The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-25
BELLA COOKE AND "K1rrED CLOUDS

NHilttcu lot IHE INES Dy muy ALLISON BAKERY
l am prone to believe that the great
poet must have known Bella Cooke
when no wrote
"a countenancc, in which did meet
Sweet records, promises sweet"
For there l perhaps, no woman, living
whose personality Is 80 interesting, so
engaging and life 30 pure and Bono
fetal to all who knew her, as this wo.
man, who has lain on bed Of sickness
for thirty.fve years.
Her maiden name was Bella Beeton.
and she was born In Hull, England, in
July, 1921
Her childhood was passed as all our
lives arc, in pleasures mingled with
childish worries and sometimes little
acts of disobedicpco.
She married quite young and came to
America with her husband, who was
interested in minos
-Four children were born to them, but
4 two, think, were taken while quite
Z young.
Their life in America was not pros
porous one, and with an infant in her
arms she suddenly found herself bereft
was taken from her.
The sickness that has kept her con-
fined to ono small room for thirty five
years, and the good to which God has
enabled her to apply it are tho remark
able parts Of her story.
She has moro friends of influence,
more friends OF poverty and want, is
visited by moro people OF every condi-
tion In life than any person in New
York.
Mrs. Bottc me, Mrs. Field, Mrs. Jaf-
fray and Mrs. Palmer and too MANY
others TO mention are among her vlsi-
tors.
Every Thanksgiving and Christmas
her room is q s; orehouse of provisions,
and tho poor wea.y mothers come with
sparkling eyes and a smile to receive
their basket of vegetables and turkey;
at Christmas the veritable Santa him
self must deposit not little of his store
for the wee ones.
In this small cottage, in the rear of
the block on Second avenue, between
Twentyseventh and Twenty. eighth
streets, in the little room where spotless
purity, cheerfulness and beauty charm
and delight tho eye, while the sweet
face and tones of It's inmate make the
heart glad; purposes are formed for new
life, tho weak trembling ones are
strengthened, the erring counseled, and
no one leaves her presence as they en-
tered 1t.
Her room contains bit of sea and
land. Flowers bloom in her windows,
sea shells peep out from the palms and
clam bering vines and landscape adorn
her walls.
At her side is small bookcase con-
tanning Sesame and Lilies" by Ruskin;
yesterday, To-day and Forever" by
Bicherstetch, and by Canoe and Dog
train" and many more such helpful and
interesting books.
She was pleased in her weak ,su ifering
state to keep diary and write as her
condi ion OF health would permit her
and the outcome OF her diary is tho book
"Rifted Clouds
It's book interesting in the extreme,
one that should be in the home of every
Christian family.
The book is beautifully bound and
costs moro trife. 1t contains por-
trait OF her ten years ago, and near the
close Of the book is true picture of
her and her room as they are to-day.
/ sat at her bedside, looked in that
sweet, pure face, listened to her cheer
full talks, but was saddened to see
spasm OF pain now and then fit over
her peaceful countenance.
Tho dedication OF her book is unique
and appropriate, being Memories of
my fathers love, written in prayer and
pain" etc.
"Will you not come often, my dear"
she asked us as we left, and we felt
what blessed privilege to sit in her
presence.
She gives 100 dolls to as many little
girls at Christmas time, all neatly
dressed with clothes ito tako eff and
on" she said ''lor when l was a child it
was my delight to dress and undress."
GLOW many have you On your list,
Mrs Cooker / asked
One hundred little girls and as many
boys" she answered, and not one
must be disappointed, for l @m their
only Santa Claus"
In tho pictur. containing her room.
bed and her own sweet face, one has
view OF her means of hcIping herseif,
OF the table on which Rlfted Clouds"
was written and every little detail Of
her surroundings a present,
She is, Of course, Kings Daughter,
and they are her best friends. They
d-ess her dolls for her and as she saws
in nor book
"And we talk OF ifc's holy d1tcs
And the crosses that lie 10 the way.
While lie still and pray"
Through Edison's wonderful invention
she is enabled to lie in bed and hear
the sermon by her pastor on Twenty
seventh street. which is one OF her
greatest pleasures.
She has clothed the naked fed the
poor, sent the foreigner, who wanted TO
return to his native land, rel ,icing on
his way.
little motto hangs on the head of
her bed that is beautifully appropriate,