The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-18
A NOBLE NEW YORK ms zITUTI0M
Home for Homeless Misunderstanding
IncidenEs-Four Hrudred Motherless
Children Cared For.

New York Correspondence Missouri Republican,
The other day I was passing pes, washington as
full buildings owned by the seaman's Fund the
sign of the "%Foundling Hospital" I mounted
the white marble stoop, aud very speedily
found myself 10 the presence OF Sister Irene,
the beautifal-faced Sister of Charity who wal
T fes fi nsy gsa aHas ssu 9Sei Gf c dnls sS g. sn i9s p9sssna:
time 400 little walls. Although 1t vas not the
regular visiting day, and Sister Irene said the
babies didn't look at their best as they do on q
visiting TUESDAY" still I was permitted to 60
over the premises. Such a nice, jolly set Of
babies you could't find anywhere else In the
United States. Nicely and prettiIy dressed,
bronze boots on the little trot-aronnds, neat
pink and blue and buff chintz frocks, white
aprons or Marsellles blbs on others. Several
newcomers on this troubled earth were wrap
ped 10 squares of flannel. I asked particularly
about the small Richard the Third, who had
just come In on the occasion Of a visit I made
the Sisters nearly q year aso-a strange, red,
little ruffan of twenty-four hours existence,
with four well-cut teeth to his mouth. l pre-
dicted tor him an evelttul career, evidently
begun already. Sure enough, Richard was not
destined to gnash his teeth long In 1.-THE
man, finding the disposition made of his of
spring by its unfortunate glrl-mother, recon-
sfdered previous determinations, got properly
married, and applied to Sister Irene, recover
ed the infant and set up housekeeping with 1t,
and, as tho fairy tales end, has lived happy
ever since. A feature of this Founding Asy-
lum Is the shelter 1t affords to the mother. In.
every case, when they can, the mother Is res
cued with the child. If she Is physically able,
she nurses another babe with her own, and
thus pays her board; but If she is delicate and
unable to nurse any other child but her own,
she sews and minds the growing children.
1t was only the night before I was there,
that the sister sat on watch In the hall. Twelve
o'clock had sounded, and the quiet OF the street
was unbroken. The lamps in the Washington
Parade ground, opposite the asylum, wlnked
at the stars In the wlntry sky, when up. the
steps, with oh, such a heavy heart, sinking
lower and lower as she entered the door, came
q weary, betrayed, miserable woman, bearing
as she supposed, for the last time on earth. the
little form which If 1t was her shame was also
the only bit of human love her wretched life
had lett. Without home or friends, she had
determined her child at least Should be rescued
from the pangs she was even then suffering.
Within the padded wicker basket she laid
the little waif, with a long lingering mother's
kiss on its sleeping face and pulled me 6el
and fled withlher wretchedness. more awful IN
this parting, TO the shadow CT q tree opposite.
Crouching there she waited with a beating
heart to see her lone darling taken 10 to COM
fort and care, leaving her to eternal desolatlon
beneath the cruel wintry sky. Not q sound
breaks the stiffness of the night but the crisp
leafess branches softly creaking 10 the wind.
The door of the house she watches through
her binding tears slowly opens. Dimly she
sees the black shrouded figure lift her child.
Who shall describe the agony of that moment?
She feels that for her the last glimpse Of the
little form Is come. When, like the voice OF
an angel, these words sweetly come upon the
chill night wind to her aching, straining ears.
The black-robed figure that presses her child
to her bosom thus speaks, her face toward
Heaven: s'Stay. poor mother. Why do you
desert your child? Beneath this roof there is
shelter and food for both. Listen; / beg you
not to leave your little child-come ye also;
YOU shall nurse aud be with your little child
till 1t can be safely left, then come to 1t when
you please, and take 1t to yourself when you
are able" There's a cry of Joy on the midnight
air, as flying with trembling footsteps across
the street. that poor rescued mother dings
herself upon the baby she thought lost to her
forever, and falls at the ame sisters feet.
God bless the angel-faced Irene-noble sister
of God-like charity! When earth's work for
her is over, about her dying ears will float q
music as divine as her own blest words have
been to many q SHINING, sorrowful woman.