The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-03-27
A WOMAN'S COURAGE CROWNS HER
LIFE.
Born at Light Street. Columbia County, Pa.
Has Seen Hopeless Cripple
Since Her 6sbyhood.

Orleans. The subject is we'll known
throughout Columbia county, and has
many relatives residing in this division
OF the state, among the number is
Mrs. George G. Roam, of Third street,
| this town.
One of the most remarkable women
in the state of Mississippi, if not the
most remarkable, lives mile and
half north of Long Beach. She is
Mrs. p. II. Rshel, who has not walk
ed step in over fifty years, and yet
she attends to all the work of her
household in a way that would put to
shame hundreds of able bodied women
who bemoan their hard lot and sit
down with folded hands that cannot
do anything for the sustenance of the
body that supports them.
Mrs. Rishel was born fifty-five years
ago IN Light Street, country village
IN Columbia county, Pa. When she
was wee tot, not yet 3 years old, she
had inflammatory rheumatism, which
racked her poor little body for many
months. When the pain lett she was
helpless cripple that never after
wards was able to walk. But she was
energetic and proved no burden to
the household, but a pleasure. She
could crawl about theSbouse and climb
into the chars and on her fathers
work table He was tailor, and
while yet young child she learned to
sew, and sew well, and before she
was 10 years old she could make a
suit of clothing for her brothers, and
made her own clothing. She was
ID years old before she went to
school. She was sensitive, and dis
liked TO 90 where other children were,
and gained the little knowledge she
had of books from the children al
home.
1t was deemed best by her parents
that their little cripple Sarah, should
90 to school for a time at least. They
talked to her and impressd upon hel
the necessity of education until she
was willing to brave the taunts o.
thoughtless children and go to schoo
with her brothers and sisters. Ar
rangements were made with tht
teacher, and at the beginning of the
, term, when she was IA years old
: Sarah was hauled to the schoolhous(
| in her brothers little wagon and Car
ried in 10 the schoolroom. She haC
her ups and downs, as afflicted chill
+, dren always do, but her application
, to her studies and her advancement
soon won for her the admiration o
, all her schoolmates. Her progress
{ was rapid, and at the close OF two
, four-months' terms she had acquired
all that was to be gained at the village
school. After that her schooling wa
/, at home. She loved to read ant
study. and supplied herself with book
and with the current literature of tina
day, and few young women of he
4 time were better informed.
f Between the terms of school ant
D for some time after she had qul
i school she continued to work in he
. fathers shop, and when he gave u
: the business there was not a bette
: tailor anywhere than Sarah Frederick
Her services were in demand b
e families who had not the ordinar
l. family sewing done that any one ca
y do, but the dresses for the mother AM
: grown daughters aid the suits for tn
y young boys. She had more wor
than she could do, at prices far abov
what sewing women and girls wer
e getting.
d After a few years the father die
= and the family scattered. Sarah an
e one of her sisters opened a dressmal
/ ing establishment in Bloomsburg,
nearby town, and their mother live
!. with them. Sarah was then a7 yeal
r old. Her reputation for good wor
IS was such that in little time it too
le fifteen girls TO do the work, beside
'e what the two sisters did. Sarah dl
v the cutting and the fitting after
tailor system, and saw that all th
work was we'll finished. Althoug
% she could not walk step she coul
h sew on the machine and could &
is more and better work this way tina
IT any girl or woman in the shop. He
T. system of fitting was so perfect thu
De ladies did not have to stand for hou
he while they were being fitted, II
er cutting was by measurement, and f
ted like glove, without the necessl
of trying on. If, however, there w
nt a new customer who feared the r
I'd suits, she was permitted to try on h
W dress before it was sent home.
tie After eleven years OF almost ceas
or less toll Sarah Frederick concluded
e e take rest, and on the invitation
friends in the west went to Kanss
expecting to remain several weeks,
months, until rested from the owe
It. work of years. 1t was there that 81
10 met Mr.. p. H. Rishel, a prospero
10 f,r,,a. - ,antr,l X opcas They Ii