The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-24

so, you're talking to hear yourself; I'm sure
you can't mean what you say. Just con-
slider for a minute: You are prosperous
now, but perhaps you will not always be
so: none OF us can be sure that poverty
will not reach us. You ave your mother
with you now and are caring for her as IL
she were a queen. Suppose you were TO
die and your property had vanished all
but $50. which is the entrance fee to the
home, would 1t not be a satisfaction to you
In your last hours 10 know that your
mother could spend the rest OF her days
there in comfort If not with such luxuries
as you can provide; with a room TO herself,
a place for receiving her friends, the com
partnership of ladies like herself, attendance
when i'll and tender care in her last days2
Would you not prefer such a place for her
or for yourself TO the poorhouse?
And do / understand that you want the
recipient Of aid to feel the flavor OF charity?
If you do. you need to be educated over
again The chief reason for requiring a
substantial entrance fee of these ladies'
1t is all that is asked Of them-is to re-
move as far as possible the sense that
they are objects of charity, to permit them
to retain their self-respect."
The woman in black looked abashed and
made a deprecatory gesture, but before she
could say anything the gray-haired matron
continued:
The homes where all classes OF aged
poor are cared for are beautiful charities.
The Little Sisters OF the Poor In our own
town are angels with their wings cut off.
They receive helpless men and women with
out regard TO their religion or previous con-
oition-that they are suffering and old is
sufficient claim-and care for them tenderly;
but beautiful and useful as their work is
we should not. l am sure, like 10 think Of
our mothers brought into contact during
their last years with uncongenial persons,
In crowded quarters and with but bare sub
sistence, which is all the Sisters can pro-
vide"
She paused a moment. out Of breath, and
then went on:
81 wish, / do wish, the men and women
with money to give would put themselves
in the place of the homeless aged long
enough to feel that they ought at least to
offer a share of their gifts for their benefit
A placid little lady who had not spoken
before. here put in:
1.-The wealthy alone should not be expect
ed to support charities. We with little all
have a duty in this direction, and we women
with little ought TO have a special interest in
helping with our mite-and our might-to
keep this particular institution in existence
and to enlarge it. We may ourselves need
it's benefits some day"
WELL" laughed the lady with gray hair.
people with little or much Will have a
chance to contribute their share when We
have our doll fair the week after Thanks
giving. We want at least to raise enough
for the years expenses. You must all
come"
The other ladies said they would, and the
woman in black and the very young ma
iron declared that they had changed their
minds about orphans having the first and
only claim, and that when their ships
came in they would divide their gifts be-
tween the little waits and homes for aged
women. and in the meantime would do
what they could for the cause. Then they
said goodbye and went their several ways.