Connecticut western news., 1898-03-10
A NOBLE CHARITY.

The following are extracts from let ter recently received by Miss Mary J Peck, of this village, from Miss Fanny Russell. secretary of the New York Fruit and Flower Mission, 104 East goth street, New York city: -
 When we left theClty Hospital, Black wells Island, we were stripped. We had given greetings to every patient One poor Southern fellow, who was very ill and wishing he could see his mother, no doubt received little com fort through having call with our vis- itor and being remembered with Christmas card and glass of jelly. left few ora ges for the erysipalas ward, and books I gave to French consumptiye ward, to be given out at Christmas. We left good supply of jelly Tn every ward and gave few of the small glasses to the very sick indi- vidually. The oranges were very choice and it is only ill giving them ont here that we can realize what they mean to the sick, many of whom have not friend in the world We were be- sieged on all sides for leaves aud wreaths to decorate with. and fortunate ly had good supply. Miss A one of our helpers, asked me to make special mention of the greens with which we tie mp the Christmas cards. She thinks that the sprig touches the hearts of the people and mean so much to them, par ticularly as several asked for a card with large sprig
 The nurses and attendants at the Metropolitan hospital always seem to be in hearty sympathy with us There were eight beautifully trimmed motto texts for the walls so we had one for each ward and the smiles and brighten ing mp of faces as we passed through told their own story. I do uot think they had anything but what we brought them, except small tree for the chil- dren. We looked ont especially for the cnnsumptiye's ward of g patients. They are such sad sufferers. We sent large trunk. crammed, to Wards Island, femsle insane, a great quantity ef beau. tiful evorgreens going there as we'll ss jelly, apples, books. etc. To Wards Island Mission we seut quantities of goodies and the visit there was univer- sally satisfactory. The patients of the large almshonse hospital, the blind aud incurables were as always remembered with special generosity.
 We are indeed most grateful for such a generous donation, especially for jel. lies, as we have many sick people on our hands. So many of our young working girls are quite used up after the extra holiday work and outrageous ly long hours. The nuits made the sick happy, the toys made many little hearts sing with real joy. How many little ones have been made glad by the beautiful dolls of the Flower Mission. Que dear littleigirl, who has spinal di- sease, was made so very happy. Her mother is a widow and 1t is as much as she can do to provide the necessary fooa A nice can of cocoa and jar of Liebig went with the doIi. Four little ones. who have never possessed doll in their lives though t oldest is ten, were made very happy. A little boy of ten, with spisal disease, who is not long for this world, received toys. D,ar lit. tie fellow, he can't eat the rough food they have and begs for just one cents worth of milk and five cents worth of beefsteak. When his poor weak back will let him. he gathers wood and sells it. Two other little er:pplrs have been made very happy by doll and nouris, ment.
 It has been such pleasure to bring 50 much Christmas joy into their dark little lives. I thank the kind friends and am sure their own Christmas must have been happier for their kind thoughts of the helpless little ones. whose homes are mostly so dark that even the sunshine cannot peep in.