The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-11-13
Selling Child-A Girl Fourteen Year
Old Offered for 5000.

A CURIOUS scheme for raising money
by the virtual sale of child nearly IA
years of age, says the Philadelphia
Press, was unearthed yesterday by a
Press reporter. On Wednesday last the
following advertisement appeared in the
New York Herald:
A DOPTION-Amiable, prepossessing Ameri-
"a can orphan girl, IA, cultured, industrious,
and excellent child's nurse; full surrender
financial misfortune requires adopted parents
to reside abroad respectable persons willing
to pay now Tor her future services address
Mrs. Carrie Newton, Philadelphia; references
exchanged.
Persistent inquiry resulted in discov-
ering that the advertiser was a woman
calling herself Mrs. Brown, who, until
8 O'Clock yesterday afternoon lived at
No. COZ South Ninth Street. A visit
was made to the house, ostensibly for the
purpose of securing the child for adop-
ton, and the following facts were elicit
ed: Mrs. Brown, who halls from the
State of Indiana, has been in this city
for nearly a year, during which time
her husband has been out of employ
ment. She brought from her Western
home rosy-cheeked, healthy looking
child, which she had adopted as her
own before coming East. Owing to
financial difficulties, and the want of
any income from her husband, Mrs.
Brown stated that it had become an i'm
perative necessity for her to dispose of
her foster child for cash consideration,
which she places at 5000.
81 am very sorry to part with her,"
said she, but as my husband and my
self intend to leave this part of the coun-
try next week, and as we can not afford
to take the child with us, l want to Sc
cure for her good home before we go.
Her name is Frances Leota Morris. She
was born in June, 1867, in the State of
Indiana, from whence her parents re-
moved to the city of Milwaukee, in Wis
consin, taking their daughter with them.
Two more Children boy and girl
were born there. Four years ago the
mother died, and after this event, the
father, who had never exhibited any re-
markable love for his offspring, placed
them in an orphan asylum. 1t is sup
posed that he went further West. saw
the girl in the asylum and took quite
fancy to her. As we had no children of
our own my husband and l agreed to
adopt Frances, and we took her from
the institution. No legal form was gone
through to secure her. We merely
promised to give the child a good home,
and that was sufficient to satisfy the
officials having her in charge. Now
that we need money, and as there are,
no doubt, many people who would be
glad to have such nice looking child,
we have concluded to surrender her to
any one who will guarantee a good,
moral home and pay reasonable sum
for her services in advance. Six hun
bred dollars, you know, is less than
$1.75 a week from now until she is 81
years of age"
Frances Leota was called up from the
cellar kitchen. She came shyly up the
steps, with baby in her arms, which
Mrs. Brown said was her own. The
girls face was rosy and dimpled, her
features regular and inclined to round
ness, and pair of dark hazel eyes COM
pleted rather pretty face. She was
very bashful, and answered only in mo-
nosyllables when questioned.
Last night Mrs. Brown removed from
No. COZ South Ninth Street to house
on South Eleventh Street, where she
proposes to remain for week probably,
or at least until her charge is disposed
of at a remunerative figure. She claims
to have received number of good offers
for the child, all possessing pecuniary
advantages for herself.