The Irish standard., 1908-06-06

resources of the sick person and upon
the form of the malady. There are
some rarely beautiful characters that
shine forth more clearly in sickness
than they receive and make you feel
as if the slightest. ministration were a
privilege. On the other hand there
are really delightful people who are
most perverse and unreasonable in
sickness which goes to prove that we
are not quite safe in congratulating
ourselves upon what kind of an in
valid We would make until the crucial
| test has been applied.
| The negro man of forty or fifty who
wanted to go to school that lie might
be able to read the newspapers to his
ST" when he was old showed more
foresight than is common to his race
and to many more enlightened people.
To lay up spiritual and mental re-
sources for illness and old age is quite
as much a matter of prudence as to
make financial provision for such time
of need. If one has been accustomed
to close mental application it is most
important that some form of mental
work should be continued and the in
valid who takes up a new and absorb
ing study, even though his days are
numbered, is not so foolish as might
seem. AS a rule the person who Is de-
voted to books and to deep study will
need but little entertaining unless when
very weak or suffering intense pain
when some light reading or a. bit of
pleasant conversation is all he can
stand. Discreet visits from outsiders
break the monotony of the sick room
and are deeply appreciated both by the
patient and the family, but to be help
full the visitor should have the inten-
tion of giving pleasure to the sick
rather than of being himself entertain
ed. Allow the patient to talk of what
ever he, wishes and above all about
himself. his ills and pains. as it is
popularity of the sick to find comfort
IN telling their infirmities; however.
after they have been given due time
and sympathy one nay try to direct
the conversation into other channels,
but make sure tho subject is an agree
able one. No length of time can be
laid down for a visit to the sick, as one
must be governed entirely by condi-
tions and circumstances. Some times
the call must be limited. to few mo-
ments for a gentle pressure of the
hand and a, few words Of sympathy;
| again there are cases where ii is a
good work for the visitor to remain
all afternoon or longer, were it pos
sible. Little gifts of fruit, flowers,
magazines and fancy work; in fact,
anything that is dainty and shows
kindly thought may be sent to the in
valid with the assurance that it will
be welcome.
Needle work is an untold boon to
the invalid who retains her eyesight
and is strong enough to use her hands.
The friends and relatives of such a
one may show their attention by their
| eagerness to teach new stitches to
the shut-in and by providing suitable
| materials and patterns. Many in
valids with clever fingers find pleas
ure and diversion in fashioning dainty
| and useful articles for loved ones and
for charitable purposes while not a
few earn much needed money, thus
eliminating one of the greatest trials
of the sick in the home where means
are scant
But after all, it is not so much what
We do for the long tried sufferers as
the kindly feeling and sympathy we
show in our actions and surely we
can not be too considerate Of those
whom God has chosen for the mysteri-
GUS mission of suffering. 1t is easy
enough to be kind during an ordinary
illness; but when it lengthens out into
weeks and months and years, we are
prone to grow careless, forgetting that
however hard il may be on others, 1t
is hardest on the one who is doomed
to be "in the world, but not of It,"