East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1913-03-03
HER STRUGGLE
over, MOTHER
CRIES FOR JOY

Salt Lake City, March 3.-For three
| years Mrs. Marie Morrell had strug-
gled in a terrific battle of life and
death to protect her three little chill
dren from privations; through the
long, cold months of this winter she
has made a desperate attempt to keep
the wolf from the door, facing the
knowledge that her scant savings were
fast ebbing away with her vanishing
strength until finally the pitiful call
of her three little ones was heard by
a charitable city. For the first time
in months a little ray of sunshine
pierced the dismal walls of the Morrell
one room dwelling today. The moth
er's Il know l will come out on top"
determination has won the battle, and
she now finds herself surrounded with
newly made friends ready to assist
her so that she will not again be in
want of either food or clothing for
herself and children. There is also
a warm fire blazing in the home today.
The dismal one-room dwelling at
is North Seventh West street of yes
terday has been transformed by the
.enchantment of charity, and into it
has blown some of the surplus sun
shine, happiness and joy. Mrs. Nor
rell, who wept tears of sorrow yes
terday, wept tears of thankfulness this
morning. Instead of bowling her head
into her shaggy apron, she smiled a
loving smile while the tears of joy
rolled down her cheeks.
Provisions Provided.
The one room in which the family
are living today is filled with food.
a table and bed have been provid-
ed. Hanging on the black smoked
newspaper walls are several aprons,
clean and starched, for the two little
girls, A fire merrily burns in the lit
tie stove in the kitchen and a good
ton of coal outside the door mocks the
cold and snowy wintry weather. Doz-
ems of bottles of fresh tomatoes,
peaches and other fruit fill the trunk
that yesterday held but a half glass
of sugar and a few crusts of rye
bread. Several sacks of potatoes in
the corner and a table covered with
meat, bread, pepper and salt, sugar
and other groceries foretell many
happy meal.
The three little tots are now happy
and contented with their stomachs
well filled for the first time in many
weeks and are provided with clothes
that will allow them to go out in the
fresh air and join the other young
sters of the neighborhood in the child
ish game of fox and geese" in the
snow Their wan cheeks already be-
gin to take a healthier hue and there
is a luster in their great blue eyes
that has not shOne since summer. The
languid mother that has brayed star
vatiOn to keep her children alive also
shows the good effects Of substantial
and regular meals. even for z night
ani part Of day.
Mrs. MOrreII Is suffering with a cold
from exposure and il is only with an
effort that she is able to utter a
sound. Nevertheless she fought out
words Of thanks for the good that had
come to her and her little ones from
the article in the Telegram Wednes-
day. With a throb in her throat the
widowed mother said:
People Respond Quickly.
''The good people commenced COM
ing last night with clothes and food
and more woke me up this morning."
and her eyes wandered over the many
parcels and bundles that filled the
room. Il hardly know what would
have done. Mildred, who should
have been in school, had no clothes
to wear, but now she will be able to
start to the Jackson school Monday"
she continued.
Mildred, who overheard what her
mother said, jumped up and down in
ecstatic joy. Her mother explained
that she had gone to school in Eu-
reka and had been greatly broken up
when unable to join the procession of
the youngsters that passed the house
each day to and from school.