The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1904-04-07
A VISIT TO THE POOR FARM.


cover the Hill to the poor house, I'm
trudging my weary way,
woman OF seventy, and only trifie
gray.
Many step I've taken toiling to and
fro,
Bnt this is sort of journey I never
thought to CO."
Sunday afternoon four of us drove
out to the County Poor House about
six miles from Marietta, having been
asked to come out sometime and hold
religious services. We were not ex-
pected and we came upon the inmates
just as they were. This winter has
been very severe for them and ten
have died, leaving their humble little
cottages for mansions beyond.
We held services in one of these cot
tages, formerly occupied by four old
ladies, but now two vacant beds and
two vacant chairs told their story.
Only two remained, withered and old
and gray AS 1 looked at them I
thought of Will Carleton's pathetic
verses and / wondered what the his
tory of each life might reveal, il we on
ly could know. Why we're they there?
Strange how much we think of our
blessed little ones.
I'd have died for my daughters, I'd
have died for my sons
And God he made that rule of love, but
when we are old and gray,
I've noticed that it sometimes, some
how fails to work the other way"
Over the hill to the poor house, my
children dear, goodbye,
Many night I've watched you, when
only God was nigh;
And God1l judge between US, but
will always pray
That you shall never suffer the half /
do today"
I wish you could have peeped into that
little room, just as the sun did, kissing
with its last dying rays the hoary hair
of those aged people gathered How
they listen to the reading of
the Bible and to the earnest words that
fell from the lips of the speaker. us
that a preacherman?" whispered one
old lady to me lis it school teach
err" mo, replied, 1t is my husband
just good man, come to tell you the
old, OLD story"
While we were singing "In the Sweet
Bye and Bye" dear old lady arose
from her seat and began to praise God,
shaking hands with everybody in the |
room and thanking us for bringing to
them the Bread of Life.
Some of the inmates we're much con-
cerned that "Aunt Mollie" was not pre-
sent. "Who is Aunt Mollie?" | asked. |
20, replied young looking, delicate
woman with pretty babe in her arms,
she is the woman that does our milk |
ing, she "cusses" sometimes and she is |
the:only one:of us thataint got religion
she always hides out when there's |
preaching around" Some one volun-
Leered to go for Aunt Mollie, but she
was not to be found. She was remem- |
Oered in the closing prayer however.
After the services the 'sWeeties" as |
they call the candies, cakes, ETC., were |
distributed TO them by the visitors.
One of our party had brought out with |
her large jar of Cruel. kept warm by |
up in a shawl. You should |
have seen how they enjoyed drinking
it from the cups she passed around, all |
except one old man whoI''s said he never |
liked cruel hisself."
How sweet it was to see the little |
baby there, what little CLEAN of sun
shine. l thought, How many grand |
mothers and grandfathers she had | |
felt quite sad when learned that IA |
rule of the Institution was to bind |
them out when they were three years
Did, il the mothers were to still remain |
there.
We came away deeply impressed. |
Glad that these poor old souls had a
place to rest their weary
heads and kind Superintendent and |
wife to administer to their wants We
felt impressed to tell others to visit
them also, seeing how much they SEEM
ed to enjoy our visit. MRS. w. F.. T.