New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-28

zine
MISS RUTH DUNCANS SUNSHINE WORK
The helpful Sunshine work of Miss Ruth Duncan,
carried en- through several years. is given as one
Illustration of the spirit that imbues all the prin-
ciples of the T. s. S. 1t shows what grand results
may be achieved even along one line of Sunshine
activity. Miss Duncan is valued member OF the
society and during the busy holiday season found
time in the midst Of her active professional life
10 give several days assistance in the Distribution
Of good cheer the general office,
In 1916 little daughter OF some fTieng 1sbo 81
The mother died and the child was kept at school
for several years. Just before starting for school
little Margaret, then eight years Old saiq @
Miss Ruth, will you write 10 me some time
A promise TO write gladly given -,
The first letter sent in time to meet {he
little her arrival at the dreaded ooaT T
cans own adventures at school,, of advice as 70
What mistakes should be atrs ayae s followed soon
by another and still another Then came an an
had been Kept from Inconsistencies by the almost
daily news and by the CHEEKY nonsense often
After the first loneliness had worn of and Mar,
formed some friendships in the school the letters
to her were written weekly; The following year
has BEEN kept up until now Little Margaret
q nervous high Spirited child and many were the
mistakes she made, but they were always told
During the summers the two met often and
the friendship strengthened even more. In the
BEGAN a professional career. From the quiet little
country place 10 the great city was decided
girl and when the monthly letter was due she
a afte s4rSI YEARS Of absence Miss Duncan with
the silver threads creeping into her dark hair. felt
In the beauty of youth and happiness put her arms
around her friend and introduced her thus 70
woman. for she made me all that l am.
began letter thus Dear Miss Ruth-f am afraid
l Shall make some mistakes, because my room
dead and her father never writes" When Miss
Duncan's next letter went it contained CHEEKY
note inclosed for Margaret's roommate" Four
letters went to the lonely child before she sum
and botted letter came inside Margaret's, because
she had no stamp and no pennies. santa Claus
took her box of writing paper, with envelopes
bacE during the coming year. The same course
was followed that governed the correspondence
World over BY the sweetness and purity Of the
boors an6 ma 1ers she has written To Miss RUTH
she too, gives all the credit.
few weeks after Helen's first letter came
Marion, another scholar, expressed a wish for
letter which was gladly sent. and correspondence
which has grown into the making OF a missionary
was opened Then Miss Duncan thinking that
perhaps she was not exactly courteous 10 the prin-
TO correspond with these girls. charming letter
was returned granting most graciousiy the request
Aho ssnuiid ds he glad ~ sunnv letters Tbus in
her heart Miss Duncan called her work sunshine
One Of those three little girls is nov physician
trained nurse, and the third presdes over happy
home. .-,,.,- --,-+o. ,,,.. Duncan 7,-o,a =, tho
principals of several boarding schools, asking II
there were any little girls who needed a pr OF
eeived courteous answers. giving list OF names
ing with Atty little girls Then principal of a
boys school heard of her work and sent her list
asking her to try to help him tame his tigers
Very obviously she promised to try to help him IN
knowledge gained by having brothers, and with
their assistance in the way of hints from time 10
time she began her work,
It was at first very discouragng. but before the
eral other boys we're willing TO become "tgeTs for
them ali about making Iceboats and kites. and the
rules for all boyish games, and could tell them
when to LOOK tor the Wlld lowers WniGi al ~ ~
brothers knowledge that one boy wrote, Honest
Injun, but amt you boy yourself, writing under
She Inspired them to manly courage at the same
OF her own work in the home and in the church
and Sabbath school She asked questions some
times. but II they were not answered she did not
She never regretted the work OF tanning those
tigers One OF the ferocious Of them IS pastor
his charge Wisely and gently One is successful
physician, loved by all his patients. Another is
are a BUSINESS men One az des While studns for
the ministry But there rs Is no one q them OF Who
One school led TO another. until her address book
girls. from seven 70 eighteen years old with whom
she has eorTesponasd All Of these ss d Rosro b
not one Of the others has FORGOTTEN ner, even wen
even as long two years, thar-one or another
would seem TO forget
they are all over the known world-n almost
avery calling that educated men and women
SoIlouv MANY OF them she has cause 10 be very
proud OF: some of them have not fulfilled all her
hopes and wishes for them, but she has not lost
faith that they VIII sometime. Many OF them she
has never met and does not expect to meet
earth. hut in the "land beyond the blue she hopes
Ia meet and greet and know them one and all.
one little girl who disdained learning, who hated
a nan fs now a successful teacher OF literature and
penmanshp. One boy whose father was an agnos-
flc and NJ hose mother tnidel Is a professor
In a school OF theology. A father and mother n