River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-07-05

Gibbons called upon Mrs. Ryan, his
eminence was shown to the sitting-room
where Mrs. Ryan was busy, between
telephone calls, knitting a baby's pink
and white sack. After formal salu-
tation to the churchman, her fine
white fingers began to ply the yarn
in the weave again.
"You will pardon my doing this,
your eminence," smiled Mrs. Ryan,
"but if / worked only when alone some
babies wouldn't be as warm as 1 like
them to be-"
"And whose baby are you working
so hard to clothe?" asked the card
inal.
ooh, poor dear little girl who will
appreciate it." and then the subject
was changed, but not the thoughts of
Mrs. Ryan.
A few friends who have been in the
sitting-room many times can tell of
dozens of packages of baby clothes
made by the nimble fingers Of the
rich Mrs. Ryan. And besides, she
keeps a corps OF sewers making chill
drens garments, which are delivered
to her residence and by her given in
person to that most unfortunate of all
the classes, the proud poor, who will
not ask at the doors of charitable in
situations or clothing bureaus for aid.
Mrs. Ryan calls that person her friend
who tells her of such people in need.
There is a score of families, rem
nants Of broken-down aristocracy,
xx1hn A7o in GT1n
needle-work which Mrs. Ryan gives to
women otherwise untitled for the bur-
den of self-support.
Over in the south corner of the sit
ting-room there is big chest with
many drawers, each carrying some alb
breviated label. In this chest are kept
exquisite alter linens, the making of
which has been the liberal support of
families in need. AS fast as these
supplies are accumulated they are
sent out to poor missions or heavily
mortgaged parishes where the people
are unable to contribute such things.
There is another chest full of baby
things, and, dearest of all to the heart
of Mrs. Ryan, well-filled medicine
chest.
II don't believe you look WE'LL" said
Mrs. Ryan to a little needlewoman re-
turning package of fine linen one
day. "How do you feel? Do you ever
cough?" And in the end the woman
went away with three bottles of hypo-
phosphites, which would have cost her
as many dollars.
Mrs. Ryan-s life has not been with
out cloud and bitter grief. Death and
long illness have weighed heavily on
the mother-heart, and that great flood
of sympathy given her by nature is
ever wide to fellow sufferer. Long
and intimate acquaintance with illness
has given her practical knowledge,
and she knows more about medicine
than many man with license. Two
of her boys have been stricken down
with lung trouble, and the great white
plague holds greater terrors for her
than any other physical affection. She
has given of her financial and personal
aid toward the cure of those afflicted
with this disease.
Il am more afraid Of a sneeze than
of sprain, and a cough than broken
BONE" she said one day. ooh, just
can't talk about it. 1t breaks my heart
to think of the flower of the manhood
and young motherhood of our country
being cut down by this terrible curse.
When l think of other mothers who
have seen their young sons lie down
in their youth before their life work
had begun, victims of this disease, I
long to do something, anything, to help
find cure for it ALL
A tear dropped on the ivory knit
ting needles and the usually placid
features of the kindly face set in an
expression of suffering.
A ring of the telephone bell and the
knitting was put aside.
ooh, is that you, Mary? Now, don't
assume that coldly polite manner and
say nice things about appreciation and
all that business. It's purely a bust
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