Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-04
POOR AND In WANT
The Wretched Surroundings OF
an Unfortunate Woman
FRIGHTENED BY THE HERALD
A Sad Story Of Sickness and Persecution.
S4ekett Casts His Bread-A Noble
Example of 6eaSvolence.

That THE HERALD Relief Fuad 10 ap-
preciated by those who have shared IT'S
benefits IS attestsd every day ia the ex-
presAons of sincere gratitude from the
rec pients themselves. Yesterday Mr..
Frye visited. among other places, a
miserable room IN q ives, side block oc-
eupied by an old and siekiy woman.
The squalor aud Indebtedness OF that
woman's surroundings were indelibly
stamped on the minister's mind. aud
he declares it to be the most pitlf1l
picture OF AFFECT poverty he ever saw.
TINS woman through no fault OF her
own is physical wreck. Her poverty
comes from sickness and desertlon.
she is alone and helpless in the world
without known kith or kin IN the city
and with but one or two dis
tant relatives IN the state. When Mr..
Frye entared her dingy room she was
sitting on an empty soap box, placed
where the rays OF the winter sun shone
through the stained aud murky win
dow psnes. In one corner u bundle OF
bedclothes was stored against the wall.
Near 1t, on the fioor, was u musty TIN
pail and washbasln. There Was
neither soap nor towel visible. There
was not a chair, table or picture IN the
desolate room. The only things there
besides these already mentioned. and
the woman, was greasy single-butner
oil stove and tin plate. Ii there was
else than these he could not see.
Here's Her Story.
81 hired this room some time ago."
she said III answer TO questions. 81 had
been sick but felt better and thought
! would get IL room TO call my home
and 90 washing for living | hadn't
any money 10 speak OF, but what / had
bought some things for the house
paid down little and promised to pay
the balance IN weekly payments.
| got bed, some chairs, dishes, a stove
and table. / got along pretty we'll
and was beginning to feel quite indie
| pendent. paid over half on all my
stuff, when was taken sick again. /
was sick long time. ] was given
things TO eat by my neighbors in the
| block. | was told 10 so to a man
| named kruse IN the city hall. Ike
| keeps store on tins street and
one OF my neighbors sent him
word to come and see me but he never
came. Then the men bought my
| things of came and took them away be.
cause l had not paid anything on them
in three months. You see what is left.
| If ! could work and earn l would
gladly do il, but am not strong enough
/ to drag my body down stairs. Yestei-
| day the landlord told me must move
out because he had chance TO rent
his room. nave no place to go-waat
| shalt do?' The poor woman broke
into convnlsive sobs and wept scalding
| tears. Mr.. Frye sent ray of sunshine
into that cherries life and when he
| departed her Dened,ctlon accompanied
| him.
DO you not think that the work of
| relieving such distress rs this is Godll Ike.
Can you no. deny yourself one pleas
IRE to aid IN the work?
If you cannot your heaven will be
married by regret; If you can. and dc
not, you will carry strange face into
the Kingdom.
"Sackett the newsboy" has opened
bis heart TO the cry OF distress. With
his characteristic interest IN all public
movements he has determined to join
with tie others and contribute substa n
tial relief. He has placed to the order
of TIE HERALD an order for bread
sufficient TO supply any and every de
mand that shall be made on or fore
either of the regular relief days
Wednesdays and Fridays, continuing
until The HERALD Relief Fund j,
closed.
One of the broadest and grandes
offers vet made IS one made by Mr..
Charles X. Sigh. Il is an example OF
genuine beneyolence that is rarely
shown. but at his request It's nature !.
withheld for the present. When hi.
proposition is accepted and the relief
| under 1t afforded TO one or moro de
serving families with, or rather without
his permission. it will be made public
Meanwhile there is still every reason
why the flow of provisions, groceries
and cash should continue.
HERALD RELrfP FUND.
Previously acknowledged ......sl05 2,
Wednesday.
n llBcUu. ............-ss..-.......e l.V
/ Mrs. NJ. Mershon, bed clothing; ,
y