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AUNT JEAVN LFITJUX. l'rolestant Infirmary, Home of I lie Friendless. JVurses, Donation, Prospects Notes mid Incident. Dear Fricmh: Our "House Beautiful" is in our hearts and on our minds from one letter to another, is it not? ' And is not the Infirmary a house beautiful in all that makes up the true beauty of living? -Aye, and of dying; for death spares not all of our suflering ones. Father Mor gan whose dreadful affliction once saddened this page, is sheltered now in the Everlasting Arms. Others have gone out cured, and the doors stand open to yet others, even to all fur whom there is room. The Christmas season was one of blessings. Our hearts were as those of little children, soft and tender and irenerous. ' for the Mighty One was once a child Him self, and who would not be like Him? Little bv little the substan- -j tial things of this world cO ne in till in the retrospect they consti tute a grand sum total. Since my last letter Mrs. Woolfolk has twice sent papers, some for reading, others for the many uses to which old papers may be applied. Mrs. Maria Dudley has given a'glass lemon squeezer, two meat dishes and cranberries, which are so re freshing at this seasou. Mrs. Fra.nent a lot of papers, a t fil celery; and realizing the need of mental relaxation, she also sub scribed for The itecord and the Ladies' Home Journal, for the In firmary. Mrs. J. W. McConnell sent turnips and old linen. Miss Johns sent jelly,, oranges and one dozen light rolls, which gave a de licious bit cf home cookery for those who feasted on them. Mrs. Didlake gave a soup tureen. Mrs. Warren, true to her English tradi tions and the yule tide spirit, sent a Christmas' fruit cake for the nurses, who are all vigorous young women with good appetites. Also the' matron aud housekeeper, who shared the holiday, feast. Mr3. It. McMeekin, whose brother died at the House Beautiful, is continually place where he was so carelully nursed till the end. At different times she has sent during the month seven gallons of buttermilk, five and a half gallons of sweet milk, three and ajialf pounds of butter, oysters and squab. Dr. Jos. Bryan gave surgical silk, probe and forcens. Mrs. Dr. Edar sent two pounds of butter and two gallons of buttermilk, a very scarce and acceptable article at this season. Mrs. J. II. March sont fifty pounds of Hour. Dr. Harrow sent eighteen sponges aud a bandage roller. An un known friend sent a bag of Hour. Mrs. Alford sett croquettes,! del icacy in a hospital cuisine. Mrs. oodloo contributed oybters, an- r seasonable relish. M'i3s Dean sent mihco pies, jelly and pickles. Mrs. Williamson gave five pounds of candy, two pounds of tea, two bottles of catsup, two of sauce, and one extract of lemon. Mrs. Ben Bruce sent a cake, Mrs. W. F. Smith an English plum pudding; Mrs. Lync, Charlotte Ilusse: Mrs. Shelby, bowl of cranberries; Mrs. Maria Bacon, a cake; Mrs. Winston, bowl of jelly; Mrs. Simonds sent three dozen oranges, bowl of ambrosia, grapes and two dozen eggs; Mr. I. Hutchison sent one dozen lemons. Ho isa stanch friend to the Infirmary. Mr. C. S. Johns sent a glass calendar. lie is an other true friend. Be not only contributes in this way, but ad vertises in The Record. Mrs. Plunkett gave six little cream pitchers. These will match with the pretty individual teapots which she gave some weeks ago. Mrs. Reed gave one cask of native wine. Mrs. Ockford gave old flannel and cotton; Mrs. King gave old linen; Mrs. John B. Huston sent a fire screen and a pair of crutches. THE TRAINING SCHOOL Is prospering even beyond ex pectation. Miss Jenkin3, the head nurse and superintendent, reports for the ten months as fol lows: "We have tour nurses employed. During the time of our existence we have furnished fourteen weeks of private nursing outside of the hospital, for which have you reflected that compara tivcly few of our citizens are ac quainted with our "House Beau tiful ?" Will you let me suggest a plan? You who go every 'Week, taking your turn day after day, invite .norne one outside to go with you, not to interfere with the dutiful part of your mission, but to share its pleasant features. A Charity Ball, a , Loan Art Ex hibition, the comedy of The Rajah by Lexington amateurs, aud a w - w Dickens Festival, arc in view as ways of meeting the debt for w v. tho new building, as well as to found a fund for the chaTity patients in our public wards! Earnest, zealous, faithful women are giving time arid money to the work. Be not disheartened. Al ready the genius of success sits enthroned around about us. And when our friends in other church es shall become fairly acquainted with this refuge, they too will help us with might and main. CASH CONTRIBUTIONS. A friend whose name was not given, sent $25; Mrs. Dr. Sweeney sent $5; Capt. Fitzhugh, $5; Mrs. Qoodloe, (30; Mrs. Woodward, $10; Messrs. Andy and Ben Gratz each sent $10, Mrs.' Swift, 50; Miss Ann Pickett, , 25; Mr. France paid his-annual contribu- tion of 100. The box stationed inside the postoffice yielded $2.00. Mr. Seelbach sent $2 to be ex pended for delicacies for the sick, and a small amount was gathered have paid out to the nurse3 salaries, only $48." (The pupil nurses are furnished a home, washing and uniform and paid a small salary besides. Ed.) "From patients and nurses the income has been $064.25. Entire satis tacl ion has been given in each case of outside nursing. Dr. Barrow began the course of lectures by the city physicians on the 3d of January, 1891. The number of patients treated, 55; women, 24; men, 31; number of surgical oper ations, 14; deaths, 5. Of the pa tients 12 are Episcopalians; 5 Christian church; 6 Presbyterians; 0 Bap.tists, 6 Methodists; 6 Ro manists; 12 unknown, and two belong to no church." (Of the ox at the In- what is best for me, and lie makes, no mistakes." Then she laughed and told how Flip, tho dog, had caught at her stick with his teeth, frolicking about when rIio tried to hit him, and how ho stole Aunt Patsy's, carpet rags and ran off to chew them up. "Well," said Matron Mary, "you won't let mo give him away.. Everybody wants, him. In fact, I could sell him any day for ten dollars he is of good blood." No, the old ladies scold Flip, but they like his wil ful ways and saucy bark. Just then Aunt Amy came in to "wa ter her sheep' she said. Twice a day she brings water to the old Mother Steele was not quite as placid as usual. Years ago she had a son killed on the railroad, and every like .accident brings. back her sorrow. Even as we talked the bell of St. Paul's was tolling the knell of Jimmy Kane,. who was killed at Cumberland Gap, and the funeral train was. slowly passing the window where, sat the old blind, bereaved moth . er. Matron Mary, too, was sad and worn, from watching beside- Nannie, her daughter, who is ill with malarial fever. It .was but a step through the next room where sat two more inmates, Mother Cronleigh still nursing her lame foot, on through the kitchen where more of them "were busy, aud on out to the sunny back pavement where Dick showing an abiding interest in the nurses Miss Jenkins is a Metho dist; Miss Larkin, Christian; Miss Brown, Baptist; Miss Westcott, not reported; Miss Haley, the housekeeper, and Mother Taylor are also members of Protestant churches, holding different theo logical tenets from the Board of Managers. Ed.) "Thirty-seven different diseases have been treated." Tllfi ANNEX. When the annex of seven rooni3 is completed patients will probably not bo turned away for lack of room. This annex is of brick and is fast going up. It will cost $5,000, and must be paid for this year. Surely if $14,000 came at our call the first year, tho second will bring forth financial fruits. Dear friends, THE HOME OP THE FRIENDLESS Wears its winter garb. Homes have been, found for the three youngs girls, aud the old ladies arejogging on in their peaceful routine. Aunt Patsy's trouble yesterday was a pain in the side, and for once her hands were folded; but I suspect if she had had any rags to " cut the pain would have grown small. "I'm going to make that silk rug for you," she said, "when I can get some pieces. Tell vour friends to send me some old silk pieces and old soiled ribbons. I can put things in a rug that are not nice enough for a quilt." Aunt Patsy is 91 years'old and she says she wants to live long enough to make another carpet. "This is a mighty good home, I don't want any better," she said, when refer ring to tho kindness of friends. Blind Mother Steele wa3 walking about, guiding her way with her stick. Without Aunt Patsy to cuther rags she cannot sew. It is wonderful how she helps her self. I asked her thread her needle. She took oil' her black sunbonnet and removed a string from her neck to which waa tied a key. With this she unlocked her trunk which stands eloac be side her arm-chair, and took therefrom her thread and needle. In a moment she had joined tho two. Site said, "Nobody knows what it is to be blind. But I don't complain. The Lord knows corn was shelled out to him. At first he daintily hopped over it as much as to say "I want green corn or none at all." But smil ing Aunt Amy chewed up a grain or two, and' then shaking his red comb he pecked at it with more interest. Flip looked on with mischievous eyes, "hut did not dare approach. Biddy was very busy hatching out her brood, but they do 6ay that she refuses to go" on her nest unless Dick is near. - Little Massie Denny took the old ladies some oranges. Their Christmas donations were most liberal. Dr. Edgar has since given wine for the sick and vinegar to supply the whole es tablishment. Go to see Jhem, friends, and take something- dainty from your own tables. Many old persons like fruit and candy as well as children. Take old half-worn black gowns if you do not wish to give new material, and your faded housekeeper's apron would look well enough in that modest, simple abode. Yours, in loving fellowship, Aunt Jean. Mrs. J. AV. MoConnell, the zi alous founder and business manager of Tho liecord, will upend the months of Feb ruary und March in Memphis, Tenn., her ill home. Her health sutlers under tho rigors of our climate ia winter. L'nt though absent her heart and services are with us. The Kecord and. tho Ladies' Home Journal only 1.75