The Colfax chronicle., 1888-12-22
ONE WOMAN'S WAY.
The Grand Work Accomplished by
Pretty Mss. Jenner.

The charitable committee had been
holding grave consultation. The
town, nameless in my story, was pecu-
liar In having two distinct local features,
and two differing sets of inhabi-
tants. Walking in one part of its ter
ritory, where, surrounding the green
campus, the college buildings lifted
their stately fronts. the visitor was
aware of q tranquil atmosphere, dis
turbed periodically by gusts of boyish
glee and the shouts of baseball and
tennis players; yet the dominant feel
ing here was of aristrocratic repose
and seclusion. At the opposite end
were tall, black-browed factories, with
many grimy windows and chimneys
belching smoke in puffs and clouds,
while all day the hum Of spindles and
the whirr of looms told their tale of
anxious industry. About the factories
clustered the swarming homes Of the
operatives, and fringing these, like
tatters on the edge of garment, were
the saloons, which did their best to rob
the working man of his wages, and
break the hearts OF his wife and chill
dren.
As the Jews had no dealings with
the Samaritans, equally as remote from
Intercourse. and alien in feeling, were
the people of the college quarter and
the people of the town. The churches
did what they could in an intermittent
fashion, to bridge the gulf, but their
efforts were not successful. and they
failed to get into the inner life of the
outsiders, to whom their interest
came with a half-unconscious tone OF
patronage quickly resented-for none
are more sensitive than the poor. The
charity organization did better, and
still, when the years work came up for
estimate, there was always disappoint-
ment because of evident failure.
The Greshams are hopeless" said
one member, pushing back his specta-
cles from his puzzled eyes. Father,
q good workman. but seldom sober,
and growing worse weekly. Mother,
discouraged and frivolous, a gadder
about, our visitors say. Jake, in Jail
three months for theft. Sally, sent to
the reformatory. Lucy, John, Theo-
dore and Garfield, all taking their
turns at basket begging. It's astonish-
ing that an American family can sink
so low"
Americans surpass foreigners in
capacity for shiftlessness, when once
they have lost their self-respect," said
Rev. DR.. Evandorf, with emphasis.
I'VE may as well cross the Gresh-
ans from the list," said Mrs. Lucas,
addressing the chairman. 1--WE ought
to assist the worthy poor. These Gresh-
ans are distinctly unworthy"
The Lord does not treat us on that
basis, Mrs. Lucas" demonstrated Dea-
con Bayfield,. shaking his grixzled
head. "For that matter, He has long
suffering for the worst of us miserable
sinners. don't want to abandon the
0ASoAiesAAAS yOe, euous II COuicoS i uOn
see what more we can do"
A silence fell upon the committee.
1t was broken by a clear, bell like voice
from a lady on the outer rim of the ciy-
Gle. She was the youngest person pres
ent, blue eyed as q baby, with wavy,
golden hair. and color that deepened
from shell pink to blush rose. as she
modestly said: II will take the Gresh-
ANS for next year. Mr.. Chairman. Let
me have the family as my special
work."
Mrs. Lucas frowned, the deacon
beamed, the good committee, as a
whole, wore an air of relief, and leaving
the troublesome Greshams to Mrs. Jen-
ner, passed on to other themes.
Paying her first visit to the Gresh-
ANS abode. pretty Mrs. Jenner had
need of all her courage. The home
was unlike any she had ever seen. No
word except sssqualor" was sufficient
10 describe the kind of shameless, out
at-the elbows, defiant poverty. which
proclaimed itself in the rents and tears
pf the frouxy mothers gown, in the
1irty hoor and windows, the broken
,hairs, the rusty stove, the wretched
apologies for beds, and the general !
'onfupion and the lack Of thrift Ehps-
rlQQ ~ threshQld, Mrs. Jeuner I ~