Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-10-13
LISTEN TO THIS TALE OF WOE
Respectfully submitted to Ch"rlt"bly
Disposed People.


Crippled grandmother, unable to walk,
sits i'm an old lumber wagon, and rides
through the streets accompanied by her
12-year-old granddaughter. Out on farm,
"in the west part of the town." lives the
old lady's son. He is dying of consump-
ton. his wife is frail woman, and they
have the regulation family of five children.
Grandmother and granddaughter are glad
to receive clothing or anything that the
family can use, but they especially want
money with which to buy stove. Ihey
know of a secondhand one which "Mr.
Parker" would sell for 50.
Mrs. Frank A. Wells, who is active in
the work of the associated charities, IS
told this pitfu tale saturday by two young
ladies who have seen grandmother ana
granddaughter Can't something be done
for these unfortunates? Mrs. Wells says
she will investigate the case. Starting on
her errand she finds grandmother and
granddaughter going about "tellng again
their tale of woe. In their wagon are 30
or 40 bundles of clothing and household
articles that kind hearted people have given
them In fact, they have a regular cargo
of miscellaneous merchandise. But oh,
how they want the stove to keep away the
cold from the consumptive son and nus
band, his frai wife and the regulation five
children If only little money is given
to help buy it bow grateful they will be!
Mrs Wells was not altogether satisfied
with the answers which she got from them.
They had been living, they said, on the
"Fisk place" in the west part OF the town,
where their house had been burned. This
name they had doubtless got mixed with
the Fitch place, where the buildings were
burned few months ago. They showed
acquaintance with different parts of the
town, and knew the names of several
people.
Mrs Wells did not give them money,
but told them they should have the stove if
their story proved true. Sunday she and
her husband drove to the part of the town
described to see what could be found out
about this poor family but nobody had
heard of them, and moreover, the residents
were all indignant to think that, in
farming community, anybody should be al
lowed to suffer for the necessities of life.
Mr.. and Mrs. X. w. DeWolf also went
riding Sunday, and with better success, for
they saw the old lady and her granddaugh-
ter and other members of the family; but
they were not in the west part of the town.
| They were all very much at home in
gypsy camp on the Putney road.
Grandmother and granddaughter came
to town again Monday to get another car
90 of goods and money to buy that stove.
As soon as their presence became known
the selectmen and Chief of Police Mcclure
were notified. Mcclure ordered the pair to
move on. They pleaded and told "o'er and
Ger the story of their poverty and suffer
ing, but the officers heart was adamant.
He took his team and followed them, and
they drove on and on into the edge of
Marlboro. When the shades of night were
falling fast Mcclure returned. After he
had arrived in the village the grandmother
and granddaughter were seen driving back
on their way to join the consumptive son
and father, the frail wife and the five chill
dren in the gypsy camp on the Putney
road. Next day the camp moved on north
ward, and doubtless the gra dmother con
graduated herself on what a snap she had
had in Bratteboro.
1t should be added that while grand
mother was in the village Saturday she
was seen at one time with all the money
that she could tie up in a handkerchief
None OF the Mr.. Parkers in town have a
stove for sale
The people who gave so freely 10 grand
mother should ponder this little story.
Their intentions were of course good.
They gave quickly. out of good hearts, but
they let their sympathies run away with
their heads. Ii was easier to give than TO
investigate. Perhaps the worst of it is
that the gifts of clothing will be needed by
many family in actual want before the
winter is over
Brattleboro charities are now carefully
organized, and there is no need that any
person or individual should suffer. If any
case of need comes to your notice, report
1t to some member of the associated char
tiles, or to the charitable committee of anv
one of the churches, and prompt relief will
be given if the case is genuine.