Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-04-06

VIII be transported at last. Doesn't care
much what becomes of him. AS for a home,
he never had any. He is glad his father has
gone away, for he was always thrashing
him. He will say all this to you, will Any
body's child. Admitted.
Anybody's child here begins true story a
little colored. 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 haIfa-dollar,
perhaps passage to the diggings; but he is
afraid it may be an introduction to some re-
reformatory institution.
Anybody's child plays third part. Ad-
mitted. This is played when he is accosted
by an enquirer who is the sworn advocate ol
popular education. Herein the child is a
mass of ignorance. He has never heard who
is President. He is not certain who was the
Great Expounder He has heard Of the Gre
ator once or twice, but knows nothing about
the New Testament. Cannot read or write
"ioiiO0 AO COuIu' W III ~ W tuO IdBBCu
school wouldn't he like to But he must
have something to eat, afore he could 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 a
hard life in the streets, but he will get used
to it in time
All this admitted. Admit, on the other
hand-you must, if you admit the sun and the
eternal Heavens to be realities-that while
opponents discuss theories, he grows up to
Newgate and perdition.
Yet, truly regarded, Anybody's child is
something more than this worthless little
wretch and irredeemable outcast. Because
he cannot be made to mend his ways in few
weeks; because it is not easy to make him
the quiet inhabitant of monotonous reforma-
tory ward because he cannot recognize a
ministering angel in drill serjeant; because
he is now to learn, and has disgust for the
irksome foundations of education because the
wild animal of the London alley cannot, in a
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, instead, To whom does Anybody Is
child belongl To some of US surely; if not
for this child no protection what are we if,
under our eyes, Anybody's child grows up to
be Everybody's enemy.
Anybody child is undoubtedly Somebody
child To discover this Somebody, who base
ly deserts it, should be the duty of the State
and the laws heaviest hand would we lay up
on this Somebody. The State, protesting and
calling itself Christian, and therefore refusing
to breed Plaques and Wild Beasts, and rub
bish to be shot into the bottomless pit, shoulC
Systematically take that child, and make it
good citizen. And as it can, in most cases
find out Somebody when he or she has done
murder on the body, SO let it find out Some
body guilty Of the worse murder Of this child (
soul, and punish that heaviest of all offenders
in pocket and person.
Anybody's child is little fend, socia
curse, hypocrite, a liar, thief. Admitted
But if the State had long ago made somebody
accountable for the child, and taken upon it
self the duties of parent, Anybody's child, il
lieu of the dreadful creature you recoil from
would now be hopeful little fellow, with the
roses of youth upon his cheeks, and the trutE
Of happy childhood on his lips.
Anybody's child cannot too soon become
the adopted Of US all; and the Somebody whC
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 conference
on this shame to England have renewed ou
hope of Anybody's child. Reader, as yol
have children Of your own, or were child
yourself, remember him. .r ,.- .a...f.s....