AN APPEAL FOR THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 191, 12 August 1895, Page 2

AN APPEAL FOR THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I have often expressed my sympathy with the suffering poor, who drag out a weary, miserable existence in the varioua large cities I have sojourned in from time to time, and have also given my mite tor alleviate their suffering. Bub a small alms given to a poor person may appease hunger, bub cannob afford permanent relief. There are, however, many channels through' which a little charity from those who can afford it, if contributed when most required, would afford permanent relief to bhe deserving poor—the worn-out old pioneers, who have spent the best part of their days in making Auckland—nay, New Zealand —a place where the British subject can live in peace. I think bhe people of this ciby will admib thab there are none more deserving of encouragement in their mission of charity than the Little Sisters of. the Poor, who have withdrawn themselves; from the gaiety and comfort of happy homes to assuage the sufferings of the aged and infirm — those poor old wrecks of humanity who are berefb of; friends and left without a kindly hand to help them when senile decay seta in. Bub,' for bhe charity of the Little Sisters of tbe Poor, many ot them might die unhappy ; » deaths in some low hovel, the victims of.1 hunger and degradabion. Yes; tbey «" received in bhe Home of the Little Sisters, Shelly Beach Road, Ponsonby, where they are fed, kepb clean, soothed and nursed in their sickness, and when they totter to the . grave, those poor people, forsaken by their relatives, receive a Christian burial.>

To accomplish all bhiß bhe Sisters require assistance from those who can spare it; and to gather in the food from the charitable donors—which requires a lob of labour, having about 50 inmabes to provide for— bhey are iv greab need of a van, for bhe conveyance bhey use ab preeenb has become almost a total wreck. Now, if a move waa made •by s'om6 influential person in the direction of raising funds to help the Little Sieters of the Poor to replace the old van by a new one, I have no doubb a\ all bhab bhe young people of Auckland and their parents (who are ever ready to aid the cauße bhab needs assistance) would respond heartily to such an appeal. It may not be out of place to here state that the Little Sisters of the Poor, if they have room, accepbthe deserving poor without regard to creed or nationality, the unbeliever or the freethinker ia treated by the Siaters with all the tenderness of tbe Chrietian. Perhaps, Mr Editor, in your goodness of heart, you would aay a few worda to assist) auch a laudable movemenb.— I am, etc.

Sympathy.