- two-year-old babes in pink checked
aprons were pattering down the stairs
Others soon followed, and we were pres
emily surrounded by $50 babies, looking
upward at Us in shy wonderment. Brown
eyes aud blue, fair hair and dark, beautiful
ones on whom mothers might have gazed
with pride, crippled ones who needed
sorely the motherly -love-l50 little BARNS
looked up at us with pathetic seriousness.
As turned from one to the other mist
shut away the wee wistful faces. Poor,
poor babies? never to know the shelter
ING of childhood's home, never to be
| rocked to sleep on mothers bosom,
never to feel in ali this wide, wide world
the passionate myther's kiss. Homeless,
helpless little ones, how they tugged at
my hearts,rings One pale checked babe
with fair. curling hair, clung to my skirts.
| stopped to kiss the pleading upturned
face.
Poor little Tot" said the sister 1T
has only been here a few days. The
mother died while coming across the
ocean. 1t seems to pine for her.
LET us 20 on said hastily.
! he next apartment was full of small
cribs, clean and comfortable; a sobbing
cry from one of them attracted our atten-
ton. A four-months babe, Just Weakened,
/ III
eyes. The sister called an attendant, and
we passed on. There were hummer of
little ones in the other cribs, but even on
the faces of these tiny sleepers comfort
less shadow seemed to rest-the shadow
of loneliness.
From the nursery we proceeded to the
chapel. with its pretty alter. Il suppose
you receive none but Catholics P" l asked.
"Oh, no! Margaret sends children Of
every denomination. 1t does not matter
to what church they belong. She only
asks whether they are i'll need of help"
From the chapel we proceeded TO the
hospital. cheerful room, but rarely oc-
cupied. the sister told US. tor the children
being well tended and simply fed. were
not often sick. From thence to the store
rooms fitted with clean and substantial
clothing. One large press containing 175
white sun-bonnets, especially attracted my
attention.
As we regained the lower hall and were
preparing to take our departure, said to
the sister:
is it possible that Margaret supports
this entire establishment ?"
Yes" she answered "she gives us
everything; she sends us whatever we
ask" Bowling her head reverently, she
added. in a lower tone, Next to God,
Margaret is our Providence
Out in the sunny street again. with the
vaulted heaven overhead and the soft
southern breeze waiting the incense Of
flowers, raised my face in silent thank
tulness that had known this woman, for
1t had lifted me to broader outlook-it
had opened to me truer life.
Since writing this sketch learn that
Margaret has passed beyond. have read
of her burial, 1.-The most remarkable the
Crescent City ever witnessed" In
Imagination | have followed the distin-
guished pall-bearers and the long cortege
composed so largely of sorrowing little
children. The last rites are over, the
last heavy-hearted mourners have turned
away, and in her narrow and solitary bed
Margaret is left alone. Nevermore in this
world can she lift any human heart as she
has lifted mine with her kindly hand-clasp.
her benignant eyes. her simple speech.
But through the darkness sounds a beni-