Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-03-26

plUdl. LII VIII Ildhc YOU USlGCI stIl
your life for having seen it. Right
through the trees there, at the right,
do you see that magnificent building
with its four galleries running around
the first four stories of the house?
Its gate tells in golden letters that
this is children's home, given by
Margaret, where to the end of time
orphans will be cared for and educat-
ed by her bequests. Many of our
cemeteries contain, in the form of
handsome tombs, Margaret's simple
vet munificent thoughtfulness. Here,
you know ,all are buried above ground
in crypts or ovens of masonry; and
when you visit our cemeteries-as
strangers often do, for there are no
other burial places like these in
America-you will see stone tombs
Containing a dozen, two or four doz-
en- bodies, maybe) inscribed: Civ
en- to the little sisters of the poor, by
Margaret 'The Strangers Tomb, ,giv-
en- by Margaret For the Aged, CIV
en- by Margaret, l Isuppose Margar-
ct spent more money for the city than
the richest man in the history of the
state and of her sympathy and dis
cernment of the needs of the poor,
the half could never be told. She
spent nothing on herself. A clean,
blue calico dress, stout shoes, "a black
straw bonnet, a knitted jacket or
shoulder-shawl an iron bedstead IN
a room without even a rocking-chair,
and overlooking the bake-shop. She
had no time to enjoy luxuries, even
had she possessed them. AS long as
there was weeping child or friend
less woman in the city, what time
had she to fold her arms in a rocking
chair? While there were unburied,
coffinless forms, could she adorn her
home of the living? And so it hap
pened that to the end of life Margar-
ct spent neither time, care or money
on herself. She forgot there was
such mortal as Margaret.
And when, one day, the news
went around that Margaret was dead,
the great city arose and put on mourn
ing; the business houses were closed:
all the employments of the city stood
still. The day of her burial thous-
ands of her little orphans followed
her beir as mourners every church
sent delegations of hOnOr-bearers;
the public school children joined in
the throng; the houses were draped
along the line of march all the bells
in the city tolled; civic and military
joined in the procession with ecclesi-
astics; there never was here funer-
al like Margaret's.
Afterwards it was found that her
possessions had been so disposed that
had death come at any moment the
affairs of this life were we'll and in
telligentIy wound up. There were
no personal effects of value, but even
her few garments she left to the poor,
and with the proceeds of her wise in
vestments her charities are royalty
endowed.
This statue is the gift of the city,
to show in this public way the esteem
in which she is held. 1t is very like
Margaret. The motherly figure, seat
ed with one arm encircling standing
child at her side; the untrimmed
dress, coarse shoes, the little crochet
ed shawl about her shoulders are
homely, but who would change them
for finer clothing? The smooth hair,
with it's old-fashioned French parting,
the strong chin, the pleasant mouth,
the serious eyes-ls there not some
thing fascinating in the contradictions
of her face?
Did you ever see such head on
woman's shoulders? Massive, wonder
full. That is the head of a statesman
and fnancier, while the mouth, with
it's pleasant smile, telling of the tact
and natural suavity of Margaret's
character, proclaim the elements of a
born diplomatic. Yet look again at
the broad, massive brow, and see the
earnest, loving eye that speaks of
pure womanhood look once more at
the coarse garments and you will see
that poverty added her load to the
ordinary burden of womanhood, while
ignorance, bereavement, affiiction,
loneliness join hands with poverty
against this soul. But the massive
brow conquered; the untaught brain
| triumphed, and under the leadership
of the sad, gentle eyes gave the suf-
fering what might, had she been a
man, born in other circumstances,
have been the gain of nations and the
glitter of the trappings of diplo-
mate.
When / consider what Margaret
did for one city, under such despe-
rate disadvantages, wonder what she
could have done for the world if all
environments had been right.
Yet it looks like her, and there will
never be another face in marble like
it to the end of time. She was a
grand tender, strong, orig
inal, pitiful, helpful, wise.
We have yet some wonderful wo-
men in New Orleans. Every charity
that you can mention is endowed or
supported by the ladies of the state.
Our Woman's Exchange employment
bureaus, Home for w Working-women
libraries, homes for aged, hospitals