Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-17
Report Of the Managers Of tho Washington
City Protestant ksylum for the Orphan ard
Destitute Children.

Report Of the Managers Of tho Washington
City Protestant Asylum for the Orphan ard
Destitute Children. ~
Again we come. Another year has
rolled its rapid round. Scarce can We
realize it. Like dream when one
awaketh; so silently, and so harmoni.
ously as the wheels of time move On.
From tic glorious orb Of day to the
twinkling little star that fills its place
in the firmamcnt-from the proud mon
arch on his throne to the helpless little
orphan children, sheltered from the
storm-all, all, have part in the one
glorious whole.
The spring, with its freshness and
beauty, stlewd our pathway with flowers:
the summer rcwardcth the husbandman
with an abundant harvest; while the
ripcning fruits CT autumn filled "our
basket and cur store, }" and now the cold
blasts of winter are again upon us. How
many millions and millions of the human
race; how many in our own midst, have
slept their last sleep, since with urgent
appeal we told our story of the wants
and sorrows OF the poor, the destitute,
the orphan child. We have been spared,
for what! For new duties, new respon-
slbilitieS, as long as pcnury and want
stand shiyering at our door; as long as
there is houseleSs, homeless, orphan
child, bereft Of natural guardians to ask
our pity or to seek shelter. We have
work to do-a work full of interest,
full of responsibility. Each little one
has soul that will ou:last s the wreck
Of matter and the crush of worlds. -
Thirty-four Of our number are under the
age of six years: childhood lisping it's
first prayer, its first hymn, its first verse
of sacred writ.
We commenced the year with a debt
of one thousand dollars. The public press
told our Story the ministers of the sane
tuary entreated for relief; some, we are
thankful. to say, generously responded to
our call, but how very few: and how
many Of our ftllow citizens have had
"thcir baskets and their stores filled :"
and with this their accountability as
stewards increased. They lave forgot
ten the command "Deal thy bread to the
hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul.''
Their mansions are the abode of every
luxury: day after day passes, their table
groans with all that can tempt the appe
tite. The shades of evening gather round
brilliant lights, cheerful tireside. Their
happy homes and little ones know not
wish ungratified: all are there. Can it
be amid SO many blessings that they for
get the 'Giver in the gift;" or with the
,thoughtlesS Queen Of other days inquire
why don't the poor have plenty of bread
and cheese! while not mite, or very
small one, by them is bestowed to keep
those poor from starving. Could you
have seen, as we can tell you, within the
past year, the wretched mother fallin.
dead, while in the very act of asking for
crust, and her child of four years old,
brought to our asylum, sheltered from
the blast, and provided with the neces-
ries of life could you know and hear
of the sorrow that we hear, it would
surely melt heart Of adamant. @ %.
Wealth, what a blessing to the man
who scatters with liberal hand; who dries
the burning tear from sorrows check;
who lights up, or enables others to light
up, by bis munificent gifts, the extn-
guished hope in the dying mothers breast,
that tender guardians will watch over
her orphan child when she is gone. Tell
us, is there one drop in what the world
ling calls the cup of pleasure, compare.
ble to such reflection. si-I fEr sos
The question is now before the public.
is the Washington City Protestant Or.
plan Asylum to be sustained; or, are
these children, taken from the abode of
misery, and trained for usefulness, to be
scattered abroad for what destiny we
know not; do we plead in vain; and we
had almost said, has compassion closed
her eyes, shut her ears, and clcnched her
hands against our little ones. Had we
no higher motive to plead than economy,
We have it from an authentic source, that
athe expense incurred by the public in the
prosecution and punishment of persons
charged with crimes throughout this
Union-but emphatically of this District,
NJ nnI, nd >c