The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-01
PAUPeRs BECAUSE OF THE CHURCH.
A Case Showing How Charitable WomeA
Are Sometimes Imposed On.

Are Sometimes Imposed On.
Nancy A., aged 80; can wash. iron,
clean house, sew. cook-"almost anything
that will earn an honest living" she says
A crippled brother, blind grandmother,
widowed sister who has the asthma and
three children under 8 years of age.
Seven people to be supported by one pair
OF hands" Tears in her eyes "a she says
it. Children partly clothed by Sunday
school of your church, a'am, and oh, the
kindness of your church ladies to me can
never, no, never, forget" 1t seems that
they give her cart loads off cast of clothes
and provisions, always employ her 20 wash
dishes, ETC., at church entertainments. and
never let her suffer for anything" Nancy
is recommended to me by one of our Dorcss
society as a capable and willing washer
woman. Thus runs the original entry.
Now | needed a washerwoman as little
as needed belvedere on the roof of my
house, but l wanted to help Nancy, and
would be consistent TO my principle of not
making honest workpeople into paupers
So invented work for her ] hunted up
some dozens of white things" that were
following on my linen shelves and packed
them into a hamper. Nancy could not do
them up in my laundry. There were
children at home, and nobody but them
three invaleeds to get their meals and keep
the pore things out Of the fire"
She looked askance at the hamper when
1t was offered. The water arrangements
in her fiat were very ''oconvenient." But
a lady on the next floor would help her
bring up the water If twas allowed in the
bill.
I 60 nkI.
thoughtful women are too often inconsid-
crate in the matter of water arrange
ments" in tenement houses It is not as
easy to keep clean when every drop Of
water must be lugged up two flights OF
sts'rs as when you have only to turn
faucet to get all you want. Nancy next sug-
gested modestly that the wet clothes
would have to be carried up to the roof to
be dried. But the lady down stairs would
help her with the baskets for twenty-five
cents. She didn't like to risk straining
her back. If anything should happen to
her what would become of her three in
valeeds and the children'
ALLOWED" the additional quarter Of
dollar. With seven people dependent upon
her Nancy's back must be respected She
kept the linen ten days, but it was done up
beautifully paid her all she asked with
cheerful alacrity. and threw in at her
imodest) request some flannel to make I'M
dervests for the grandmother She was
unduly grateful, and promised to come to-
morrow for the next week s supply of work.
On the morrow | had, instead, badly
spelled note-in pencil, of course. Nancy
had meant TO tell me yesterday that she
could not do my washing no more, but did
not have the heart TO disappoint me, seetng
l was so set upon having her do it, and
what with fetching up the water from
below and the clothes on to the ruff sech
work didn't pay. She was sorry to disc
bleege me, for nobody need wanter work
for a nicer lady, and would please re-
member to mention her name TO the ladies
at the strawberry festival next week"
l waylaid her in the lobby OF the hall
when the festival was over. She had big
basket on each arm full of cake. bread,
sugar. etc, bestowed with her supper, over
and above 50 in money. She was in hurry
to get home to her ''invaleeds, but paused
amiably to hearkec TO my query as to her
for the house cleaning season.
You're the fourth person what's asked
me that to-night"-affob bic and compliment.
1.-THE church ladies has been so good to me
that | hate to seem unobligin'. But / !
really don't see how I'm to leave home all i
day, or even half dag. There's my three
invaleeds, you know"
Can you do some plain sewing for mei |
Would you undertake a weekly job of |
mending TO be done in your own house7
'pm Altered to promise, Ina'ann-on &C !
COZ Mt of my invaleeds, you know. They |
tai es UP all my time"
but your grandmother u not a cripple |
and your brother is not Iind, and your
sister has the use of her eyes and limbs.
Couldn't they help one another for few
hours Of the day."
"Oh, ma amt with a smile OF superior
pity for my ignorance. you can't imagine
how much waitin' on them poor iuvaleeds
requires. If'twasn't for the Sunday school
and the blessed church ladies we should a
gone to heaven together long ago. the
Lord ought 70 reward em."
"A worthy creature" remarked the pres
dent of our Oorcas. who CHANGED to pass
Is Nancy and her load moved on, and 80
grateful One OF the Lords poor"
In the ten FsarS that have passed since
hat particular strawberry festival Nancy
las not. | think, missed q single church
or failed to Szger LCms
lnder the weight Of the fragments gath
red up by generous hands. In that time
know she has never done . days work il
he could hep it.-MArion Harland IL
Seb York Herald