The record-union., 1899-04-17
A REMARKABLE WOMAN.
Confined to Her Bed for Forty
Three Years.

Three ears
In a little house in Second avenue
lives a remarka Bile woman, Mrs. Bella
Cook. For forty-three years she has
never left her bed, yet she raised her
children, earned a livelihood, is now
| actively engaged in charitable WORK,
and through all her affection has ever
sustained a resigned and cheerful dis
position
Whoever has had the privilege OF Wis
iting Mrs. Bella Cook and OF witnessing
the perfect peace and contentmenI IN
which she lives, the uplifting serenity
OF her mind and the perfect triumph
of the soul over her pain racked ana
almost helpless body, is forced to real
lie that a higher power supports her-
For nearly half a cent ury she has lam
upon a bed of suffering. In all that
time she has never so much as enjoyed
the relaxation of change to reclln-
ing chair. She cannot even be bolstered
up in her bed. The only rest or change
that she knows comes from slipping her
hands through hoops OF soft cord de-
/ pended from the ceiling, and which, by
supporting her weight, gives some lit
tie relief In addition to the primary
trouble she has had attacks of illness,
each severe trial in itself Yet she
says only, IF l am allowed to live 1t
is for some good, because there is still
work for me to do
Born and reared in England, Mrs.
Cook is an ardent Methodist and has
always chung to that simple form OF
belief In 1871 she, with her husband
and children, crossed the Atlantic and
took up life here in New York, although
s., Al ~, {I,-air
home was not within the city proper.
Shortly after settling in the home
where she still lives, No. 1872 Second
avenue the husband and father died,
and the widow turned her attention to
needlework in which she was skilled.
as means of maintenance for herself
and family. While an infant she had
fall from her nurses shoulder, and
later in life met with another accident
which further injured the spine, which
had always been weak, but in 1856 she
was completely stricken down and con-
fined to her bed.
Possessed of but little means, she was
obliged to depend somewhat upon 9TH
ers, but was fortunate in the friends
she made among wealthy patrons, W,lo
have ever been glad and happy to con-
pendent in mind, she did not give UP
her work, and during all the long years
mas made silk bed quilts, needlebooks,
spool cases and all the little knick-
knacks her skill could suggest and
which were possible with her limited
powers, and offered them for sale In
addition, she has s4Icitten an account
of her life under II title of ''Rifted
Clouds which was published and still
continues to sell. During the long
years of her invalidism her children
have grown up and married and are
now contributing to her support so far
as they can. But Mrs. Cooks mind IS
busy with the troubles and trials Of
other LESS fortunate folk, and as she
loves to be the medium for disbursing
help to those who need, she still con-
tinues her own labors and is happy to
receive what aid her friends see fit to
offer.
During a call of an hour which
made the other day there came so
many visitors besides myself that it
was difficult to obt9in the chat for
which l went WO en- of means and
refinement, fellow urch members, a
clergyman visiting Fl ON another State,
and poor folk come to discuss their
woes and to ask for help made up the
list but to each the same CHEEKY well
come was extended, and each was
greeted with the same hearty Come
in" The old-time little room, with its
small windows and low ceiling, is full
of cheer. Flowers bloom upon the Win
dow lodges The walls are covered
with a light colored paper At the end
stands a small stove. Curtains and
bowed window shutters temper and
subdue the light Shelves filed with
religious books stand against the WALL
and texts which seem the utterance OF
the invalids thoughts hang here and
there
The bed. which is itself a marvel, Is
placed at one end across the window,
that its occupant may be able to look
out, to greet a coming and to gaze
after a parting guest By some in
genious mechanical device the lnvalld
can be raised and suspended While nee
essary changes are made, and for her
comfort there is an air bed as well as
hair mattress but to all appearances
the only notable features are the ex-
uuisite neatness and perfection OF every
detail and the. devices by which every
thing is brought within reach. AL
though Mrs Cook has an attendant
in the form of a colo1ed maid, who sup
plies all her wants, she likes to help
herself as far as she cam On shelves
built into the window space are kept
the books she likes and the like. A
swinging table that can be drawn up
to her hand or pushed aside at will is
attached to one side of the bed and
contains the bits of silk that are to be
made up into tasteful objects, the nee
essary shears, the spectacles required
when work is to be done, and always
the purse upon which so many demands
are made.
Withal Mrs. Cook is blest with sense
of humor and finds much amusemenS
in the strange people and events that
come within her sight. She can laugh
heartily and enjoy joke with rare
zest. .'Rifted Clouds the name she
has chosen for her own account OF ner |
life, seems to convey the sentiment bet
ter than any words that l can find To
the looker-on the horizon seems all |
dark the clouds appear to be heavy t
and black, but to her eyes they are /
broken in many places and innumer-
able rays of sunlight are shed through I
such little rift.-New York Herald.