Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-22
DON'T FORGET MINNIE"
MISSIONARIES OF LOVE.
Pathetic seepes In Ciu Hospitais-The In
Dor, Of the Ladies' Of she Flower Mission
nnd their Reward.

Hall yesterday morning and made th'
place smell like a garden. Heaps o
flowers were piled up in all directions
A score Of fingers selected the choices
and formed them into bouquets for the
hospitals Of this city. Roses. hello
tropes, verbenas, larkspur, and Other
flowers competed with hosts Of forest
gems for consignment to the abodes o.
sickness and suffering. Several hour,
were consumed over the work of selec
ton. and then the missionaries depart
ed with baskets full Of posies to tht
various hospitals. The principal re
cipients were the Philadelphia, German
Pennsylvania, Presbyterian, Jefferson
and University Hospitals, each o
which received from fifty to eighty
bouquets.
(" 1t is pleasurable to convey flowers
to patients" said one Of the ladies'
whose face beamed with benevolence
They are so eagerly accepted. They
never fail to refresh sick-room.
believe they are as beneficial as pure
air 10 convalescents."
As she entered the woman's ward al
jefferson Hospital her statement wa:
eorroborated by the conduct Of the
patients, who smiled at her and cast
wistful glances at her basket. One
was just recovering from a stupor, but
when she caught sight Of the flower:
her wan face lit up with joy. and she
stretched out her hand feebly. THANK
you" she whispered, as the bouquet
was placed Oh her pillow.
"DON'T FORGET MINNIE
Don't forget Minnie" said the oc
cupant Of an adjoining bed, who was
sitting up by her table, on which wa;
crucifix and beads.
" Here is Minnie" said the nurse.
leading in a Hindoo girl Of dlminutiyt
stature, who had a skin black as ebony
and hair and eyes to match. Minnie
was in Barnum's show until she met
with an accident during its last visit Il
this city. She is seventeen years O
age. Her intelligence Is remarkable
but she is timid and shy.
She Is homesick, poor girl, sale
the nurse. She is always brooding
over her captivity, and this retards hei
recovery"
When Minnie received her posy sh'
plunged her dark nose right into it an,
then looked up at the giyer with q
quaint laugh.
That's nice; me like flowers" she
said.
DO you like this country" She
was asked.
NO. no: me want to 20 home,
and Minnie's eyes filed with tears.
ALITTLE EMIGRANT.
A quiet-looking boy, three years old
with a fair, fat face, haxcn hair. anC
serious eyes Of deep blue. was sitting
on his bed, his mother by his side. II,
was fresh from the fatherland, anC
could not say thank you" for hi.
flowers. But his eyes frightened as h,
took them. After using his nose vigor
ously he waved the bouquet above al.
head in token Of his appreciation.
In the male wards flowers are always
welcomed. Some Of the patients wer:
dressed, lounging about the room OF
taking exercise. These came forward
to obtain their flowers. Glasses anC
cups filled with water stood on all tn,
window-ledges, and were al one,
brought into requisition. 1t was in
tercs,iog to note the varied expressions
which crept over their faces as they
handled their prizes. One gazed at hi.
flowers thoughtfully. a. though they
reminded him Of something serious
His study terminated in an energetic
sniff. Another alternately Smelled a
and kissed the roses and mignonett,
given 10 him.
An old gentleman with legs il
spliuts, sitting in a corner, stared a
the lady and then at the bouquet, a
though trying to decide which was tn,
sweeter Of the two. lie split his yot,
by caresslng the flowers and smiling a
the lady. There were some unable tC
move in their beds. Paralysis or rheu
matism had deprived them Of the use o
their limbs. All they could do was tC
follow the visitor with their ewes. ant
TO thank her when she had placed hei
odorous gifts near their pillow.
GRATEFUL GIRL PATIENTS.
At the Presbyterian Hospital. Wes
Philadelphia, the distribution Of flower,
among lis inmates was attended Will
affecting results. In one Of the ward.
a number ofyoung girls lay side by side
who had been for months associ
a'es in suffering. White faces nestlin.
among scarcely whittier linen turned ex
pectantly towards the flower missionar,
as she entered.
The flowers have arrived" mur
INJURED one of the girls. whose blacl
eyes locked all the blacker in contras
TO her pallid complexion. ''Oh, thanh
you so much, she exclaimed when /;
bunch Of yerbenas and wild grasses wa
put in her hand.
have been six months here. SD,
replied to a question, and | am yerl
happy. l have plenty Of friends. VIII
never forget me. This Is such a nic
place, too-the nurses and eyerybod,
so kind"
In the bed next to her was an Irisl
girl, who had been two months in tn
hospital.
Il have no one" was her reply t
the question asked her companion. -
should be lonely were it not for Kat
there" She burst into tears when tn
fswers were presented her.
All the patients accepted thei
flowers with afiectionate glances a
their visitor, who fitted noiselessll
from bed to bed, parting with kinc
words as freely as with her flowers.
THE Result OF ovERwoRK.
These girls" said the nurse, '' ar,
nearly all suffering from one disease
nervous and physical prostrstion. /
is the result Of overwork. Some 0