The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-01-31
FORSYTH'S POOR-HOUSE.
ANNUAL VISITS TO THE HOME
FOR AGED AND INFIRM.
A Graceful Christmas Custom " hich
Has Long Prevailed Among
The Salem Friends.

| The following pleasant and inter
esting account Of a graceful Christmas
| custom, which has long prevailed
among Salem friends, appears in the
January number OF the Wachovia
| Moravian, which-appeared last week
Thirty-eight years ago, six ladies
teachers In the Salem Female Acad
emy, impelled by desire to carry
some Of the Christmas JOY to those
| who could not otherwise obtain it,
m sde a visit TO the County Poor
House in the days that intervened be-
This visit, made possI BILE Dy the kind
ness of Mr.. Augustus FUgle, who fur
ntshed the means of conveyance, has
resulted in the establishment of the
custom Of regular, annual visits, made
during the Christmas season TO the
inmates of the Poor House
For some time this work OF charity
was carried on by the teachers OF the
Academy, but Of recent years 1t has
been taken up by the Ladies OF the
Helping Hand Society,"" and carried
on by the indispensable aid OF Mr..
Fugle, whose conveyances are always
at the service of the members, and
who himself has missed only two trips
during the 80 years.
The order of proceeding on the trips
usually is start made about eleven
o'clock; short religious service, held
Immediately after arriving at the
point Of destination, and directly
afterwards the lOve-feast, which
takes the place Of dinner for the in
mates.
The day appointed for the trip on
this year, 1894, proved to De rather
unpleasant as to the weather; though
clear, very cold and very WET under
foot, so that several persons who had
intended going were prevented from
doing 50. The mem bers of the Society
who were there were: Miss Vogler,
Miss Nina FoltZ, Mrs. Jenkins, Miss
nallie Butner, Mrs. VIM. Peterson,
Miss Sallie Butner, Miss Mary ZeVer-
", Mrs S. A Lineback, Mrs Schaum,
Mrs. Shelton and Mrs. FL A. Line
back. In addition to these were Rev.
A. d. Thaler, who kept the services,
Mrs. Th9ler, Mrs. Skilton, OF New
England, NJ iss Grace Wolfe and Mrs.
Emma Fogle, and number of young
people, who ndered assistance in
the singing, which is so much enjoyed
by the inmates of the house.
1t was pathetic to see the Joy with
which the poor people greeted US.
How they all overflowed with happi-
ness, OIud pfOuuIy uISpIdy lug HeI
new red apron, and anxious to sing
for US in her queer way; Miss Angel,
who shed tears Of joy while the Gospel
hymns were being sung, and Mrs.
Livengood, who assured us that Mr.
and Mrs Grubbs had been father
and mother to herself and her huS-
band, thus giving testimony to the
kindness of Mr.. and Mrs. Grubbs to
those placed in their care.
While the first service was being
held the table was set and the love
feast was prepared in the large dining
room which has been built during the
past year. Beside every plate was
placed paper bag containing soue
Christmas cakes, an orange, an apple
and some candy; and at each plate
some little gift suiteo to the wants of
the individual for whom it was in-
tended. The three untortunates N
the house where the insane are kept
were unusually quiet, and took their
love feast without demur.