Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-17
Report Of the Managers Of the Washington
City Protestant Asylum for Orphan and
Destitute Children. ~ Il 81.


Destitute Children.
Again we come. Another year has rolled its
rapid rounds. Scarce can we realize IL Like
dream when one awaketh :; SO silently and so har-
monously as the wheels of Time move on. From
the glorious orb OF day to the twinklng little star
that fills its place in the armament; from the proud
monarch on his throne 10 the helpless little orphan
child sheltered from the storm, ALL all have part
in the one glorious whole. All
The spring with its freshness and beauty strewed
our pathway with flowers !; the summer rewarded
the husbandman with an abundant harvest; while
the ripening fruits of autumn filled Sour basket
and our store;" and now the cold blasts of winter
are again upon us. How many millions and mil
lions 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 responsibilities as long as penury and want
stand shivering at door--as long as there Is
houseless, homeless orphan child, bereft of natu-
raj guardians, TO ask pity, or 10 seek shell
| ter. We have work TO do. work full of inter-
est, full of responsibility. Each little one has
soul that will outlast the wreck of matter and the
| crush of worlds Thirty-four of our number are
under the age Of six years--childhood isping its
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 sanctuary entreated for re-
IL.
responded 10 our call, but how very few; and how
many of our fellow-citizens have had their baskets
and their stores filed and with this their account
ability as stewards increased They have forgot
ten the command 81 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 appetite. The shades of evening gather
round, brilliant lights, cheerful fireside, their
| happy homes and little ones who know not awish
Il 6aJ all fhara he m ma nv
blessings that they forget "the Giver in the gift
or with the thoughtless Queen, of other days, in
| quire, 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 falling
dead, while in the very act Of asking for crust
for herself and child Of four years old, brought to
our asylum and sheltered from the blast, and pro
vided with the necessaries of life. Could you
hear and know Of the sorrow that we hear, il
would surely melt heart of adamant.
| Wealth, what a blessing to the man who scat
tiers with liberal hand; who dries the burning tear
| from sorrows cheek; who lights up, or enables
others to light up by his munifcent gifts, the al
most extngushed 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 wording calls the cup of
| pleasure comparable TO such reflection.
| The question is now before the public is the
Washington City Protestant Orphan 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
clenched her hands against our little ones? Had
we no higher motive to plead than economy, we
have il from an authentic source, that the expense
incurred by the public in the prosecution and pun
ishment of persons charged with crime through
out this Union, but emphatically of this District,
in each and every year, would Of itself create
fund, the interest Of which, would provide for the
support and education Of every orphan child
Is there not an argument sufficient in that state
ment, TO arouse the public mind to action; are
there not those among us who will assist us in de-
| fraying the debt of 1852. Will you not visit the
institution and judge for yourselves; see the chill
dren during the hours of school; see them while
| gathering around their humble board with frugal
fare, while health sits smiling on every brow and
contentment in every face. We think it would
| warm the fathers heart and mosten the mothers
eye They would then realize there was reality
in the necessity which find II difficult TO inn
press upon the public by any endeavors we can
make
The strictest economy is used--$1 IS for meats
Of any kind, and about rs cents for vegetable is
| the usual amount expended on each market day.
| Sometimes we have donations of vegetables. The
| house has never been kept in better order. Much
| praise is due our present natron for good order
| and neatness, and her watchful and tender care
Of the children. We have also competent teacher
who, we believe, faithfully performs her duties.
During the past year the orphans have been
unusually blessed with health-not one of our
| number is missing from its accustomed seat, ex-
cept those who have been taken from the asylum,
! or placed in proper situations for them. While
they have been spared the shafts of the destroyer
have fallen around us. One vacant seat by death
| is found in our board of managers. Mrs. Blagden
who has been associated with us for several years.
and warmly interested in the orphans cause, was
| suddenly removed; with her afflicted family we
deeply sympathise; we trust and believe her end
| was speace."
| The Rev Dr. Laurie, who for years has been
warm and jealous friend of this institution, has
been taken from us as shock Of corn fully ripe
On this anniversary his venerable form is
| missing one Of the few who was always found
TO Join counsel, and cheer in work Of chart
| ty; "peace to his ashes"
| Mrs. Hodge was nominated, and by a unanimous
| vote elected manager in the vacancy made by Mrs
| Blagden's death,
and twenty-three boys. Within the year seven
children have been taken from the asylum by per-
| mission OF the managers, and twelve received.
To DIR. Palmer we are indebted, whenever his
services have been required. To Drs. Patterson
| q Marin for medicines kindly furnished For
collections in the Church of the Epiphany, 500;
from Al street Presbyterian church, $l07 IS; from
| F street Presbyterian church, sec; from Trinity
church, in the absence of the rector, $55 SO; from
the Foundry chapel, $50 from the Church of the
/
we return our warmest thanks, and trust the
| opening year will find them again disposed to
| plead our cause.
| Our thanks are due TO the proprietors Of the
panorama of the Bible for invitations for the chill
dren 10 see it. Also TO attend an exhibition Of the
mammoth cave in Kentucky. Also, by invitation,
visited the panorama of the Holy Land
| To our president of the board Of trustees, w.
W. Corcoran, who has furnished the asylum with
four large wardrobes, besides donation of one
hundred dollars for general expenses, twenty-five
dollars for additional salary to matron, and the
| sum of one hundred dollars TO supply the orphan
| girls with comfortable dress, and each boy a
warm suit Of clothes for the winter; also a stove
| for the school room. We return our sincere ac-
| acknowledgements.
| The reflections Of man for such acts of kind
| ness to the poor and needy will be downy
pillow to his head, when the bubble Of fame which
encrcles the warrior and the politician shall dis
| solve itself to air.
We would also return our thanks for the fol-
lowing donations:
Mrs. "A. Taylor. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. % w