A DAILY MESSAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1928, Page 1

A DAILY MESSAGE

A HUMAN SPARK CALLS A few minutes alter the Human Extinguisher left me 1 was feeling as if my light had gone out. Then a real live and vital human spark blew in. and I felt as if she had si nick a match and let me up again. I can see her now—eager, active, warm, bright, brave, magnetic. Her opening words kindled something within me. and I felt faith in my kind again. “I just looked in to say I’d like to help you with . 1 can’t, do much, hut count on me to distribute a couple of hundred notices.” That little women is poor —or the world would say so. She has live children, a delicate, unskilled husband, and all her worldly wealth is comprised in a few sticks of furniture. Yet compared with the extinguisher who had just gone out—and who. for all her wealth, is a beggar, she is as rich as Croesus.

Knowing that both she and hei family had been ill, I asked her how she was.

" Splendid,” came the reply, and she meant it. “The family has had the measles, hut, thank goodnes. they are all on the mend now. Yes; and my old man has now got work. He doesn’t get too much pay. certainly, to keep the whole of us. hut we shall pull through with a little management. I have taken a little shop. \Ye have to be up anil open by 6.60 in the morning. It’s a bit awkward getting the youngsters off to school, hut we have health and strength, and that’s something to he thankful for. The old man is good : I help him as much as I can. and when the youngsters grow up they’ll lilt a bit of the burden off him. There are plenty worse off than we are. although we have our hard times.

“ I am going to keep my eldest boy at school, though it isn't- easy—he could he so useful in the shop—hut I am determined not to spoil his Hie.. I want him to win a. bursary, and il I can help him he won’t miss it, 1 can tell you.”

And they call this woman poor ! Why. she is Human Radium ! What a. spark ! What, an inspiration ! M hat a live wire ! A\ hat a mate ! \\ hat a mother! What a neighbour ! AMiat a 'friend ! \V hat a citizen ! Site will kindle and foster the fires of ambition in. the hearts ol her children, and keep them glowing in the heart of her over-burdened husband. Wherever she goes she will carry a message ol sympathy—hope help courage.

Don’t: he a depressor —a discouiagei tin extinguisher—you II he happiei il you are a spark ! _M PRESTON STANLEY.