Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1853-12-24
Cincinnati House Of Refuge.
cOnesPOndenoe % he Plynouth Advertiser

ana u lew ioT tne purpose removing inefi
from under the influence of drunken, vi
cious parents. A few days since, la'
Of Is years wos sent here by The Mayor
Court Upon my inquiry. he told m,
Iha, he was sent here for picking up old
iron;' that his mother died several year.
since, and that his father is drunkard. llt
does not appear TO be a very bad boy. na
turslly; and when look at him cannot
but ask myself, whether, { his molher's
life had been spared, he might not, now
have been an ornament TO the city schools
instead Of being an inmate of the House
Of Refuge he did not know the alpha.
bet-now he reads in Phonetic print.
Just after that another one came and
give himself up, saying that his father
who is also sot, had driven him from
under the pa,ena' roof; and here he fount
that protection which was denied him by
one who ought 10 have been ready, at any
time, TO deprive himselfuf everything, bu
the necessi les of life, for his benefi.
Them cane three brothers, asking ad
mission. Their ages were IL, 8 aud 4
years, respectively. Their clothing. tho
coarse and patched, (unlike that of very
many who find On asylum he,e) was clear
and comfortable. Their persons, TOO, be-
spoke the kind care of some one. Upon
convcrsing with them, | found them man
nerly, and | could discover nothing
bad in their department. They showed
an affection for each other that is not gen
orally exhibited by any but good children
| learned from them that they had gone to
the Police Court, in obedience TO paternal
authority, and mede known their desire 10
be sent TO the House of Refuge-and
without waiting for commitment, and
official attendance, they had unobserved
left tho court room, and walked three
miles; the two older ones, leading their
lit lie brother, and inquiring their way
through the streets of a strange city. But
they arrived here in safety, and were adj
mitled by order of the Superintendent,
who had seen them in the Police Office,
One of them was put under my insIruc'
ton. found him very good child. and
that The Superintendent and officers also
entertained a good opinion of the three
brothers. .Then,' thought !, why ar5
these children, that appear to nave been
so well instructed, here u? Is their moth
er an abandoned woman! Tha, cannn
be, for their whole appearance gives evil
dence to the contrary. Then | again in
terrogated the boys, bu, could not satisfy
myself. They said that their father wa:
,,oor, an moi in good health, bun .hat bt
was sober, industrious man. Then
was driven to the conclusion that to hide
his shame, they had told what was no
strictly true. ! believed that he was ;
sot, and that their poor mother had sen
all that she now held dear on earth to thi
Refuge, that they might not only be protec
ted from cold, hunger and want of ever,
kind, but from the abuse, and perhaps from
what would be even worse the soul-pol
Iuting example Of an unnatural father
But why did she not come with them, o
at least to the Police Office Had ST.
any proof that her little one-he
babe had found friends. or even shelter
after leaving her. Again questioned th
boys, and learned that they had left
brother and sister at home, but nothin
corroboraled my worst fears; and de
termined to see that family. According
ly went, and quite ou, of The city on tn
East. | found them. The mother am
the daughter were at home. Soon aftc
made myself known, the father wa
sent for. While the daughter goes fu
him, (for she knows where to find him
let us take n look at the house, and be
come slightly acqainted with the mother
The family occupied two rooms and i
each there is be-, few plain chairs,
table, land some of the most necessary'uten
sils, make The sum total of the furniture
Against those wa Is, where picture neve
hung, few spnre garments hang. Bu
every thing wears all air Of neatness. III
day is not cold. for December day, an
on the bricks that occupy the place {
hand-rons, (they have no steve a sma
fire was burning, when entered ; an
just before the little girl wen. to call he
father, she rep|enished it wi h wood, III;
looked as though it had been carried frot
ship yard near by; and her mother ba
anced little three legged dinner pot, il
to which the daughter had just put We
prepared vege abIes. in such manner g
to convince me that she had not long RI
, sided in the city.
The mother says that some few week
since the family left B. county, ft
Alton, H.. and the river being very To-
t they were detained in this city, and viii
out money. Her husband has no trad
but he has labored at any thing he cou
to do; yet he is unable TO provide for h
a family. They had found, to-, that a eli
, is bad place for boys, and hearing th
the House of Refuge is good place, 81
> had given her consent 10 their being sci
q there.
The father arrived, and from him hea
the same reasons, with the addition, th
: he had been told that they would be ed
, ca'ed, and taught some mechanical trat
in the House of Refuge. saw no sig
> of drunkenness nor immortality. On II
S contrary. 9th appeared TO have respe
a for principles or light. and the mothe
when told her that the children might
inden,ured. expressed desire that thu
d should be placed in pious families, al
4 away from the pernicious influence of 4
city.
], What vas The cause of That family b