Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-11
The KINGS DAUGHTERS.

story Told by New York Physician.
Two years ago ten good women in the
city OF New York clasped hands and said:
1--WE will do our charity in the name OF
the King we serve; we shall call ourselves
Daughters of the King, and, making an
Order of that name, those who wish to
join with US in other lands shall be Joined
with US in heart and spirit, until the en-
tire Order shall become as one great wo-
mans soul, sending its incense of good
deeds up to God"
During the two years since this small
meeting of women the Order of the Kings
Daughters has grown and strengthened
over North and South. In every village
there are bands doing good work In the
commencement of this work the idea of
having one symbol for all the bands was a
sensible and beautiful one.
Some interesting stories are told con-
corning the Kings Daughters in New
York. OF course the Society is larger
there than anywhere else, and where there
are so many rich girls, a great deal of good
must be accomplished. One day | was go
ing through Bellevue Hospital in company
with friend who was one of the regular
house physicians. | said
" You know great deal about the char
tiles here Tell me of the Kings Daugh-
ters, Do you think they are doing much
good ?"
"Well, the first Kings Daughters saw"
he said, "were composed of lot of young
girls who came in to walk through the
wards. | thought them chattering, silly
lot. They pulled at their little purple rib
bon-tied crosses, and talked incessantly of
the good they were going to do, while |
followed thinking how |, if an INDECENT in
dividual, would hate help from such a lot
About week after this the head physician
sent me word to go down to the reception
room and attend to the wants of a young
woman waiting there"
Are you the house physicianY p ques-
toned full, fresh voice, as fair young
girl arose to greet me.
Yes, Pm one of the many house
physicians here. What can l do for
you p
GO 1 want to get sick girl in here.
want her to have private room and every
attention. She was one of the housemaids,
and she left some months ago when | was
away. She said she was not strong
looked for her when / returned, and found
her in a wretched hovel wasting away with
consumption. She was very pretty, an
Irish girl, fair, dark-hared and blue-eyed.
1t was terrible to see the wasted wreck of
her beauty lying there breathing out her
life in want and wretchedness. 1t is hor-
rible to think of these working women's
helplessness when health fails
"'Yes, | see great deal of that kind of
thing; so much so that I'm afraid | grow
callous,' | replied.
"'Oh, no; don't think one could. Will
you take this girl? Pll have her sent to
YOU in an hour or So
Yes l said; Il think we can take her,
but there's only two vacant pay rooms at
present, and they are very expensive.
Why don't you put her in the ward ?
They are very comfortable
"'No; ] couldn't bear to think of that,
she said, shaking her beautiful head. "If |
was sick like that girl l couldn't bear to
be put in a great room with lot of other
sick people. | know Maggie wouldn't like
it any better than l.
at came home to me that this girl had
struck the highest note in the scale of char
ity. | had seen so much of ostentatious,
fashionable religion among women that
might have become skeptic in regard to
female piety, had not been prevented by
daily sight of good, quiet workers going
daily in the wards with their need OF
cheer and help. ! knew well the visiting
women who came with tracts and solemn
faces to give little money and great
deal of judgment talk to sick women whose
lives had been sinful. / knew well the
bejewelled danes who came in their car
riages and said they would send number
of sick patients to the wards; and when
they came to visit these sick folks, lectured
on the advisability of more industry and
bath every day.
'' Among the best and most charitable
women one had never said: Il want this
pauper treated as | would wish to be if /
were sick 1t was an entirely new phase
of looking at the poor, and coming from
the lips of a Redfern-made girl it struck
me as marvelously queer. She had about
her all the accessories of fashion, even to
a poodle hound with a silver chain. /
took her to look at the two vacant rooms,
and she chose the most expensive one be-
cause it opened on the south. She said
she remembered when she was sick once
the sunlight was sweeter than anything
else.
"f Shall | take your name and address
in case the girl would wish to see you or
send some message when she eomesp !
asked
"'Oh, never mind about that she said,
Ill be here tomorrow, Just take this
purse and supply her needs if she wants
anything extra and with that she de-
parted.
"The girl was brought in carriage on
pillows She was horribly emaciated and
had that nnearthly, wierd loveliness pc
culiar to the consumptiye Irish girl alone.
Her eyes shone like blue stars in the waste
of her flushed sensitive face. The red
lips often drew convulsively over the
brilliant teeth as though compelling the
fast ebbing life to stay. She could scarce
w speak, being interrupted every instant
by cough that seemed as if it might tear
The frail body &ssunder as lily is torn by
an east wind. wanted to know the name
of her benefactness. but hadn't the heart
70 question her Sgain.
"The pretty girl came next morning
bringing bunch of roses, such as 4
wealthy girl would purchase for bouquet
upon q state occasion. They were Mare
chal Neil and jacqueminot buds, more
precious to the heart OF kower lover than
gold or rubies. The sick girl devoured
ts,n with her eyes as the donor leaned
5ser and kissed her fair brow. ] left them
and waited around the hall till the fair
visitor opened the door and went her way.
shall never forget how she looked that
dav. 1t was winter.
iShe wore gray cloth gown, trimmed
With fur, and high Redfern gray cloth
hat perched upon the fair hair. Beneath
lis brim little gold, wind-blown ringlets
ran riot The fair complexion shaded