The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-08-29
For the Democratic Advocate.
Roses and Peaches.

Much attention has been aroused by the reports of
the Flower Missions which have been organized in
various PLACES during the past few years and many
persons have wished to know exactly how these
Missions are carried on. To such brief account of
the work done in Baltimore will not be without
interest especially to our Westminster friends. At
the outStart of the undertaking few ladies' moved
by sympathy with the sufferers wearing their pain
full days away in the crowded Loneliness of public
hospitals appealed to their friends for substantial
aid advertising the fact that on every Friday from
n. III. until noon, they would be found in the
chapel of Grace Church. ready to take charge of any
gifts of fruit flowers which might be sent thither
either anonymously or accompanied by the names
OF the donors. This appeal has met generous and
continued responses. During the hours mentioned
a card labeled Flower Mission" is hung out oil the
gate opening into the chapel yard, that messen-
gers may be at no loss to know where to enter with
the boxes and baskets sent by their hands. Within
from six TO twelve ladies weekly busy themselves
with their work of mercy. Arrayed in capacious
white aprons Of the most maternal fashion may be
seen sweet sixteen and fair forty sitting around
large tables laden with sweet spoils from gardens
and greenhouses and alike engaged in sorting and
tying up small bouquets. Among the workers we
must not omit to mention our worthy friend, Nora,
an inmate of one of the homes for aged colored
women, who is, in her way as distinguished char
acler as the Uncle Remus' of plantation fame and
who with her dark face beaming with delight, waits
on the Misses and Madams as only Southern at
tendant of the olden time can. 1t is like having
peep into the old South to watch her as she passes
from one to another, smiling benedictions as she
goes cutting string into short lengths to tic the
bouquets, handing fresh selections of color and
sweetness as they are called for from time TO time
clearing the table of waste leaves and other imped
menta and finally helping to arrange the prepa red
clusters in the goody market baskets in which they
| are to he conveyed to their destinations. When
| these are ready the presiding lady inquiries who
among her coadjutors willing to give an hour to
| the duty of visiting the hospitals. Those who can
spare the time signify their availability mentioning
any preference they may feel for some particular
institution, and then the brilliant stream pours forth
like heavily laden train of Spanish mules mustered
by an enterprising arrero. In the city streets and
on the cars the Flower Day" is generally recog
nized. ladies' singy or i'll pairs, proceed towards
| the different hospitals some carrying basket on
| each arm others furnished with more limited
burden according TO the supposed number of the
| patients to be visited. And what bright welcomes
greet them from nurses and doctors. from sick and
convalescents as the gentle ministrants pass softly
from ward to ward, and from bed to bed, distrbu
which adds grace to the gilt Often the way is thu!
| opened. too, for kindly word about the loving
Saviour whose mercy, while observant of our bodily
needs has made costly provision for the mighty re-
demption Of our souls and who assures His pool
creatures that lin all their alictiOns He is afflicted
and that He gave Ills life ransom for many"
on one occasion Il Jewess, visiting her sick nus
band, promptly produced her purse with intention
| to pay for the flowers offered him, but word suf
feed to explain that they were simply brought as
kindly greeting, when she recovered herself with
courteous grace remsrking to or two bystanders
81 thought Madame might be selling them for somt
charity; ladies take much trouble to do good il
so many different ways"
| A poor man, covered by mosquito netting, Wort
such an expression of extreme exhaustion that the
lady hesitated to disturb him, and was about Il
place his bouquet the table beside his bed, bu
noticing the eager CLEAN of his eyes and a fain
movement of his hand, she asked: do you wish mt
to putthe flowers under your net?' "oyes, ma'am
he gasped; please give EN- to me. God bless ye
lady"
Pale women press passionate kisses on the fai
blossoms which seem TO make them for little while
forget their pains and in the coored wards the dis
play ofivory really lights up the room with sud
den flash.
This Mission is branch of the Baltimore Hospita
Relief Association which has effected so much gooC
among those before unreached in any systematic
way FLOWER MISSION.