Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-02-17


good charitable institutions would re
ceive them with open arms.
The most destitute orphans are those
who are bereayed Of parents by the
great licensed orphan makcr--thc rum
seller--of this City. Perhaps the
most proper title for these would be
"halforphans," forsuch they really are
OF two OF these. we have little
story. Only in one circumstances i
is different from thousand others
Happily for this class Of half orphans,
there is one institution where they find
a home-where noquestions are asked
what made them so; only "arc you
destitute?-then como and share the
food and shelter provided fyr those
"who have a heart 10 feel for others woes"
During one Of our visits TO this in,
stitution, while sitting with the family
Of the Superintendent; n couple O
beautiful little flaxen haired girls, per-
haps four and six years old, came run.
ming into the parlor to kiss Mrs. Pcase
and say good night. Three years ago,
such scene in this very room would
have been the eighth wonder OF the
world. Then ii was the home OF the
filthy, wretched, vicious and miserable,
where half orphans were; now il is the
home of peace, hope, love and char
ity to the bereaved and destitute.
We were inf crested at once in these
sweet little children, and inquired
chow came they here-who are they
where "from? for evidently they are
not Of the ordinary Five Points
class"
"I.can ellyou nothing about them. "
said Mr.. Pease, cor very little. A few
days,.ago the door keeper came up very
early one morning and said two gen.
glemen wished to. see me. One was
so in dress and address: the only so in
the latter. His face and clothes told
Of what makes orphans. Sir said
the first. Il have lately read some
highly interesting stories, published in
TIE Tribune, in which for the first
"time have learned Of the existenco
"of the Five Points House OF Industry.
"and its benevolent objects, and We
"have called to make some personal
Enquiry. This gentleman has need Of
"some assistance.
"What is the case?"
IL have" said he, "two little girls,
who have no mother TO take care OF
them; might say no father either, .
said he aside, as he turned 10 wipe away
an unbidden tear. 81 cannot tell you
the whole story"
in this house. No one is allowed 10
inquire what an inmate has bcen-only
what they may be. To reform those
who have been bad. the past must be
forgotten. We hope all who enter here,
begin new life."
"0hp' said he, "what blessed idea
II | could only forget the past-the
time when was Broadway merchant
and drank my bottle of wine at dinner
when l lived in all the domestic
felicity of a happy home, with vir'
tuous wife and two sweet children,
might forget that | have no home now
that L am bid by my unpaid land
lady to take my brats away--that
must clear out this very day-that !
never can have another smoutnful in
her house. OH can | ever forget that
| have fallen so low as TO beg charity
for my worse than motherless child
ren."
"Then their mother is living?"
al do not know. have not seen
her for year. l have heard of, not
long ago, but she is not fit TO be moth
er to two such children. She left me,
and her two little girls, for life ol
drunkenness and misery. She is worse
than dead to them. | need not tell
you what l am. If you will take my
children and take care of them, will
go and bring them directly. | have
nothing to give, but l hope those who
have, will increase their charity enough
to keep my poor children from starv-
ing"
"Haye they no relations who would
take care of them?"
"Relations? Yes, sir; among the
rich and the proud Of the City. i, too,
am proud, if l am degraded. l can
bear degradation, but | could not bear
to think my children were the paupers
of my own brother, on any relative who
would remind them of their degraded
father, or tell them, perhaps, as they
met a ragged woman staggering, thro'u
the streets that is your mother
Never, sir, never"
"Well, well, bring them here. You
need not tell your name or theirs
Only promise me one thing: that you
will reform yourself, or, at least, try to
do it, so that you can once more be a
father to your children"
al intend to, or never see them
again. They never shall be ashamed
Of a drunken father. They never will
know their mother. She does not know
where they are, never will know.
will leave the City to-day. | intend
to get away from old associates, and
out of sight of the ever open places
of temptation that do nothing but drag
me down"
So he went away and brought the
two children, pressed them to hi:
bosom. shed tears over them, called
upon God to bless them and those whC
took care of them, said goodbye, anc
went away with a tear in his eye, and {
prayer in his heart, and nothing ha'
been heard of him since.
We became much interested in these
two "half orphans, and noticed then
as the pets of the missionary
family in our frequent visits. At oul