A CRY FOR HELP.

Evening Star, Issue 6477, 19 December 1883, Page 2

A CRY FOR HELP.

TO THE EDITOR. - Sib,—A little over twelve months ago X commenced a series of letters for yopr paper,' giving you and your readers a faint glimpse of the dark side of fair Dunedin. The end I had In view was the prohibition of the sale of strong drlnK to young children. That the case was takenmp by the Hon. Mr Reynolds, and a Bill for this purpose has already passed the UpperHoue, you are, of course, aware. There I felt-content to leave the matter, knowing that it could not be in hotter hands. , At the same time, my experiences of the past year, if told, would far surpass anything yet told you. Circumstances occurred which threw me much amongst the outcast and wretched unemployed, and where drink has no part. One poor family in particular have been a great anxiety to me. The mother is a most delicate woman —delicate from very want ; the man is a carpenter, and had no work for months. There were seven hungry little months to fill, and often nothing to fill 4hem with; seven little bare backs to dothe, and nothing to dothe them in. Nine days ago the eighth child came, and poor, kind neighbors did all they could for the poor mother. But, alas 1 ccld and want had done their work; and this a little after four o'clock, we .deced- the weary eyes, never to open more In this world. The last shilling had been spent the night before. Everything that could be- parted with had been parted with, and yet we could not stem the tide. I am writing this beside the dead mother, with the waging little ones around me. The grate and th#dipboard are empty.. The'poor mother is past help; but the children—surely something etn be done for them. If anyone should be disposed to send a trifle to get a few common necessaries they can communicate with the Rev. Mr Berry or the Rev. Mr Smalley, who will forward anything to Rachel, Dunedin, December 19.