HELP FOR THE HELPLESS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 883, 1 August 1910, Page 5

HELP FOR THE HELPLESS.

THE WORK OF THE REV, MOTHER AUBERT. 'an appeal. Half-way along tho eastern slope of that rounded ridge of hills/that trends from Brooklyn to the sea, reposes oh a convenient Saddle a large grey stone building.' Not remarkable, perhaps, for any great architectural beauty, 'nor would it arrest the attention at all were it not for its oxtrcmo isolation from other buildings, and the contrast it makes against the'emerald of its'back-, ground. Its .front aspect faces the north—its windows keep kindly-watch and ward over the city which worries and frets in 'the near distance, for there are those within who make a study of giving; relief where rolief is most needed. This grey building is ,the Children's-Home of our Lady of Compassion, the life and soul of which institution'is the universally respected arid indefatigible worker Mother Mary Joseph Aubei't. This' old lady, whose face and humble gaberdine are known and'.loved throughout New Zealand, is tho founder of what is one of the most worthy causes for. charity in the whole of the Dominion. Assisted by the Sisters of Compassion, she attends to the needy at both ends, of life. Only five years ago. she conceived the idea of founding a "hospice for tho treatment and maintenance of children suffering from ' incurable diseases and' deformities. There, in tho' grey building, under " the, \ green' ' hills, these little unfortunate's live out their lives, as happy, hay happier, than they heretofore ever' hoped.,to be, tended, disciplined, and taught by the Sisters, under the"guidance of tho 'good Mother. But tho succour of the little ones does not stop.-at'incurables. -There is a section whore a widow, unable to support her child, may. under certain circurnstances -be relieved-of-her. responsibilities until such time'as she is able to undertake them once more. Still again there is room in the building, andthe Rev. Mother's big heart, for foundlings who are rescued from tho by-way's of life, quietly and unostentatiously, and are, kept scrupulously clean, well fed, and trained in the way they' should go.

At present there are 90 children in the grey buildingMX) children'who have lost their; way in the bustling careless world, and are being brought up" in the way of grace, whereas'under other circumstances they might so easily fall by the wayside and be trampled in the dust of forgetfulness.

Tho Nether End of Life. Change the, scene! It is a busy city street. An old man.with two sticks hobbles 'through the gate of a twostoried veraridahed house. 'Peer through the ■'trees on a bright..day, and you will see, perhaps; making the, most of mid-winter's thin sunshine a dozen other old men all— "In tlie autumn of their days .' : With the sun'-.of life declining." This is the' St. Joseph's Home for Incurables in Buckle Street, another of the institutions. founded and superintended' by the. Rev. Mother Aubert. Here_ old sufferers of both sexes—irrespective of creed or class—are tended with/much goritleness, and though some be difficult to manage, all is done that can' possibly : be done to: make them comfortable and keep them decent as their life • sims; wester. ' .Here, too,, are the needy hungry fed. On cold winter .mornings and evenings great pots '.of ■ savoury - soup are ■ prepared, and served out to all and sun-dry-in a room—private from-.the- homo and street—and only' the Sisters whose lips, are sealed, ;• can tell -of -'the' mini-'! hers and • appreciation .Of those : who find the savoury, soup- of much physical value for, the presentand hope for the future. .-The.demand' for soup, : it is pleasing to learn,. is!not so pressing as ;t was last winter, but; still there, is enough poverty and wretchedness to keep the Sisters going for long hours! every day, and thoy'form no union, ask no award ■, nor .limitation -of hours. !h tho Crcohe. ; Attached to the Buckle Street Home is a creche,. or temporarj' home for babies. _ Many poor mothers, capable: of earning- a'few shillings a week at washing or scrubbing,' are aWe to do so with the aid of the Hev. Mother's creche. Here they can 'deposit their iinbies in .the early .mornings and. hie | off to their work happy in the knowledge that their little ones, will receive *very • attention throughout. tho day. When taken'in the babies are treated to a.change of .clean' clothing, bathed,/ and fed with pure, milk and'foods, until , they arb reclaimed' again of an even? in»'-by their tired'mothers. ■ Such are the works of charity which have been undertaken by the Rev. Mother/Joseph Aubert, and her hardworking Sisters.- Surely they deserve help in their good work. !:If so' a chance. presents itself .in the concert to be given in aid of the homes at the. Town Hall on Wednesday evening next. Unfortunately the Rev, Mother, owing ti> works she is undertaking in Auckland, > has. only been able to spare two Sisters to canvass the city with tickets, but.anyone.-will."lie supplied on communicating, with the Rev. Mother at Buckle Street or Island Bay. The concert will bo worth the money, anyhow.';. '■' . " • •