The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-09
RELIGIOUS READING.
THE CouNTY INSTITUTIONS.

If 1t did not offer to many people just the OPP
portunity for "Christian effort" that they
are looking for. How many of our readers,
dwelling In country towns and villages, have
ever seen their own county institutions2
How many have visited their inmates2 How
many have 80 much as given thought to
their existence2
We admire those men and women in our
great cities who devote time and thought to
the condition OF those who are shut up In
the great institutions-the almshouses, ref
uges, ,penitentlaries, and many ofus who do not
liyein cities envy them their opportunities. Yet
it Is possible that the small Institutions that
lie within an hours walk or mornings
drive need such ministrations still more. To
begin with, the wardens and matrons Of
county institutions are often Of q lower in
tellectual grade than those In city and State
institutions they may be even more we'll
meaning and conscientious, but they have g
narrower experience and none Of the quick
enfng influences that come from contact with
other people, attendance on public meetings,
access to the literature of the subject. and
the like. Your visit may be most welcome to
them, not to speak Of those under their
charge, and most valuable, spurring them to
new interest intheir charge, giving them a
new motive for well.doing-the conscious
ness of the interest and sympathy Of others
knowledge Of methods and principles. =
And the inmates Of these institutions, how
much they need "Friendly Visitor" "What
sadness and gloom are found In small
county prison or poorhouse," says Miss
Dodge. These people are usually not mon
sters Of iniquity. If they were they would
still need 10, king after in judicious way,
as SHINING, and the unfortunates- how
unfortunate they are! In the lonely, gloomy
almshouse may be, as Miss Dodge says, some
little, lame child. What life for it! What
blessed day for 1t when some unknown but
never-to-be forgotten friend drives up, talks
kindly to 1t, lifts 1t into the carriage or wagon
and takes it away for an hours outing, leaves
1t picture book and bids 1t goodbye with
kiss or a kindly pat on the head. Can we
imagine the brightness Of that day to such a
child?
Or there may be- Miss Dodge reminds us
|; some blind man or woman to whom an hour
Of pleasant chat, bit of news read out, or
pleasant story from simple book would be
comfort ndescribable. And then, II there
3hould be abuses, neglect, inadyertent or de-
signed, such visits would, 60 far to remedy
the evil, though no word OF reproof were
uttered and no complaint made. "Stok and
In prison, and ye visited me" applies to these
country institutions as we'll as to those great
CouLr6o Ol u1QulLy duu cruelty TulCu q oon-
ard and an Elizabeth Fry purified and blessed
by their Christ-like labor. And here is an OPP
porunlty that lies near the hand OF many
one who desires to do good.-Messenger.
= THE MOTHER Toe,
A blue-eyed slip of a girl gave her heart to
the Lord Jesus In our children's meet
ing, one afternoon, and the following
week was led to 90 to the chi.d's mother
who knew was not q Christian. But how
own precious little parish on that busy af-
ternoon? However, I started with my bit
Of paper containing the address that had
been given me, and reached 10 street,
to find 1t shop with the rooms above quite
vacant The man in the shop knew no one
by the name gave, but the woman next
door, a. number IA, said, "Oh, yes; she
lives in the rear Of this house, go through
that gate and you'll find It." So through the
gate went, and down some steps and along
q narrow walk, and up some more steps and
I had reached the home. Such home!
Lots of dirt and disorder, but very lit
tie sunshine and not much mir. The
woman had such tired, disheartened look
and no wonder. She was sick and lonely and
times were hard, and no one knew her here
in this great city, and no one cared. And
oh, wasn't 1t sweet to tell her about One VINO
had himself been homesick and tired, and
lonely. and poor, and who knew her and who
"orrnd"-whc cared 30 much that he went to
Calvary-for her.
one ieallzeu her hopeles, helpless condition
and her need Of such Friend as this, and in
most childlike ways she received him, beg
ging him to forgive her and take her In.
Therewere tears in her eyes and on her
cheeks when she said goodbye, but they
were glad tears, and the encouragement look
was all gone.
al, week now she is in her place at our
mothers meeting, for 1t lightens the burden
and blightens the way, to come and rest at
his feet. .s
And there are 80 many, many in these
homes in Chicago, just as ready as he she
to hear OF Saviour. / wonder why we are
slow to go to them?-J. E. Hand, in Record
of Christian Work.