The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-10

- have something OF an amusing
element in addition TO the inevitable pa
thetic side The humorous incidents are
few. OF course, for the misery and poverty
of the poor creatures who have to be
looked after by others usually preclude an
element of amusement in the cases; but
the woman with the gift Of humor will
now and then find something which tickles
her sense Of the Iudicrous while it in no
wise lessons her pity for the people she
is befriending
THE thing that strikes me as the odd
est characteristic of many Of the people
look after is the stress they lay upon
the clothes they wear" said one pretty
girl who leaves her comfortable freside
several times a week TO go into the poorer
parts Of the town TO look after her cases
''Of course" she went on. II suppose it is
natural for women TO like 10 look as nice
as they can under any circumstances; but
II does seem as though. when they are
fighting not only poverty but disease with
all their might. they would forget for
time at least about their clothes One
case OF mine was that of a man who was
very poor and was dying Of cancer. When
ever / went to see him 1 would ask his
wife. as 1 always do. IL there were any
thing in particular that she wanted for
him. and her invariable answer was that
she would like some nice black clothes TO
wear TO church. One day 1 lost my pa
thence and I told her that 1 thought IT
would be better If she would stop thinking
about clothes and church and put her
energy into looking after her husband.
Oh she whined, Hit amt use to look
after him noways-he's boun ter die; but
/ could go to church and pray for
his immortal soul Well. the man finally
died and he was scarcely dead before his
wife had rushed TO the nearest telephone
and sent messages TO our treasurer and
one of our nurses that she must have
some nice black clothes for the funeral
Another thing that Is astonishing.
though scarcely laughable. is the elaborate
funerals that many Of the unfortunates,
even the most poverty-stricken, manage to
have. Most of them, even the poorest, keep
up a little insurance and almost invariably
every cent OF that is spent on the funeral
appointments. They love TO have flowers.
too, and I'm one case that I was particu-
larly interested in I went TO the florist
after the poor woman died and ordered
lovely and expensive bouquet. One of my
fellow-workers went with me and on the
way down TO the house we told each other
how pleased the family would be with our
flowers, which would probably be the only
ones sent. You can imagine astonish-
ment when we reached the house and found
the dingy little painted door adorned with
a wreath of such magnihcence that our
bouquet paled into nothingness. We were
really almost ashamed TO offer it,
GRATEFUL. FOR HELP
The devotion OF the poor people befriend-
ed Is the theme Of many a story told by
the women in charitable work Most of
them touchingly grateful for the help
given them. though now and then there are
instances In which the beneficiaries are like
Oliver Twist in their demands for more.
AS a rule. however, the sick and needy
ones sincere in their profuse thanks
and the visitors are greeted as sweet
heart and angel when they make their
appearance. There was one pretty girl who
tumbled of pedestal one day with Jar that
she has not forgotten yet, though the day
was long time ago-back In the time when
polnted-toed shoes were the mode and wom-
ems feet sharpened off into points like
toothpicks- The pet case OF this young
woman was a CHEEKY old Irishman, who
called her his good angel. and who, in spite
OF his mortal illness, paid her all the pretty
One day she came into the room with
her dainty feet incased in pair OF shining
new shoes with the sharpest Of pointed toes.
The old man watched her she moved
about the room. His brain was clouded by
sickness, and the superstition which is al
ways alive In Ignorant minds began to
work In him. Sind her out o here; sind
her out" he said IN a hOarse whisper to his
wife. She'll work me harrum. IT'S an
angel thought she was, but thin p'inted
toes Is a mark o the divil himself"
One dear little woman had an experience
the other day which has convinced her that
the workings of Providence are fully as
mysterious as they are said TO be. She
started of through the snow to find the case
to which she had been commissioned. and
by the time she had wandered about in the
snowdrffts back Of Crown Hill for half
hour or so she felt like anything rather
than a benehcient Providence. She found
her house at last, ramshackle little hut
woman who opened the door that she was
from the charitable society which was look
ing after the case. and that she had come
to pay the grocer's bill and wished to be
directed to the grocer.
We'll, you must come in and see pa
first. said the woman Hes the case. an
ever body who comes has TO see pa else
they don't know nothing bout the case"
Pa was seen-an emaciated old creature
wrapped in blankets and placed before the
fire After the visitor had done her duty
in seeing pa she asked for directions TO
the grocer's.
I'll take we there" said the woman.
take ye."
They started off across the snowy fields
and as they went the woman dilated on ali
Paws symptoms and suferings AN Paw
he CANT take nothin' but morphine" she
went on. ian he has TO have six pellets a
day. an we amt got but three-but Gawd
will provide
The visitor thought of the dollar and a
half and the one street ticket in her
pocketbook, and OF the grocers BILL which
was as yet an unknown quantity-and re-
fiected that IL the woman looked upon her as
the means by which Providence would pro-
vide Paws morphine pellets that she might
find her faith rudely shaken. There was nc
doubt In the mOnotonous tones OF the wom-
ans voice, however, as she went on, over
and over: "paw he has TO have them six pei.
lets a day, but CSaw5 Will provide
The grocer's bill proved TO be exactly 81 30
The visitor handed over the contents OF heI
pocketbook and turned away. saying to her.
relf, There go Paws pellets" Before she
reached the door the grocer was at her side
''Win you accept this for the work of your
society he said. Offering a coin. ''It isn't
much. but I'd like To help"
You wouldn't mind IL 1 gave IL to this
woman" the visitor asked she handed
the quarter-dollar TO her companion.
Didn't tell you that Gawd would pro-
vide them morphine pellets. said the WON.
an triumphantly; and the visitor waded &c
the car with her one ticket held tightly re-
nectng on the ways OF Providence.
IN PREFERENCE To FUEL.