The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-01-03
THE "SELF-HELPER'S"
STORY.
BY DAVID L. Monsoon.

1T is the aim of the Self Help Bureau
at Yale university to furnish stu
dents of small means with light en-
ployment of all sorts in New Haven
and vicinity. 1t also provides work
during the college vacations. A thor
ough canvass of all opportunities is
constantly maintained; and at the of
flee, conveniently located on the col
lege campus, is prepared daily list
of wants" which students may fill.
To give some idea of this work, 1
copy few entries from recent list:
1. Young man to drive delivery
wagon for department store two
hours every weekday afternoon.
2. The gas company will employ
student to take meter records.
8. Young man of good character to
ledge in house where male protector
is desired.
4. Young man of good manners to
distribute wedding invitations at nine
o'clock this morning.
S. Four students as ushers to-mor-
row evening.
6. Experiment station wants stu
dent to act as guide. He must be IA
miliar with the city.
And so on for hundred and fifty
entries on single morning.
The number of families who desire
the presence of young man of good
character in their homes, for protec-
ton and company, is much larger
than one would at first suppose. Many
elderly ladies and invalids suffer I'M
told misery from fear of burglars,
tramps and sudden attacks of illness
by night. They gladly give the right
sort of young man his room rent,
and often his board, in return for the
mere sense of safety and comfort that
comes from knowing that he is in the
house and can be called on in case of
need.
L held such position during my
last year at the university. The house
was a fine, comfortable old mansion,
full of everything that heart could
wish in the way of furniture, house
hold treasures and bric-a-brac. The
proprietress was a white-haired,
charming lady, more than 70 years
old. With her lived an invalid daugh-
ter, hopelessly i'll of spinal malady
and q grandson of seven or eight, a
puny lad, with a deformed ankle on
which he had to wear an iron brace.
1t was, in fact, the last feeble rem
nant of once happy, prosperous fam
lily.
When / first entered the house in
the character of protector the old
lady and her daughter received me
rather timidly, and for some weeks
l went and came without more than
knowing them by sight. Then one
night had to go for the family ply
stefan, and performed number of
needed services during the early
morning hours; thus / won their con-
fidence.
This confidence increased as time
passed, till became in every sense a
member of the household. Indeed, the
reliance which the old lady and the
invalid came to repose in me was we'll
nigh pathetic, and on my part there
grew up sense of responsibility for
their safety and welfare such as will
never be surpassed if l have a family
of my own. Shutters, locks, skylights,
roofs, back yard gates, fires came
within my sphere of guardianship.
even took charge of the ordering
from tradesmen. In return the old
lady would have paid me with far
more substantial favors than 1 felt
at liberty to accept. may add that
the services which 1 rendered were
among the pleasantest of my whole
life.
One very disagreeable experience
befell me, however, while was in the
house, and for time was under sus-
picion among the neighbors and
friends of the family. But 1 am hap
Ply to say that the dear old lady her.
self never doubted me.
During portion of the year was
there we were distressed by a long
series of offerings. These thefts were