New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-09

dealings with them become when they
fail to make them understand. TO
such as these, what boon 1t is 10
have a friend come into the nome
who can speak with them in their
own tongue wherein they were born;
and it is seldom that this does not
pave the way for continued visits of
real helpfulness.
One of Many Services Rendered.
In rear house two little Italian
girls were found one day, washing
and cooking, in the brief time after
school, for their mother is a widow
and works in the factory, and there
are the inevitable boarders. They
have been in this country but short
time, and speak English with some
difficulty, but welcomed the invitation
to sewing school and Sunday school,.
Quite recently, the older of the two
girls, not yet twelve, was found to
have an infected knee as the result
of fall, and Miss CampblPs serv-
ices as interpreter and her assistance
in getting the child into the hospital !
were gladly Welcomed. Many oppor-
tunities have been given us to rem
der services similar to this. and oth-
ers of like benefit, to the people VINO
look to us for friendship and encour-
agement, and although the days rec
ord often seems commonplace ana
like that of many other days that have
preceded it,. we still hold it true that
custom cannot stale" the infinite
variety of City Mission work.
One day I was led to call on an
tia han woman whose husband is
boot black with whom I had become
acquainted while he piled his trade
in my behalf He told me that his
family had come from Pennsylvania
a few months before and gave me the
number of his house. I found there
an notwithstanding woman, the
mother Of three little children, who
came to this country when a child
so that she speaks English well. She
could not at first quite understand
why I had come; but when at last l
made it clear that I had come only
for a friendly call, her appreciation
was pathetic, as she said, II wish
you'd come as often as you can; I'm
so lonesome; I don't know no one
here, and I don't go nowhere and I'm
SO lonesome Other calls followed
and when sickness came we were able
to send her a visiting nurse, and later
she came in touch with the milk
station where she received helpful ad-
vice in regard to the care of her chill
dren, SO that we find her in better
spirits than when she felt that she was
without friends. A mother whose lit
tie four-year-old boy was killed by an
automobile not many months ago and
who has. scarcely been able to bear
the sorrow, welcomes the visitor who
comes with a heart overfowing with
sym pathy, and gladly listens to the
words of comfort read to her; and
her burden is perhaps little less
because the promise Of the life be-
yond has been brought to her atten-
ton.
Hearing From the Outside World.
A young woman who spends much
of her time in a wheeI-chair is always
glad Of a chance to hear something
from the outside world.-glad, too, OF |
the brief Bible reading and prayer |
which we feel is an important part
of a visit here, where attendance at |
church Is impossible.
In an Italian home, full to over |
flowing Of the most ignorant Sicilians,
the mother was cooking supper, when
+ entered; but she turned from the
stove to welcome the visitor, and her
stolid face lighted up as she told me
that she could sing the Italian hymn
which the children learned at Sunday
school: so we all sang 1t together, and
then she sang for US, some of the
hymns to the Virgin which she had
learned as a child; and it. would be
indeed faith1ess to doubt that the Sun
day school leaven is working in that
ignorant home.
L was fortunate enough to meet the
children from another home on the
street, for I never should have found
my way unaided, under the covered
archway to the rear yard where they
live. 1t is on Main street. opposite
Lafayette, where the children then at,
tended sewing school, and Assunta,
who evidently has no fault to find with
her surroundings, showed me with
pride how she could look way down
past the sewing school, from her
yard. I looked, with her, past pool
rooms, saloons, macaroni factories
and junk shops, trying my best to ad-
mire her view. which certainly Is OK
tensive if not beautiful. The number
Of visits made by the City Mission
Workers during the past year was
2125; and religious papers, printed in
Polish, slovak and Italian, as we'll as
English, have been distributed in the
homes, to the number of $40.
Variety OF Office Calls.
The office Is the scene of a variety
Of calls and consultations, and we are
always glad to know that our people
feel that they may come to us when
in need Of anv kind One freuuent Wis
itor does not always come for the pur-
pose of seeking help, by any means,
for she is quite as likely to come to
express her gratitude for services rem
dered US for any other reasons. If
visiting nurse has been sent to her, or
Thanksgiving dinner, or if coal has
heen ord cred for her for which she is