"RACHEL" DEFENDED.

Evening Star, Issue 6481, 24 December 1883, Page 4

"RACHEL" DEFENDED.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,- I see by the Star of 22nd inst. that " Rachel " is accused of exaggeration. Ido not think she has employed exaggeration in the least, for I can prove that in the case mentioned, when she was called in to the poor woman then dying, there was only a handful of fire in the grate and a few wet, green pieces of wood that tLe boys got up the Leith Valley. The sick woman had only two sheets and a single blue blanket to cover her, and only old skirts and rags to cover the husband and seven children. The poor woman told my wife that they were allowed 5s per week for two weeks. I can give more information concerning this case if it is required.—l am, etc., Charity. Dunedin, December 24.

TO TK?O BDHOB, Sir,—The Rev. Mr Fitchetfe says in your paper that "Rachel's" letter is greatly exaggerated. lam a near neighbor, and was with the poor woman at her death, and I am quite sure that the letter from "Rachel" was not exaggerated. The poor woman told me that she often could not sleep at night for very hunger ; and I believe the family would have been starved but for the goodness of " Rachel," the poor woman's nurse, and her neighbors, who did what they could for them. People have been very kind to the family since the death of the mother. I would rather that any person who would like to hear the truth call upon me, as " Rachel" has not told half what she could have told. I enclose my address, which you are at liberty to give to anyone.—l am, etc., A Neighbor. Dunedin, December 24.