Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-29
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| they conceive TO De tnelt uutys 4uoAJ go
firmly; distributing, with real charity oil
heart--but often to unworthy objects--money
which they can IN spare. Anybodys child
knows these good ladies very well. He hears
what they have to say, with downcast eyes
and he is very serious when he takes the
tracts they are so good as to distribute. But
how can he read when he is hungry Tho
lady is certainly to be touched by this appeal,
and all honor to her sentle heart. Anybody
child receives sixpence. Then the lady pro-
ceeds to the next court, and Anybody's child
buys some pudding at house close at hand
which he wraps up in the tract-and saves
twopence for the low theatre at night. You
know all that is true of Anybody's child. Ad-
mitted.
Anybody's child plays other parts. Many
come to inquire into his condition; to ask MN
about his parentage, his mode of life, the num-
Der of times he has been in prison, the games
he has played. To these he appears very har-
dened indeed. He has no recollection of his
mother, and his father is somewhere in the
country. He is allowed to sleep upon pal
let in the corner of a kind old womans kltch-
ell up a court. He lives by all sorts of STRAIT
agems. lie holds gentlemen's horses; he goes
out with eostermongers to cry their wares
He has been offered the situation Of Grand
boy, to carry out goods; but he never liked it;
such places was always too hard for him. lie
has been in prison many times, five or SIX
times at least He proceeds to repeat the
prison regulations, for he knows them by
heart. He has been engaged with other boys
in taking lead from house roofs; in "snow
gathering" Ca poetic expression for clothes
stealing from hedges; in picking pockets at
fairs.--He can turn his hand to anything de-
structive; but finds the world is against him.
He knows very well that he is an outcast, and
that boys of his sort are not admitted into any
decent companionship. Yet his is a hard life
his is. He has tried very often to do some
thing for hmself-he has; but it amt of no
use, he can't keep to nothing; he gets tired of
it, and people gets tired of him. lie supposes
he will be transported at last. He doesn't
much care what becomes of him. AS for a
home-he has never had home. He is glad
his father has gone away, for he was always a
thrashing OF him. He will say all this to you,
will Anybodys child. Admitted.
Anybodys child here begins true story, a
little colore1. He watches narrowly the ex-
preston of his questioner, and shapes his an
swer according to the result of his observation.
He thinks there is chance of getting some
thing out of his listener, perhaps half crown,
perhaps passage to the diggings; but lie is
afraid it may be an introduction to some re-
forlnatory institution.
Anybody's child plays third part. Admit
ted. This is played when he is accosted by an
inquirer who is the sworn advocate Of popu-
lar education. Herein the child is a mass of
ignorance. He has never heard who is king
orqueen. He is not certain that it amt the
Black Prince. How should he know: He
has heard of the Creator once or twice, but
knows nothing about the New Testament.
Cannot read or write; wishes he could VIII
go to the ragged school; wouldn't he like to
But he must have something to eat at, afore he
can think of learning anything. Has heard OF
all sorts of places built to do good to him but
he doesn't like them. He isn't fond Of work.
It's hard life in the streets; but he will get
used to it in time.
All this is admitted. Admit on the other
hand--you must, if you admit the sun and the
eternal heavens to be realities-that-'odileo OPP
ooaents discuss theories, he gro,os up to NeDgate
md perditioa.
Yet truly regarded, Anybodys child is
something more than this worthless little
wretch and irredeemable outcast. Because he
cannot be made te mend his ways in few
weeks; because it is not easy to make him the
! quiet inhabitant of nonotonous House OF
Refuge; because he cannot recognize a minis
tering angel in police officer; because heis
slow to learn, and has disgust for the irksome
foundations of education; because the wild
animal Of city alley cannot, in few days,
become lap-dog for lady visitors to pat and
smooth voices begin to cry aloud that the
case is hopeless. Let our voice cry aloud, in
stead-'' 10 whom does Anybody's child be-
long To some Of us, surely, if not to all of
US. What are or la,cs, If they secure for this
child no protection; ohGt are zoe, if under our
eyes, Anydody's child gro.oS up to be Eeery6odg's
eRenty2 Af
Anybody's child is undoubtedly Somebody's
child. To discover this Somebody who base
ly deserts it should be the duty OF the State
and the laws heaviest hand would we Law up
on this Somebody The State, protesting and
calling itself Christian, and therefore refus-
ing to breed Plaques and Wild Beasts and rub
bish to be shot into the bottomless pit should
systematically take that child, and make ii a
good citizen. and as it can, in most cases, find
out Somebody when he or she has done a
murder on the body, so let it find out Some
body guilty Of the worst murder Of this child's
soul, and punish that heaviest of all offenders,
in pocket and person.
Anybody's child is a little fend, a social
curse, hypocrite, liar, thief. Admitted
But if the State had long ago made Somebody
accountable for the child, and take upon itself
the duties Of parent, Anybody's child, in lieu
of the dreadful creature you recol FROM would
now be hopeful little fellow, with the roses
of youth upon his checks, and the truth of
happy childhood on his lips.
ADybody's child cannot too soon. become
the adopted of us all and the Somebody who
gave it birth cannot too soon or too relentless
ly be made to pay the charges of the adoption,
or be punished in default. Recent conferen-
ces on this shame to England have renewed
our hopes of Anybody's child. Reader, as
YOU have children of your own or were a child
yourself remember him s-Househola Words.