Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-19
THE STORY OF A FOUNDING.
now Mabel Harlan Found Herself a
Rich Young Woman.

FROM me Ae1C York Times.
A little 7-year-old girl, ragged, dirty
and hatless, was brought to the Howard
Mission in New Bowery one cold, rainy
night ten years ago by an equally forlorn
woman, who said the little one was with
out home or friends. Her father had
not been seen or heard of for nearly
year, and her mother had that day been
taken TO an asylum for the blind, with the
probability of never returning. The little
waif was stripped OF her ragged clothing,
given hot bath and tucked away in a
clean night dress between two other
fOundlings.
On investigation the following day it
was found that the little ones name was
Mabel Harlan, and that her only known
relative, aside from her parents, was a
maternal grandfather. The name Of this
old gentleman was Thomas II. GnhooIy,
and he was the proprietor of a little shop
as small rs it was dirty, in Cherry street.
1t was believed that in his circumstances
be would not be proper person to bring
up a little mOtherless girl, even if his
financial standing was such as to enable
him to afford the expense. He said he
could not afford to care for Mabel. ard
had no one to look after her. Accordingly
she was regularly adopted by the Howard
Mission. She missed her mother at first
and used to cry for her nightly, but it was
not deemed eXpedient that the two should
be brought together, and in few months
the mother died. Mabel was not taken to
the funeral, and soon forgot that she ever
had mother. With good care and kind
treatment she learned to enjoy her new
home and its surroundings and to call the
matron mother. She was an attractive
child, bright and quick to learn, and was
made the pet of the mission, being younger
than her companions.
Mabel had been at the mission little
over a year when it was visited by a
worthy old farmer and his wife from Rip
ley, Chautauqua county. n. Y. The cou-
pie wished to adopt a child to take home
with them and bring up as their own, and
the mission had been recommended to
them. of ten little candidates who stood
up in a row before them Mabel, they
thought, was the most desirable. She
seemed to take kindly to the old people,
and readily consented to 20 with them to
their country home.
Nothing was heard of the child from the
time she left the mission until about two
weeks ago. Then MIR. Edward Fitzgerald,
Of No % Rush street, Brooklyn, came to
the managers of the mission to inquire
what had become of Mabel. Mr.. Fitzger-
Gently died, leaving an estate worth over
900 to his daughters child. Mr.. Fitz-
gerald was administrator of the estate.
Communication was at once opened with
the foster parents. telling them of MabePs
good fortune and inquiring for particu-
lars. The old farmer sent back letter
stating that his charge was pretty young
woman of II, of whom any father might be
proud. She had received good educa-
ton and was proficient in music, and, al
though her foster parents were Catholics,
she had joined Methodist church.
Mabel's home is a pleasant little cOun-
try place, where she has hosts of friends.
and she has announced that her fortune
will not change her quiet mode of living.
William Phelps, a trustee of the Howard
Mission, has been agreed upon by all con-
cerned as a guardian for the heiress. His
own consent, however, has not yet been
obtained