, 1874-11-15

Sir The experience We meet with in dealing
with these children of misfortune is much the
same from week to week, but with almost regu-
lar periods or seasons Of dlsquiet and unrest,
followed by order and commeudablo obedience.
The past. since our last report has been an
evcntful week with us. tue natural result Of way
ward and la~less acts eugendered by tue abb
sence OF wholesome restraints which our
Home provides, but which were not IN force
during the time Of closing the temporary
Homo and the opening of the present one.-a
period Of nearly four mouths. Our Home had
not been closed 8 month before the difference IN
the conduct Of many Of tho street boys WIS so
marked ia to become the subject OF complaint
ty the police in certain locations.
About two weeks ago noticed some Of my
boys we're exceedingly we'll provided with nice
quality OF undetea!1neuts aud Knit jackets, which
eome OF them bought at nominal prices. / felt
uneasy about tho matter, aud, being quite sure
something wa5 wrong, We secured some pieces
found il the possession ut tTo Of the boys, who
could not Ior would noD give an account Of how
they camo By the articles, Ana waited further de-
yelopments-
It soon became manifest that tile property be-
longed to Mr. Haskell, 137 State Street. and that
three OF our boys wele Implicated in the larceny
of them, whilo some ct the other boys had
helped to sec1cte and dispose Of the goods.
Monday night the "stars" looked IN upon uB,
aud called for i've Of our family, tnree OF whom
had already been taken and locked up.
Tha scene presentedin in court the following morn-
ing, shall never forget l should like to see it
transferred to canvas by real artist, and tha
most fitting title would be I" 4 Mother in Court"
Our eight boys stood before Justice Boyden,
surrounded BY several police aud iders, attracted
BY the rather unusual incident OF so many
youngsters in court II one time; but behind
that row OF boys stood woman.-a mother Of
one Of them, the smallest ana youngest Of them
MI Fin htark.avef hnv of
years OF age, but With an Understandable Soma
| thug in the expression you get from careful
scanning OF his features, which fills rour mind
with doubt and perple1.ty: and when the
TO hear her plead for her boy. which
she does most earnestly. but not to
have hm given back to her. You almost doubt
your senso of hearing. but ut last get the fall
meaning of her pleading which il, that her boy
may be Gent where he can be managed and kept
unoer control, for she can do nothing with him.
"seud him u the Reform School. sir" sne says
to the Justice. She is pleasant, kindy-lookiug
woman. with q sad expression on her intelligent
face.
This boy OF only u years OF age gives ev7-
dence Of knowledge Ct the arts and tricks in
criminal why's belonging to those Of twice his
persons, it will be an act Of mercy to place
that boy where he vii! be under enforced |
though l1ndl restraint educated aud taught |
some useful trade. shall do what can to carry |
OUT thaL mother 8 Nl6lle8, Luouh1 commitments
to the Reform School arc now attended with no |
little vexation aud trouble. The casa Of these !
boys ia now before the Grand Jury, where all |
such Gases must go.
It ia pleasant to turn from this sad picture to
notice other cases Of very different character. !
One boy I found who had fought his way for five |
years, aud is still no worse than majority Of |
homo boys. lady came to the Homo in search !!
OF boy to ILL., IN measure: the vacant |
place in their home caused by tho |
death Of their only child, boy. |
This homeless boy appeared to her just !
the one for the place, and tho arrangement
seemed to bring real happiness to both The child
less woman and the motherIess boy. Our little !
leash boy is getting on admirably. A period
or season of order and general good conduct has
followed that Of the unrest and disorder which
preceded the visit Of the ''stars Monday night
What next?
Let us hope and pray that it be nothing We
caunot meet with some measure Of auccess, and
SO gain the blessed ASSURANCE at each effort that
We are days march nearer homa," while VIC
continue to crown each endeaTor with SUCCESS
which shall be complete and final.
". B. BILLINGS, General Superintendent
CHICAGO Nov. II, 1874