Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-11-13
The Constant Comfort.

The Constant Comfort.
In little village, several years ago.
all the girls between the ages of twelve
and eighteen formed themselves into
club called "The Constant Comforts"
Their rules required them to do all in
their power to help and comfort every
one.
Now their bright eyes saw many
hitherto unnoticed reasons for the sill
vering hairs of their parents; and busy
hands. together with loving hearts,
hastened to the rescue.
They often found themselves the
cause of trouble, and looking over
their yesterdays, found many thought
less words and actions that were
"grieving mother"
How they worked that summer!
By early rising, and careful storing
up OF precious minutes, they found
some time could be spent doing up"
sick Mrs. Lanes ironing. The village
gossips even averred that they had
seen two of them" saving and split
ting wood in lame Polly Pickard's
back yard.
You see they were not girls who had
all the money they wished to spend,
else they might have hired all these
hard tasks done. No, they must deny
themselves many pleasures that they
might do the Fathers will.
Their motto was:
Bear We one another's burdens. As
We have therefore opportunity, let us
do good unto ALL"
In their loving labors, many oppor-
tunities for using their talents" came.
Matte painted, and many were the
plaques, panels, and bright cards that
found their way into cherries sick
rooms, or frightened dingy walls.
In fact, it was owing to one of these
cards that "Smoky Row" was changed
to crosse Lane"
Smoky Row was the worst street in
the village. There lived the men who
spent their earnings for liquor, and the
women who had, long ago, grown dis
couragcd with trying to keep them
selves respectable. There the chill
dren, who should have been in school,
roamed the alleys, quarreling and
swearing.
The Constant Comfort Club always
made it a point to speak to all the
Smoky Row inhabitants whom they
knew. This engendered kindly feelings
on both sides, and gave the club much
influence over the children of the Row.
Coming home from school one even
ing, Matte and Lulu met little Nora
Ryan, Row girl. They spoke to her
pleasantly and were about to pass on,
when Nora caught sight of card which
Matte was carrying.
She fairly screamed with delight, and
asked:
do sick folks have them things in
their houses?"
II don't know" answered Matte,
"but you may have this in your house
if you wish"
Nora's eyes beamed, but she looked
in dismay at her dirty fingers.
"You're awful good, Miss Matte; but
I amt fit to tech it" she said, sadly.
"I'll tell you what we'll do" 1t was
Lulu's gay voice. We'll wrap it in
this paper, and when you reach homo
you must put it in some nice clean
place until you have washed your
hands. then you may unwrap it and
look at it."
1t was speedily enveloped, and away
ran little Nora with her fortune.
"Every one" said there was some-
some day; but even those reliable
prophets began doubling the truth OF
their assertions when he sank lower and
lower, and at last was found in the
meanest shanty in the Row-his better
nature hidden drowned, mean) III his
cup.
He loved his wife and children dear
ly, and was never known to treat them
unkindly, even when intoxicated. SO,
when Nora ran to him that evening
with her prize, he took her on his knee
and examined it carefully. He was a
true lover of the beautiful, and when
his brain was not clouded by drink his
surroundings were obnox Gus to him.
and he even tried to change them at
times. AS for Mrs. Ryan, she had given
up in despair long ago. She felt that
they would never have anything nice
and pretty again-and she had almost
stopped caring.
All, little card, I see clearly that You
have mission before you!
When the Club girls met Nora again,
they were surprised to see the change
IN herself and her clothing. She was
20 radiantly happy that she could not
have kept from telling the cause, even
without the questioning glances.
"You see, Miss Matte" she began,
its all on account of the card You gave
ne. Father said twas too pretty to
tesp laid away; We must put it up on
the wall where there was good Zig hit.
Well, when we put it up there, that
made the wall look so bad we Just give
it coat of whitewash; an then O.
course the rest looked so dirty we Just
fixed all at onct"
That was only beginning; but the
rest was easy enough. The spirit Of
emulation worked in its place there.
The neighbors could not bear to see
them Ryans" rising above them, so
they resolved to clean their houses and
yards too.
They received incentives in the shape
of rose slips and flower seeds, which
the Club donated in such pretty way
that no one could possibly take offense.
The fathers OF the Club girls found
time to look up good places for the Row
men and encourage them in honesty
and diligence.
Under these influences there was lit
tie excuse for drunkenness, and as
time went by the little shanties gave
way to more substantial and ornament
nj honuao pasac ~ tha