The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-12-19
Editors ofMe Otta,m free 7rodc,':

Editors otNe Otto,ca free 7rodcr:
GENTLENEN-Wl you please grant me a small
space in your valuable paper, to show TO the
readers Of the FREE TRADER and the public in
general, how those "mothercss children" who
were picked up few days ago underneath the
doorstep on Superior street by the city marshal
have been treated by their step-mother and their
uncle. Ever since the indignant lady was mar
red 10 her present husband the father Of these
motheress children, and mothcrlcss they arc in.
deed these children could be seen wandering
about the streets from early morning often to
very late al night, most miscrably clothed. dirty
and neglected in the most wretched and shame
iul manner, going from house to house picking
up crumbs of bread, potato-pcalngs, &C., which
they might find in slop pals standing outside Of
neighbors doors, and matter of course, il
they could not find enough to crafty their hun
ger would take some eatabes wherever they
they could lay hold Of them, which the "lndig.
nanr step. mother" calls dishonest The great.
est portion OF the neighbors as well as the "un.
Gle" tried over and over to persuade the children
20 90 home evenings, land the reason why they
would not 90 home is best known TO the "indig.
nant step-mother," but the little fellows would
walk away and hide themselves somewhere, and
so they were found not only once but several
times sleeping in coal sheds or underneath some
doorstep. The whole neighborhood was aroused
at the wrctched condition Of those poor children,
and concluded, if they should be found again
outside at night the city authorities should be
informed OF their condition. The next time they
were found the city marshal was informed, who
took them from underneath the doorstep on SUI
perior street past ten O'Clock in the night, (thc
night being cold and chilly,) and lodged them
safely in warm room at the Court House over
niEIt Next day they were sent to The poor
house by the county authorities. THE lady"
sees fit to make some very impertincni charges
against tae children, namely, that they are very
naughty indeed, dishonest, rebcllious, refractory
and wholly uncomfortable. would AJAX whose
fault is it that these young children are dshon.
est, rcbcll!ogs &c. Have these children not been
un6CT t3,c care Of the indignant stcp-mothc7?
say yes; bat she did not pay any attention to
them herself, and consequently they grew up
without any moral training and got disObcdicut.
Would any honest mother charge her child with
beiug dishonest: Would any honest mother call
cency withhold? But the indignant lady sees
IL 10 lay the blame for the disobcdieuce Of her
children al on the uncle" She says the uncle
Is continually cgging on the children TO dsobc
dance. Th, charge is false, and the malignant
LADY, knows It. / en- prove the reverse. Let
the high minded lady prove her assertion that
the uncle ever advised those children to any.
thing but right and truth; let her prove that the
uncle ever meddlcd with other peoples childrc n
/ rcpe the charge with indignation and hurl II
back from whence it came. always advised the
children to be good boys and sent them home
time and again. Ny wife washed those boys il
the presence of the Indignant lady's" husband
and showed him the shirts those boys had OF
their bodies. They were literally covered will
filth and lice to which more than one person viii
testify. 10 which the husband made the re
mark, 81 Rerer knew | had such a wife" The
indignant lady had better ask ner husband about
the truth Of the matter.
have so far shown TO the public tie exact
condition OF those motheress children which
am able and willing TO back up by evidence. and
believe have shown clearly the motive whic h
actuaied me by informing the city authoritic
% their condition. JOHN NOGEL.