The Penn's Grove record., 1892-08-12
TINED OF II
Pathetic Stretch ct IAss ~ . xovsh's Con,
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1
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A visitor inspecting the charities
OF a manufacturing town In New
England came at last 70 the Home OF
Old Ladies. Being young and kindly,
he thought II he were to build such
an inn for tired souls while they
waited the coming Of the Shadow. u
should be set In the midst OF quiet
woods or gay and friendly MOWERS.
This home looked out on dusty streets
and brick-yards.
Within the managers had fulfilled
their duty. Each inmate had nall
of a clean, bare chamber, q bed, q
chest of drawers and . chair. Sne
was given so many ounce OF meat
and bread for breakfast, Of meat q
potatoes for dinner, Of bread and ap-
p~le-sauce for tea. The food never
varied throughout the year.
The house was kept spotiessly
clean, yet there was In 1t Q favor OF
decay and hopeless sadness. Inc
withered old women sat silent, or
talked feebly of yesterdays wind or
to-day's rain. No other cnan9es
came to them. They bad 10 nome
nor place nor work In the world.
Nothing but this little bare space In
which to sit and wait for death.
'sDo o know anything of thems"
the stranger asked Of the matron.
.sThat tall woman, now? She has .
strong, noble face. Who Is shes"
THAT is Ann Milleg," she said. ~
happen to know her story. Her nus
band died, leaving her penniless with
three children. She opened = iittie
school for small children. She did
tailoring at night The baby, a girl,
! was sickly. For years this woman
sat stitching by the cradle until mid
night or early morning.
s'She had great ambition for her
children. She worked and starved
herself to keep them at school to
make their lives happy and full. One
ts.now . merchant; the other edits a
newspaper in the West. The girl
married a wealthy farmer"
"And their mother is-heref' said
the stranger, amazed.
"Yes," said the matron. "Her
children took her to live with them
in turn. But she was not pleasant
to look at, and her manners were out
of date. The grandchildren, striving
to be fashionable, found her In the
way. Grandmother's seat at the
table and her chamber were needed
for more stylish guests.
"Her o and daughter tired OF
her old stories, Of her love, and OF her.
, They patio the sum necessary to place
her here, and they never come near
her,"
The visitor went to her and talked
cheerfully for q few moments He
happened to mention his home.
Her withered face flushed and trem-
bled. care you from Al" she
cried. my son John lives therel l
am expecting q visit from him. He
has not been here for more than a
year. But John is 80 busy, you
knowl
"Did you ever see his little boys?
I was so fond of them! / dream about
chem every night almost. They loved
me SO. They would climb on my
knees and beg for stories, and hug
and kiss me.
ssTheir mother disapproved Of 1t.
She said an old PERSONS breath was
unhealthy. 1t may be 90. But II
could only see them onceI" she said,
rising in her excitement.
, sTell her ! will only look at them.
I will not touch nor kiss them. MY
children have outgrown me. But the
little boys loved me. Tell John 1t Il
!. near the end. Oh, l'm comfortable
: enough But I want my own! And
I am 90 lonelyl Beg him to come
to bring them once before I go!"
q When they had left berthe strange
said, Surely you have no other sucf
caseP The children who could 81
abandon q mother are monstersl"
"You are mistaken. Many ambiti
Gus men and women, pushing int
society, ind mother Q weight The,
. put her out Of sight In . Home, AM
forget her."
The stranger, looking back, say
: AIMS hungry eyes following him
sBut God" he said to himself, 'Go'
: does not forget the cruelty Of the on
0 or the loneliness of the other"
80 AL 49, G---A