Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-06-20
SPREADING SUNSHINE
eLiND JENNlE's PATHETIC STORY or
WAYS OF DOING GOOD.

She Has Built Temple In Tenement,
Where She Holds Sunday school Eaci,
Saturday und Sunday Has Scattered
Sunshine In Many Homes.
In little east side tenement she lives,
Rwoman ''sore afflicted unto God," yet
who knows not the nature of repining.
All. mol If you ask any child of the
neighborhood to tell yoa the happiest,
sweetest. most tranquil person in it,
wager they'll shout with unanimity,
! "Biind Jenniol' e Nfs
And it is true MS truo can be. The light
has gone forever from the eyes, blight
rcsts on tho fcsblo body, but on tho
peaceful soul and on the mind illumed
are lights no doctors or masicisn's skill
could conjuro up, and jennie, Blind
Jennie" overybody's friend in Lewis
street, basks In eternal sunshine.
A simple littlo story is Jennie's. q story
that might gil full Of tears, I suppose,
and much scntimentality. But what is
the use ct weeping IL Jennie smiles? Is
1t not better to rejoice that the little
heroine hns found so much good to do in
the world which has so little good to
offer her?
She was struck by lightning many years
ago--nt least, that is the cause her moth
er gives of her blindness. This mother,
with whom she lives, is little Eighty at
times. and that is ono Of Icnnie's crosses,
but it is her unflagging industry, going
about the streets peddling soap, matches
and iimcracks, which pays the rent and
brings bread to the poor tenement which
the two call home. The bad boys often
chase the old woman, taking advantage
OF her feeble mind, and harass her
greatly. There is no crueler beast in
the jungles OF Asia than the bad boy.
and he has not tho beasts excuse for
cruelty.
After Jennie had been blind some time
the disfguring disease attacked her faco.
1t ate away her mouth and nose unl
compelled her to wear o thick veil when
ever sho went out to tho church or Sun
day school. Doctors said it was a can
Ger. and attempts were made by kinl
friends to get jennie admitted to tho
Cancer hospital. but the physicians there
said that 1T was no cancer. And so. with
that cruelty which sometimes marks tho
conduct of our hospital attendants,
sworn to mercy and kindness, poor Jen-
ME was driven from one institution to
another, and mono would have her. Mono
would have her! Shame be it on the
name Of every onel
And SO sho retreated to the poor little
tenement behind another tenement and
prepared to live out her life as best sho
might.
And then began her Sunday school.
She did not sock for scholars. They
came to her us tho sparrows did to LOOK
for crumbs upon the window sill They
were the children Of the very poor.
Some Of them were Of Hebrew birth.
like Jennie. others were Roman Catho-
lies. Others did not know if they had
been born to any creed, unless it were
the creed Of poverty and anguish.
How they crowded into that little
rooml What comfort they found there
under tho spell of the blind girl, who
seemed to tholn 10 talk with tho tongue
of angels! How they awakened the
echoes Of region which usually re-
sounded to tho songs and curses of the
drunken and tho vilo
Two Sundays in Jcnnio'u veck-Sat-
urday for the jews and Sunday for the
Gentiles.
One day little girl came up to tho
room.
Il want to como to Sunday school,"
she said.
But there is no Sunday school till
after dinner"
well, amt going to have no dinner
today, so guess I'll stay end wait"
You may DO ouro that she was mado I
welcome. and that sho did havo dinner
that day with Jennie and her mother
And that is the Kind of child who be. I
longs to Jennie's Sunday school. There
are fully 80 who belong to it, and who {
attend either one day or the other.
Jennie's knowledge of the Scriptures
and OF the hymns sung in the mission
and at her home is marvellous. If tho
words ofa hymn whose music attracts
her are read to her several times, she re-
them forever after. The sing
ing is one of tho great attractions to the
little ones.
The members Of Jsnnie's class do not
meet at stated hours, but run in when
ever they desire.
All, what glorious thing il was that
the hospitals turned Jennie from their
nhospitable doors! She would have
been SO useless in those warm and cheer
full rooms-a recipient of their aims and
nothing else. whereas she has turned her
into temple and filed ono
u the darkest corners Of the city with
'he light and tho grace of God.
Hope Mission chapel keeps its eve On
Jennie and her mother and Keeps the
wolf from entering at the door, as it
would do sometimes il they were left
absolutely unaided. The good people,
Who are not oyerrich themselves, help I
hem out with the rent and the coal man. {
A few days ago the missionary went !
hopping tor Jennie, and this was what
le bought after paying out s. for tie !
ent: Guilt, $1,r0; cot, S1o5: rndcr- ,
lothins, Sl.75; pillow, "A cents: sheets,
) cents: two cups and saucers and two d
hives and forks. GA cents. and wash
'oard. IS cents.
1.-THE fund from which we drew these /
title purchases" said Pastor John B.
)evins to me. was only SS7, but we
ound that Jennie absolutely needed
hem. and that settled the matter with
s :
There was II great time when Jenrie's =
untlay sehnOl calal,,,fa1 CLrs,t.~.-