The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-22
The Rescued Family.
AN INCIDENT In THE HISTORY or THE LADIES
HOMA MISSION At THK FIVE POINTS.

Ahc outWdIu HistOIy Oi Tie MiSSiOn AZ the Five
Points has been sketched, from time to time, in the
public prints but there are facts and incidents con-
nected with It which have mnistered announcement
TO the laborers in this unpromsing field, the mar
ration Of which cannot fail to interest every phian
thropic heart. The public who have contributed 50
beray towards the erection of sanctuary of refuge
on q spot-the Old Brewery-where sin has slain its
thousands entitled to ask for the trophies in this
holy war against vice and iniquity. The following
narration therefore, cannot fail to be interesting
We give it in the words of the lady in whose expert
ence at the Mission the facts were brought out
In TIE early part Of June, 1850 shortly after the
opening OF the Mission ROOM / observed, one Sunday
morning, among the children gathered in the school,
girl OF eight or nine years OF age, whose innocent
expression OF cOuntenance so strongly contrast
ed with the bold air of most of her associates that it
attracted my attention. When the school was dis
missed asked her name, where she lived, &c. She
seemed to shrink from the glance which cast upon
her tattered, filthy garments and dsshevclled hair
DO yon know where the Tabernacle is ~ l
times, and sell mint at the hotel near it, "Will
you come to my house tomorrow morning, ut No.
-, near the Tabernacle? wish to see yod." At
nine o'clock the next morning she was nj the door.
took her to the laundry, had her put into tub Of
water, where she got thorough ablution, and had
afterwards her hair well COMEDIAN operation to
which it seemed 1t had been months if not years a
stranger: As had little daughter about her age,
whose clothes would fit her. / clothed her from
head to foot and when the bonnet was put upon her
head thepoor child looked up with pleased and hap
py expression OF countenance, and broke the silence
which she had maintained throughout the entire
ceremony, ms she exclaimed, "Oh, Ma'am how
good feel!' Soap and water, with clean clothes,
had made potent Transformation, and the little,
clean. satisfied face that looked ont from the bonnet
amply rewarded me. On leaving, she was told she
must keep her clothes neat for the coming Sabbath
and another slitw in part provided for her. The
following Sabbath she was one of the first at the
Mission School, in as neat trim a. che had left me
the Monday before. In the interim she had reas-
sumed her usual garb to pursue her ordinary avoca-
tion, which was sweeping the street and supplying
markets and hotcls with mint for mint juleps.'
Little James altered appearance made so favor
the rude rough, boys might be benefited by an cx-
ample OF cleanliness among their number. My eye
again sought out and found the same innocent ex-
preston Of face in an honest, well behaved lad of
modest in his bearing that resolved to speak with
him when school should be dismissed. did so; in
vted him TO my house; had him dressed; sent him to
the hatters for cap, and had him fully prepared for
surprise that he was brother to little Jane. The
pantaloons which we had provided for him being too
long, told him to ask his mother to put a tuck in
them, just where put the pins for mark.
The next Sunday both the children were at the
Mission School clean and neatly dressed, but no
alteration had been made in the panta1ons the pins
remaining just where had placed them as marks
for q tuck. He caught my. eye as l entered, and
while speaking with him observed he was chewing
tobacco. desired him to come TO my house again
on the morrow. When he came asked him If he
believed was his friend, o yes, Maam, guess
do" Then wish you TO feel, my boy, that what
say TO you Is The expression of ray interest ia your
welfare, and wish you to be open and frank with
me, and answer me truly; do not he afraid to own
ANYTHING that iswrong yourself for know youa are
smrcundedby much lead you astray." From the
Ho1 l,so NJ
swear, JosepM'" es, ma am" ""Do you drink? ''No
ma am" ado you break the Sabbath" eyes, ma am,
I'm afraid do" "Do you steal2' His no was empha
sized ard elongated, as ~ib look cf almost tri-
plant innocence he said, ~ never stole pin iu
all my lite." "Well, Joseph do yon chew tobacco?'
ayes, ma'am." "QuaIrelwith bad boys inthe street!'
"Yes, they lick me first pay them back, that's all.'
Upon farther inquirihg, found he bad been employ
ed for two years to set up Dnepins in alley in the
basement OF one of our principal hotels. For this
work he received two dollars and half week, but
the poor child was kept up nearly all night, and
s ,Esn sod papers to III up his other waking hours.
looms made shorter. he hesitatcd; he seemed unwil-
ling to answer, but on my repeating the question,
with the assurance that no fault ii he had for
gotten to ask his mother, he replied, while his eye
filed with tears, and his lip quiyered with emotion,
"My mother drinks, ma am Cannot you persuade
your mother tobecOme sobcrr said !. ''No, ma am,
she will not take the pledge took down book
and asked him il he could read. "Quite imperfect
rious incidents related in anecdotes for the young hy
the late Rev. Daniel Smith, concerning the swearer,
the sabbsth-breaker, and the drunkard, showing
him how gnally God would bless even the efforts Of
q child to rescue a parent from intemperancc. The
silent tear rolled down his cheek as | urged
upon him the necessity OF doing all he could
to free himself and family from the vices 10
which they were addicted; and he said most
earnestly, ~ viii not swear any more, nor
chew any more tobacco A few days after this pro-
mise was made observed Joseph again chewing.
said kindly to him. $50, Joseph, your habit of chew
ing strong you could not keep your promisc?'
ooh yes ] have; / am chewing caIn6mc nowcrs;'
taking them from his vest pocket lie said his appe-
tite left him when he gave up his tobacco and he
was obliged to break of by this means. and he did
succeed pattern we think TO older heads. win
you take me to see your mother, Joseph. said l.
Not to-day ma am, please !" But why!' "she
1t no up yet: she is not sober Never mind, let
me go with you now; think she will be up by the
sented; on our way down Anthony street, as il to
prepare me for the Nretcheiness Of his miserable
home, he said ! would find the house. very dirty,
and anticipation could equal the sad reality The
entry through which was obliged to pick my steps,
irtoerabie so offensive was the odor ON opening
the door. It was on the ground floor, and the ere
vices and holes Of the broken flooring were Iecep
tacle for the refuse food and sop. 1he front OF the
room had been used as bar room, but the partition
Lad been taken down, and with it LARGE pieces OF
the well ard ceiling. On broken table, brlced up
against the wall to keep it from falling, lay dog
besidc'a piece Of bread, dirty plate OF butter
a broken teapot, and on iron pot with few
potatoes; few plates, knives and forks, &C.; other
furniture there was none, save an old chair with.
out back, few dirty rags serving for bed and
Led clothes. and broken bedstead thrown down
in drunken frolic week before. And this
was the home Of those children, with their sweet,
innocent faces this was the atmosphere Of physical
and moral pollution in which these young creatures
were being trained for eternity! A man was seated
on bundle OF old and fresh herbs, with three boys
opposite him, all busily engaged tying up herbs and
arranging mint in bundles, for the markets and
hotels Could the drinkers of mint iulcps, as they
lifted the cup from the marble table OF the gilied
loon have seen the untold filth OF the room in which
tic mint gathered by the side OF the limpid brook
was prepared for their use they would have dashed
down The draught with disgust from their lips, and
would never have felt an inclination to taste tagain.
in the far corner Of the room another scene pre-
sented itself There lay the mother Of the three in
teresting children, drunk, upon the floor The boy,
approaching her, pushed her with his foot, saying,