A DISTRESSING CASE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9114, 13 June 1908, Page 3

A DISTRESSING CASE.

One of the most distressing caies related for some time has just como to light in Timaru in the shape of the misfortunes of a man, his wife and three children. The father, a cabinet-maker by trade, lost the use of both eyes, some eight months ago, through a very-simple accident. He was carrying a bath out of a room when the bath struck the half-closed door, and in some way his spectacles were broken and forced into his eyes. Previously, one eye was weak, and as a result of the accident he had to have both eyes removed. This, of course, made it impossible for him to continue his trade, and as he is a man of forty, it is unliicely that he will ever ba able to earn anything. His wife has made a brave struggle to keep a home together and provide for the family by going out washing, but little by little the furniture has had to go to provide bare necessaries, until very little is left. They have managed, however, to save the sewing machine, though it has on many occasions served as a security upon which to raise a few shillings. There H*^a*e-three children in the family. Ah )-jt Christmas time on one occatjfkbxi there was not a crust of bread or coal in the house, and the ■fa nily ha\e had a terrible struggle i'jv existence. They have lately been receiving some assistance from charitibh friends. While the wife is ■away at work the husband is helpless in hia blindness, and as he is unable t) keep a fire alight, he suffers considerably from the cold and rheumatism. The man was at one time a prominent footballer in the North Island, and it has been suggested that the footballers of Timaru might give abmo assistance to so deserving a -ca3tf.