New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-25
THE SUFFERING CHILDREN.

Every little SOUL whether born into whole
some home or into a den of misery, brings
with 1t something of that cloud OF glory OF
which the poet sings. No matter how hideouS
and squaid its life, it has susceptlbllltleS tlat
are touched by kindness, by beauty and by
goodness. The child who is seemingly most
hardened has yet some little corner of LIE heart
omen TO gentleness. One little fellow who
went out to the green fields last week III the
Fresh AR Fund company has been the despair
of his hard working father. He is hardly
more than a baby, but he was desperate little
reprobate. possessed by the devil of sull"n
obstinacy. His father, unable to manage him,
was about to send him to relormatory when
a good Samaritan appeared The little boy
sat with eyes of hate and resolution until the
talk turned upon birds. The kindly visitor,
watching, saw the small face grow softer, until
presently the child was standing before MN
holding a poor old cage and in 1t starvellng
bird. his pride and his delight. His pathetic
tenderness for the ragged bird, his selt-forget-
fitness in talking of it, proved that there was
n white spot in the little FOUL worth caring lor'
Instead of going into the whltewashed corrl-
doris Of reformatory, this baby Iullian was
carried of into the country, where his happl-
ness and his excited and loving interest III
bird and beast show plainly enough how MS
moral rehabilitation can best be brought
about The cLild's character IN this fortnight
of pure living and good thinking will have
received powerful impulse i'll a higher dlrec-
ton. What better reward need be asked by
the kind soul whose gift of three dollars
brought this to pass
There are two little sisters who live in
damp cellar which is flooded after every rain.
Their father is a drunkard, and their slender
shoulders and thin faces show the marks OF
cruel blows Their food is not only poor but
they have rarely enough Of it. Hunger,
bruises, filth, sitting heat, foul air-thesc are
the mseries out of which the two ill-trcated,
delicate, hollow-eyed children have been taken
for a fortnight of sweet air, sunshine, abundant
food and motherly kindness. Can anyone
grudge the six dollars that have accomplished
this
There is something about the suffering of
childhood that tugs at the toughest heart
strings. Those who work among the poor will
testify that it is above all piteous in its pa
tience. Girl-children, pale, haggard and evil
IDENTITY i'll, are to be seen everywhere in the
tcnement-house districts bearing burdens of
work far beyond their strength, and bearing
them. too, with accomplishing submission.
The year to these poor creatures is only cycle
of pain and misery-every season has It's own
suffering All the natural pleasures of child
hood are lost to them-they are nursed by
Sorrow and Want. What is at once the sad
dest and yet most hopeful phase OF this life Is
that the little beings are not hardened, that
they still retain something of that "cloud of
glory" of which we have spoken, some of the
innate refnements of that Heaven which is
their home" Because they arc sensitive their
suffering is all the keener, and he who goes
"by on the other side" may not hug the con
viction that "as they don't know any better
they must be contented.' The griefs of hungry
sick and neglected childhood are bitter and
deep. Happy is the prosperous man or woman
who puts into a chid's slow year of suffering a
fortnight of country bliss and health giving