Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-06-02


body she could see only one way to rest-death.
Suicide was the only thing she could do.
Then she looked at the sign: Come in and
rest awhile"
The church would be a good place to think.
She would decide in there the exact route to take
on her last journey. 1t was four o'clock and the
place would be empty at that hour.
She went in and dropped upon seat, abso-
lutely spent with mental turmoil No one was
about. 1t was dim and quiet and very restful in
SIDE Then the tears came and to hide them, even
in the empty church, she bent her head to the
back of the pew in front of her.
To the left of the altar door opened softly and
the rector of the church saw the forlorn figure.
Instinctivey he sensed the suffering that droOp-
ing figure was enduring. She was sobbing quiet
ly when he placed his hand on her shoulder.
She looked up.
"come In and Rest Awhile"
"There's a fire in my study" he said. sand we
can have some tea. Come in and rest awhile"
The words again!
1t was just the place to rest an easy chair by
the fire. book-lined walls and vase Of flowers
on the mantel. Soon the tea was brought in with
hot-buttered toast delicately sprinked with Gin
namon. The whole place had a honey coziness
about it. She didn't feel quite so lonely though
Of course there still that heavy feeling in her
heart, and that hard determination to end it all,
before another anguished night.
And then all of a sudden the story came out.
After all, it was her last confession, and why not
tell this kindly who didn't talk religion at all?
He would understand.
And that great hearted man who always finds
a way for every needy one, did understand. He
told her about the Salvation Army Womens Home
and Hospital at 316 East Fifteenth street He
assured her she would not be preached at; told
her she would have the kindest attention, and then
very gently he appealed to her latent woman's
soul until the will to die was driven out by the
fr4,
sponsibnities. She readily promised to seek the
refuge to which the man of God pointed in her
time of need.
Mercy Is Two-Winged.
The rest of herSstory is that of 2314 girls who
were cared for in our rescue homes and hospitals
last year.
The mercy of these homes is two-winged. It
overshadows the helpless mother, and it protects
the HELPLESS child. Every year more than 1000
wee lives start existence under the army's COM
passionate rooftree-lives that elsewhere might
start handicapped and made through long COM
ing years to bear the burden Of wrongs not their
own. But the Salvation Army refuses to look
upon these children as different" 1t insists up
on their rights, opportunities and possibilities in
the fullest sense. Our policy of keeping mother
and child together has held through many years
of.rescue work and has proven its worth.
The regeneration of these girls-and about so
per cent are regenerated-is largely due to the
sistence that they do not seek escape FROM but
rather hold to the helpless little life as to treas
ure is of the strongest factors in the success
of our work. We have found that there is some
thing in the responsibility which weighs with
tremendous influence in the achievement of last
ing restoration Of character. No mother is ex
empted from this duty who is mentally efficient
and in good health
"obigatIon Of the Father"
Again the Salvation Army with its network Of
organization is formidable and efficient detec
tive force in itself and by aid Of such without
any publicity we have been enabled in number
less instances to discover and apprehend those
upon whom the responsibility for the provision
for these small lives should rightfully fall. The
obligation of the father is regarded Of paramount
Importance and our widespread agencies the coun
try over-aye the whole world over-leave ne
stone unturned to bring that obligation home t.
him.
At our maternity hospitals girl is not turned
out after a stay Of two or three weeks We keeI
her with until she is strong enough physically
and spiritually to start life anew. Sometimes 6