The Irish standard., 1905-05-06


tasks assigned to them, and daily with
pride and cheerfulness over their
duties, they assist the good sisters in
the housekeeping just as little chill
dren at home do sometimes, delight.
ing in the idea that they are helping.
AS we neared the building, we found
them at their tasks. One old man who
had been painter in his youth was
painting the screens, another was at
tending to the horses; the table in the
dining room was being set by one of
the others.
All the men are shaved by one, for
merly barber, shoes are mended by
another, and old clothes are made to
fit by an old man once tailor, and
now, although 60 years old, able to
run sewing machine. Some who can
not adapt themselves to any tasks re-
quiring skill, help the sisters by turn
ing the wringer in the laundry, or are
useful in similar household offices.
Nearly all manage to do something,
and are glad to break the monotony
OF the day by making themselves USE
full This light work requires so little
time they easily find long hours which
may be spent in walking about the
grounds, which are fairly large, chat
ting in sunny rooms in the house or
on the verandas, or reading and smok-
ing in the happy corner" as they call
the smoking room.
The smoking room is in the stable
building, but entirely cut off from the
stable proper, and there they read the
papers, tell stories and silently muse
while they smoke. In the main build.
ing there is, too, a room where the
men do whatever they like. 1t is a
sort of shop where the barber
shaves, the shoemaker mends, the
tailor sews and the carpenter does
little odd jobs.
Fifty-three of the Little Sisters
charges are men, and the others are
women. Among them are four who
are blind-two men and two women.
One of the old women has been blind
forty years. All of the aged people
seem to be between 60 and SO years
old. The most feeble ones are found
in the invalid wards, and they are so
frail that ones heart goes out to them
in pity. 1t is much the same as seeing
orphans in an asylum, bereft of the
love and tender care OF their nearest
and dearest, but there is difference;
young children crave love and tender.
ness, while these helpless old people
scarcely comprehend where they are,
and there is such a shadow upon their
minds that it is doubtful if they miss
home surroundings. Those among the
stronger and brighter in mind doubt
less are lonely at times, but they can
visit with each other, and the sisters
are loving and gentle with them.
An old tailor who is more than 60
and still in fair possession of his fac.
ulties has been in the home sixteen or
seventeen years, which is almost as
long as the home has been in exist
ence here!- He takes certain pride
in being the pioneer in the home. He
cannot remember as far back as when
the home was first established in Min
neapolis and was located on Univer-
sity avenue, but he remembers when
the Little Sisters occupied the corner
house across the street from their
present location.
The present home was built in 1895,
and now it is ready for additional
buildings. The home is so crowded
that no more old people can be ad-
mitted, although it has always been
said that no matter how crowded the
home is, the Sisters never turn away
destitute old person from their
doors.
So many demands are made upon
the Little Sisters that they believe
another building as large as the pres.
ent one is needed to adequately meet
the requirements, and the new build
ing is in progress of erection now.
The Little Sisters scarcely know
where the money is coming to pay for
the new building, but they are opti-
m1stic and believe the Lord Will pro-
vide.
Many, in fact most people, know the
Little Sisters only through the COL
lector who drives about the city ask
ing for food and clothing for the home,
and gratefully accepting the plainest
and simplest offerings that are made
to them. 1t is certain that help would
! be gladly given to them were it gen.
! orally known how devotedly and self
sacrificingly they work, for their
charges, and how cheerfully they
share the lot of the destitute.
The crucifix above the main en-
trance to the building signifies that it
is Catholic institution.
After visit to the home, one leaves
it with the conviction that it must be
the crucifix and the lessons that they
take from it that inspire the Little
Sisters of the Poor to their heroic
work for suffering humanity.
! AFTER TWENTY-FIVE YEARS,