The Cairo bulletin., 1906-10-03
The Story of
a Humble Life

Josie had done We'll considering her
opportunities and not once in a hun.
dred times did anyone mention what
her lack OF opportunity had been Yet
1t was never forgotten by those who
knew her, and 10 her II was a con.
slant memory and reproach And
while those who knew her never in.
tended to attach to it any suggestion
OF wrons on her part, the fact that
/ Josie was born in the poorhouse car.
rled to the New England mind an as.
ISOLATION Of turpitude almost worse
than that Of actual guilt In that part
OF the country sin is bad enough but
the shiftlessness that ends in the poor
house Is past redemption
Her family had been shlftless. When
her father died before her birth. there
had been nothing for the older chill.
dren but to be bound out After she
was born there were a few years in
| which her mother worked out" and
on her death, Josie, still a child. did
! the same. She had a brief acqualnt
ance with the district school, which
democratic as it was, still perpetuatcl
herlfeeling of isolation; and she wen!
| to work as soon as her chin was a.
high as the kitchen sink, and worked
out her life till she married And all
the years she suffered the unmerited
disgrace of her unhappy birth and
| childhood.
She never coined the church" Per.
haps no one ever thought to ask her
If invited, she was too timid 10 ACCEPT.
She felt out Of place in the meeting
house, and rarely attended, slipping in
now and then when the service had
begun, and slipping out during the
closing hymn, which is the same a. 10
say that she washed the dishes before
she went, and got home in time to pre-
pare dinner.
The man she married was a laborer.
who was counted "shiftess. They
had dismal little home to outward
appearance, and sterile garden be
hind It. Yet the morning glorieg bright
ened it somewhat; and if the home
was not attractive and it's mistress
seldom looked fresh and tidy, IT was
better than the poorhUuse. a million
times over as Josie often said to her
self
Every one called her Josie. and her
husband Dan They belonged to that
stratum of New England society that
does not rise to the dignity Of Mr.
and Mrs" And they both looked nm
kempt, and felt shamefaeed in the
presence # people who had the fac
ulty' Of getting on"
Dan and Josie lived together for 80
years, lived contentedly, unambitious.
ly, untidily Dan was to be counted
on as hand in haying, and Josie
could be called in in an emergency
to help in the kitchen. At last Josie
fell sick of a lingering illness. There
was no money laid by for rainy day
and the first thought of the thrifty
ncighbors was of the relief to be OBJ
tanned from the oyerseers Of the poor
And this was the haunting shadow
that hung over the bed Of Jose-tho
fear lest her life should end as it be.
gan, And in bitterness and agony she
prayed that God would save her hard
life this GROWING humiliation To
have been born in the poorhouse was
bad enough, but to die there, TO be
buried from there-if this should
come to her she never could be happy
in heaven
Her prayer was answered Mrs
Briggs remembered how, when Lucille
was sick, Josie had come to help hct
with the cooking and She sent food
and medicine. Mrs. Rlodget reminded +
her husband Of Josics kindness. aad
he advanced Dan a little money, 10 DC |
worked out in the next seasons hay
ing. And Mrs Turner who had less
than either Of the others gave more |
for she came over and sat up with |
Josie whcr she was at the worst al !
ternatng the vigil with Dan and whcI |
Mrs Turner gave out, another neigh !
Dor came. If any comfort was lacking
Josie did moi miss IL; and when tho
women smoothed her pillows. auc
brushed her hair and performed The
simple services which She required
her only thought was of their kind
ness. of gratitude TO God that she was
still under her own roof. and not 10
the nameless place OF her haunting
dread
And So the end drew near.
DO you trust God. JOSIE asked /
one Of the women. feeling that IT, was f.
time 10 say something 90 Josie about /
her soul
"Oh. yes. and ! thank Him, J thank F.
Him" she replied And ] thank YOU
too. 10 I'd been a queen you couldn't /
have done more for me-"
Dr. was a word to make them blush I
and smile. for what they bad done was
little enough But they had been kind.
and it meant more 10 her than they
knew Elm the very last.
81 think shall die to-day" She said.
and they told her The end was indeed
near
I'm no e'1d'' che said and fhoy
iid not under .snd n first 'Ito never
been afraid of ho.f" she went nm. =
Amt been ECO awful GOOD bUf 7 know
God -,..r-f end mo there And