The Cordova daily times., 1914-12-14
G|RL GIVES LIFE I ] AID HE R
 LOVED ONES

Nelma Francis Miller, aged "A years, recently passed away in se- ward, a victim of tuberculosis
 The story of Velma Millers life is a most pathetic one. The girl ap- piled for honest employment before circumstances drove her to forbidden paths in order that an aged mother might live and that a younger sister might receive college education. Although the story is not unlike that of thousands of American girls who every year go to their downfall through circumstances, through the ma.hinations of designing, unscrupu' loApersons called men, or as a result ofJhc absence of home training in va tb-tbere is a full measure of sad nd,s in the case of the girl whose bgtjy probably was carried to the rheterv in Seward with one lone
 burner in attendance and there is all
 tamnle of personal sacrafice in this ,drls story that is worthy of the Highest respect, in spite If the fact that the manner of that sacrifice as been condemned by society since e beginning of time.
 The Seward local paper mentioned the death of the Miller girl in six lines. Six hundred could have been written without fear, or without shame to the writer.
 Velma Miller at seventeen was one of the prettst girls in her class at school, in a little town down in the Northwest. She was graduated at the age of eighteen, with high scolastic honors. When she became nineteen her mother became an invalid, her on ly brother was too young to launch forth as a breadearner for the family, and Velma took a nasty commercial course, learning shorthand and type writing.
 Within two months she had been placed with a large land firm. Sub sequently the man who ruined hun dreds of buyers of his mythical lands wrecked the life of this pretty stenographer It was then that the girl came to Alaska. She held q tick ct for Juneau which was purchased by a woman of notorious character who lived here. When the Miller girl reached Juneau she refused to carry out the wishes of the local woman For month she sought for legitimate employment there, but her steamer acquaintance with the woman who had solicited her prevented her from get ting started on right path. When her funds were exhausted she yielded to temptation. That was the begin ming of the end. After a year of riot ous living her health failed her. It is said by people who know, that ev- cry cent of her earnings went down to the states, where her mother and sister lived in comfort. believing that their provider was working as a sales lady.
 Twice the girl sought to regain her health by going to California. Lack of funds always drove her back to Alaska. Finally she drifted to Sew ard A year ago she was taken to Seattle and for several weeks was near death. The courage that would not down pulled her through the cris- Is, and, after she had recovered suffi- ciently she returned to Seward, two months ago, a hopeless wreck, living nthe shadow of death, but loyal to her family until the last.
 The churches of the United States spend millions of dollars annually in missionary work in China, Japan, In- dia, the Philippines and many other lands. Hundreds of earnest workers cross the seas to rescue souls. Yet there were none who sustained Vel ma Miller in her unequal struggle for her loved ones. and in noting her death the hardened world at large will say: "The wages of sin is death"
 -:
 nart,fcc NnhTpIDItTE