The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-12-24


one and the worst one. Ii was in state
of dilapidation so hopeless that its owner
hadn't even thought it worth while TO shut
it up. The result was that it was tenanted
without his permission having been asked
family of dull Drained, sallow skinned
chronically INDECENT, half dead creatures
who had been crawling westward in worn
out wagons drawn by dying horses, had
taken possession of it by permission Of
necessity. They had reached Doonville
orable, and there they were, sick, freezing,
starving and dying in state Of destitution
unspeakable.
| saw through tie windows that the
house was inhabited. though the only
figure | could see moving about was more
ghostlike than human. On pretense OF
borrowing match | knocked for admit
lance. A match. such thing was a far
off, undreamed Of luxury to the family
within. There was neither fire nor food in
the house, and the wind, the rain and the
snow came in at will through the glassless
windows. Haven't you noticed that the
very elements conspire with poverty to
make his victims wrctched?
A skeleton man sick unto death lay on
the floor, his head on bundle of dry
leaves Two famished children, i'll and
feeble, were on the semblancc of bed in
another corner Of the room. A very old
woman sat helpless by the side of the sick
children, whose emaciatcd and miserable
mother CROPPED about feebly trying to give
help TO the others. The only one who
seemed to h..ve any life to speak of left
was a wan and ragged little girl with DEL
cate features and big, old eyes.
got fire ard food for them and did all
could for their immediate relief. Then
rushed to tl,c Office of The Trumpet and
wrote such all account of them as would
DE sure 10 send the good people of Doonville
to their door with abundant relief. 1t was
a long and graphic article, and realistic to
a startling degree. We Were not illustrat-
ing newspapers then as now, SO | could
only picture the suffering of this family in
words. However, | gave the article ire
mendous head lines and prominent place.
! The Trumpet was issued the next day,
which was the day before Christmas, and
! it went forth on its work of arousno the
| pity of Donnvlle for the family in the old
house By the river. | was very busy all
that day and could not get to see them.
But when night came and | lay down to
| rest had the satisfaction Of feeling that
| they were provided for, and that | Lad
! been the instigating cause of their relief.
iancied the surprise and sorrow the beney-
client Mrs. Barclay would feel when she
visited them, carrying aid, as she was sure
to do after reading my article. Aud how
distressed, | thought, Mr.. Archibald Doom
would be when he realized that so bad
case Of want existed in the town Of which
he was 50 proud. And others--ever So
many others-wouid be equally interested
and equally helpful In Imagination ! saw
the Ihilanthropists of the community, one
after another, going down TO the old house
by the river side carrying aid and sympa-
thy.
The next morning was Christmas. 1t
was cold and clear, with sharp wind
called CHEEKY in stories, think. but very
uncomfortable for those who are thinly
clad. After breakfast | started down to
see my poor friends by the river. | wanted
O., hoi,, tj,ar, hut oil T oouId do would ha
but cipher in comparison with what had
already been done But thrilled with the
pleasure would experience in seeing their
improved condition, knowing had had a
hand in it.
How forlorn and desolate the house was,
even as seen from altar of. And oh. the
dreariness of Christmas to those within.
A man approached the house just ahead
of me- A second glance told me that it
was the tract distributor. | felt a spasm
OF wrath at the sight of him. How dare
he mock those wretched people with his
printed twaddle about the preciousness of
their souls when their bodies needed food,
and fire and clothing
lie knocked, and the thin little girl with
the pale, delicate face opened the door,
come cut. and Shut it behind her. The
tract distributor took off his hat, she look
ed up at him, and | knew she spoke
though | was not near enough to hear
what she said | noticed, too, tina; she
rais,d her hand in gcsture--a solemn and
intensely dramatic gesture, it seemed to
me, for one so young TO make unconscious
ly. A queer sort of chill crept over me.
| The tract distributor opened the door and
went in, but she stood outside, and was
still standing there when | reached the
door.
Somehow, when | was quite near her
could find no words to inter. She seemed
to understand, and pointing to the door,
said: You can go in If you want to.
| Father died this morning"
stood speechless in the presence of that
childs fearless sorrow.
! '.But help came to you yesterday |
said, my heart sinking as possibility
had never thought of flashed into my mind
| eyes. he-the man who has just gone in
came and was very kind. He stayed by
father all night, and was only away little
while; but father died while lie was gone. y