The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-28
FOR FATHERS SAKE.
NOBLE EXAMPLE OF TRUE OEvO-
49, TON.
Loneiy Life of Father and Daughter.
Her Single Thought Is To Cheer His
Declining Years-sait Air His Salvation
Here.

her single Thought Is To Cheer III
Declining Years-sait Air His saIvatio
Here.
Ill health has made hermit of I'll
Rev. James E. Kenny and relegated hi
devoted daughter to lonely life in tn
lswamps of Staten Island. For years tn
father and his loving daughter hav
dwell in a rude little cottage ON tn
bleak sand dune at the western end O
the island, The aged clergyman coult
not live anywhere else, and his onl,
child devotes her life to his care He
single thought is that happiness may
attend the declining years of her unfor
tunate father, who spent fortune trav
cling over the world in search of health
The couple possess little beyond the
home built by the invalid, but they are
contented and happy among the swamps
and hills of yellow sand.
Twelve years or more the old man
toiled ON the little structure of brick
and cement which they call home The
place is comfortable, and Mr. Kenny
can breathe there. He is troubled with
asthma, and the damp salt air of the
marshes prolongs his life.
1t is dreary, dismal spot this How
land Hook, with no neighbors within a
mile. A narrow path leads through the
swamps a distance of two miles from
the trolley line. In no other way can
the home of the Kennys be reached.
Twice week their mail is delivered
from Mariners Harbor. and that is
about the extent of their communica-
tion with the outside world.
Sometimes the old man is troubled
with his heart. These attacks generally
come ON in the night, and Edith, the
daughter, hastens alone through the
swamps to fetch the doctor But the
brave girl is not afraid. Her only fear
is the thought of leaving the invalid
alone.
The nearest physician is at Mariners
Harbor 26 miles away. The road
through the swamps is dark and treach-
erous, and at one place Miss Kenny
climbs ladder to high railroad tres
tie, nearly mile in length Many a
man would lack the nerve TO make this
trip, but the girl speeds along the ties
with never a mishap And, after mott
flying the doctor, so great is her anxiety
for the sick man. she hurries back
alone.
Rev Mr.. Kenny is 10 years old,
man of much learning and a student of
the world. His daughter is 10. beauti.
full and accomplished, and with but few
desires beyond the care of the sick man
and their poor home. She loves books,
and though their library is limited she
never complains. She attends to her
simple household duties with a cheerful
heart and tills bit of garden down
among the sand dunes. The invalid can.
not afford servant, but Miss Kenny is
strong and robust, and her labor is one
of love.
The sick man is the son of an English
clergyman and was born at Bath, Eng
land. He came 70 America at an early
age, and in 1901 was ordained by Bish-
OPP Horatio Potter in the Little Church
Around the Corner. At that time the
young clergyman, full of robust health,
looked forward to useful career but
he was assigned to "a mission in the
wilds of the Adirondacks, where an at
tack OF asthma wrecked his constitu-
ton. He returned TO New York. and
for time assisted in St Thomas
church, the Church of the Heavenly
Rest, Church of the TRANSPORTATION and
Church of the Ascension, but i'll health
prevented continuation of this work
Twenty years ago, finding that death
would soon claim him, Rev Kenny
took sea voyage. The salt air proved
beneficial, so he bought a yacht and
continued to cruise with his wife and
child. The invalid had fortune, but
this mode OF life rapidly exhausted his
capital, and he looked about for suit
able spot ashore. The salt marshes at
Rowland Hook appealed TO him, so %
years ago the yacht was sailed into Old
Place creek and made fast at the mill
The family lived on board while the
minister set about building a house.
He selected high sand dune swept by
the sea breezes and had building mate
rial hauled to the spot 1t was a slow,
tedious job building the house, for the
invalid could not work steadily But in
time the home was fit for habitation
The family moved in and the yacht was
sold Six years ago Mrs. Kenny died
Her death was severe blow to the min.
lister, but his little daughter said she
would be the housekeeper and nurse.
and right Loyalty has she chung to the
duty
The house contains only four rooms,
but they are enough. The daughter will
never desert her father while he lives,
but they do not like to speak of the end
Some day, however, she expects to join
in England or go to her moth.
er's folks in Massachusetts New York
Journal.