The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-24
CHlLDREN'S WARD LETTER.
Retreat tor the sick.

are staying there al present. Oh know
when last wrote TO YOU Annie, Lizzie
and Lula were the girls. and Hunter the
only boy, now there is another "wee
grille whom we call Fair. and there are
three more boys. Landon, Mac and John,
whom ! must Introduce TO you ladies
first Of course, but Fair Is such tiny
specimen and so bashful that j
can't keep up her head long
enough for you even 10 see her soft
brown eyes Her poor little heart was
nearly broken when her mother left her
TO return 10 her home in South Carolina,
and for several days she would not be
comfoted. but now she is quite chatty
and feels better satisfied. She il six
years old. hut has never walked step
we hope a great deal from the treatment,
but 10 viii take a long time and great
efforts 10 make her even try. She and
Lula are great friends, so ] hope she
will catch some of the spirit our
odd missus" shews and never
say die" | wish poor little Macs
chances for walking were AS good a
hers. He is abou, the same age, but has
ha-dlv anv use of himself AT all, Just
doubles up when any one attempts TO
stand him on his feet. He is well formed,
cles-a brighter little head though can't
be found on many shoulders, or sweeter
disposition met with often. Landon. too,
is a real good boy, and brave as a lion.
His leg is fastened up TO the back
of chair, and when the doctor
comes to open it and take out pieces
OF dead bone, he doesn't cry or make any
fuss AT all, but bears il as most men
wouldn't. Our boy John, Is fine, large
rosv-cheeked fellow, about twelve years
old YOU can see he isn't sick, and must
wonder why he is herer | am sorry 10
tell YOU, his complaint is caused by being
useful, a trouble that very few boys his
age suffer from The fact is, he was
trying 20 help in lifting a wheel from
a wagon on his fathers farm when it
struck his ankle-bOne, iniuring il so much
that he was taken very sick and has been
laid up from it ever since, besides having
lately been obliged TO submit 10 severe
operation
IL was a touching sight 10 behold the
effect of their companions condition
upon some of the other children. They
didn't see him when the doctor cut his
leg open. but they knew it had to be
done, and sympathized with him. Lizzie,
whose heart is a fountain of love and
tenderness, undertook TO comfort his
mother, knowing that she was suffering
as much as her child, and Hunter had TO
90 away for awhile, being too nervous to
stand the sight and sounds of pain. For
tunately they were not Of long duration,
and the operation being very successfully
performed all minds and hearts were
soon az ease, and expressions Of thank
fulness were on every lip. il is
not often that our little ones
in the ward have any troubles Of this
sort. and it never lasts long, they are
soon bright and happy again. They had
the incest kind of time at Christmas
so many kind friends remembered them,
and their tree bore such lots of pretty
things that they were wild with delight,
especially those who had never seen such
a wonderful tree before They have
been kept busy ever since dressing and
arranging their families which have in
creased awfully, and need entire ward
robes.
Fair had house presented her, so is
obliged TO engage Lula's services to as
sist her in keeping it. You would sup
pose they were opening the uptown
hotel, 10 hear the consultations going on
between them, and they have fixed 1t up
so nicely that / will give them recon-
mendations for places by the time said
hotel is completed. Our little ones were
not selfish i'm their enjoyment Of the
Christmas cheer, but, "a usual, sent their
Offering Of toys TO the poor children less
fortunate than themselves, and in this
way they learn the pleasure and blessed
ness of 0ieing, which so few people I'M
derstand
On Holy Innocents Day we had the
usual children service, and quite mum
Der of little ones attended Lula's fam
ily wished her 10 be baptised, 50 we
thought there could not be better time
for bringing the little one into the fold,
and the clergyman added this sweet ser
vice 10 the one for the day. ! believe the
child knew and felt what she was doing
and tried toprepare herself by learning
the Catechism, and doing what she was
told a Christian ought TO do. The font
that was used was kindly loaned
by the Monumental Church, and found
+ 10 be a valuable relic of olden
time IL is a plain silver basin with the
following inscription on the back and
around the rim of it Given by Martha,
the wife of Edward Jaquelin, and Ed
ward their son, for the use of the church
/ in James City. The last died in Hack
ney. Inferred in Shadwell Churchyard,
aged Is years, 1894" After the James
Ciry Church was deserted the basin
was given by Colonel John Am
bier. of jamestown, a representative
of the family, TO the Monumental Church
in 1881, on condition of its being re
tanned there indefinitely. ! expect
some of my little readers have received
their Christian sign and name from this
same old font
There are four more boys that | would
like TO tell you about, but there Is not
room enough for them in the ward or in
this letter, so they will have to be left
ont, but not "in the cold" ! assure you,
for they are very happy in another room
and visit the ward frequently.
Lovingly, Aunt BELLE.