The Irish standard., 1909-02-06

mobed figures of the Little Sisters OF
E1e Poor, and yet how very few have
wen the faintest conception of theil
ives: their work and it's results, says
a9writer in the Irish World.
OF the people Of all nations and OF
iii creeds who give aims regularly t.
he Little Sisters, few indeed ever
,,ross the Threshold OF the institu-
ions presided over by these quiet
.,cmen, or learn the story of the sub
Ane sacrifice Of their daily lives.
Away back in the December of 1888
- y poor old widow, blind and intirm
.Eas left helpless and destitute on the
.Itreets of Brittany, France; another
il ~ was living alone in a damp eel
Jar, stone for her pillow and the
5eriest rags the only raiment her pow
.Erty had known.
ii These two were the first to be re-
,lleived by the Little Sisters. who from
that small beginning, have grown un-
Eli today they control more than threa
hundred Homes for the Aged. scat
i,ered across the length and bread h
De the land
- Founded in France. and with the
,,tther House still there, the Little Sis
.sers of the Poor were the only nuns
not .molested in that country during
The troublous times of the past few
gears.
II 'why?" repeated the Sister SUPERB
-sr of the local institution, "hecause we
sare for thousands of poor there, who.
ef we were turned out. would become
public charges, and the State would
1lave to care for them. Again, we ask
40 help from Church or State, beg
ing from door to door there as here,
-Eiad taking what is given us, be it ev-
Nh, 50 little. We knew no or ed in
lSri1 g for the poor-JeW or Gentle,
EotAi slant as we'll as Catholic are ad-
HtfteAs on equal terms-the only thing
squire being that the applicant be
tsor,i a. sed, and in need Of care This
HI eoun e, is the rule OF our houses
alrougho ut the world, and our dona-
aonsr com from the charitable of all
Rligious b eliefs."
il The Litti Sisters of the Poor come
rom all co. lntries and from all posi-
stons in life. Together these willing
'Eforkers sl1ar all employments; there
Ire no serva nts and no distinctions
n11one them; hey wear the same hab-
i, follow the 81 .sne rule, have the Same
arhts and dutit ss. all are indeed Lit
ie Sisters Of hhe Poor Before as
cunning that titla the bearer Of it has
freely and volun tarily given up FOR
Nod and for the poor, all earthly af.
ections; home. rel atives. worldly pos
Notwithstanding no.
Thing more in return for a life Of
aSdverty and self sacrifice than the Joy
We doing good; the feeding of the
aungry and the clothing Of the naked;
Y life-1ong task, but happy one, e'r
'gsn1y yoke is sweet and my burden 3
Tight
4 The Little Sisters have no endow-
,nents. no income. no revenue, no SAL
Ary from any source whatever. yet
tthsy must provide food and clothing
Tor their destitute charges. nurse them
when sick, and the rules of their order
ssompel them to live solely and alone
npo:l the Providence Of God.
4 live live upon the Providence OF
GOO" said the Sister Superior, "and
I'VE must trust to Him for our daily
breed. We have nothing, may keep
nothing. and only beg from day to
day as the needs Of the moment de.
la,1atd. We have nothing but the &C.
atual necessities Of the hour, Saturday
fbeifig the only day in the week when
1--WE have in the house provisions
yehtugh for two days. On Saturday,
tile Sisters beg enough food to feed
tour charges and ourselves over Sun
sday, and let the morrow care for It,
sse1f."
Troubled? Anxious about the NOR
row? Not at all. Although we have
mot enough in the house for the next
!ft1eAl, we have no fear. Why should
we? Have we not placed ourselves in
the hands Of the Giver of all THINGS,
never for a second doubling but that
|ohf wants will be supplied? Neither
ourselves nor our inmates shall suffer
for lack of the necessities Of life.
Faith and Hope sustain lis and an I'M.
bounded confidence in the Father of
the Poor. We have plenty today: God
provided it; He reigns tomorrow as
we'll as today and He will provide"
and the bright, brown eyes flashed at
the very thought of one hesitating on
Sthe mercy, and the goodness and the
newer falling succor of the Heavenly
i sttsr,
.