The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-03-19
A visit to a Hospital.

| have Just come from a visit to a
hospital where crippled children are
treated. There were one hundred
and seyenty-five or two hundred
boys and girls with club-feet, spine
disease, white swellings, and | know
not what other ailments. NV niece,
Mary was with me, and as we went
up stairs with the matron, what
sounds do you suppose we heard L?
You say cries and groans, doubt
not but we heard none of these.
Just as merry shouts and just as
hearty laughter as ever you heard
from well children met our ears,
and there, in the sunhy play-rooms,
way up in the top of the house,
where no tall buildings keep the sun
from the large windows, were boys
of all agss from four to fourteen /;
some in rolling chairs, some sup
porting themselves as they walked
about with the little chair upon
which they now and then rested,
some IN swings, and one little fellow
under the eye of a gymnastic teach
er clim mblng on parallel bars climb
ing as nlmbly as even you, Johnny,
could do with your two good feet.
to look Into some of their faces
would bring the tears out of any but
the stoniest heart, and the crooked
backs and legs, the thin little hand:
were, o, so pathetic. But in spite
of pain and deprivation, these little
fellows were having good time. A
doctor and one ofthe teachers, with
two nurses, were helping them enjoy
their hour of play, and were ready
to catch any one who should Stun
bic and fall. But none did while
we were there, though they slipped
over the waxed floor with surprising
speed.
Leaving the boys we went down
stairs to the girls room, and saw
them with their games, their dolls
and their knitting in the room
which is their home by day and by
night, except for their daily treat OF
an hours recreation in the play
room. The rows of white beds, the
low tables, which serve for dining
tables and school-desks, for these
: little children have school every
morning do you hear that, boys
and girls who think you cannot get
a lesson if you get splinter in your
finger?) with wash-room adjoining
all look the perfection of neatnes:
and convenience. Some of the cases
were too sad to tell you of PoOl
little Willie VS. sutferings anC
his patience, his drawn, white thin
face, with its look OF peace on 1t,
cannot picture TO you the dear ut
tie girl whose tiny feet and hands
will never grow any more, and must
soon 60 to the home which is Just
opened for incurables. and make
room for new patient, ah | can
not write about them. There were
two feelings contending in my heart
while | was there one of JOY anC
gratitude, that such a bright home
existed, and that kind, unseltish
men and women were giving time
and money to comfort and cure
these little ones, and another of sor
row and distress at the sight of sc
much suffering. For although We
heard no means and saw no tear.
there is hard pain borne there by
those brave little people, and the
matron says that when she goes
about among the little cots at tel
o'clock to see that all is well befor,
she sleeps, she sees the little eye:
wide open and the poor uneasy
bodies racked with pains, and they
touch her heart anew every night
Think of it, children, when mamma
: soothes your little aches by folding
YOU in her arms. and rocks you
singing a gentle song, and rouseyoul
. courage to endure your small troub
les and give your sympathy fol
some generous work for the unmoth
cred and unsoothed children. Chris
tan Union.