Page:Tributes to Helen Bell, Woman's Progress, April 1895.djvu/6

Rh Hence arose, small in its beginnings, the now influential Guild of Working Women, in whose service Helen Bell found ample room and scope enough for her active philanthropy. As a teacher she was eligible to membership and was duly elected. It was a privilege to observe the means whereby Helen Bell gradually won the confidence of her fellow members and shed a benign and blessed influence over these early small assemblies.

The girls, slightly or not at all acquainted with each other, timid in expressing their wishes or even in asking questions as to the possibilities or advantages of the Guild, would have been repelled by the slightest appearance of a patronizing spirit or discouraged by any prominence of superior attainment. The former Helen Bell could not manifest; any consciousness of superiority was held cautiously under—all covered up in the woman heart of sympathetic companionship and co-operation in promoting the work of the Guild.

In the discussions that gradually became general, she was intensely practical, putting as a question for consideration the very suggestion the girls needed, and then offering personal aid in a manner so gracious that no one need refuse.

Insight into character was blended with the desire to discover the best in each member—to throw into the background mistakes and errors in speech or thought—to place on the foreground the good and the useful.

Truly the kingdom of heaven was in her, the spirit of the young Nazarene as set forth in the old legend. One day He approached a little group, who were rudely kicking and cursing the unclean animal, who lay dead before them. The young Nazarene gazed upon the dog. A look of admiration spread over His face to the astonishment of the standers-by. Pointing to the open mouth of the dog, He exclaimed: "Were ever pearls so beautiful as these teeth?" and so passed on His way.

A gracious courtesy may have been in part the gift of nature, but by her own assertion it was mainly the result of cultivation. Early in life she had observed the beauty of gracious words and manner, and determined to acquire and practice as a social duty the habit of courtesy. Surely success crowned the effort and made her the perfect gentlewoman.

The devoted Guild mother, Mrs. Eliza S. Turner, recognized in its very infancy the valuable aid of Helen Bell. The Guild from 1881 to 1895 constantly grew in strength and numbers; as constantly grew Helen Bell's efforts for its welfare, in the department of evening classes, of building fund, of which she was treasurer, of housekeeping, of lectures, of library and reading-room, of mid-day rest and of social enjoyments.

The half holiday recreations were her special care. On Saturdays she conducted excursions—to the Wissahickon, to Bartram's Garden, to lawn parties at Mr. Wanamaker's, at Rosemont, at Boscobel, at the Burd Asylum grounds, visits to the old Johnson mansion and lawn of venerable trees at Germantown; to other colonial