The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-12
LOST, A LITTLE CHILD.
How the CIty's Walls Are Cared Tor Until
They Are Called For.

How the City's Walls Are Cared FOR Until
They Are Called For.
4 great policeman, big enough and
strong enough TO have felled a horse
with a single blow, carrying in his arms
little golden haired girl, upon whose
sleeping face the tears had washed clean
places in the dust and CRIME, walked
briskly down Houston street toward pO-
lice headquarters. The child was slun-
bering az comfortably as though she had
been in the little crib al home, and the
officer was as tender as if the little one
was his own and helped make sunshine
in his home on his days of duty. Half
a dozen children Of the street, quick 70
catch sight of the pair. followed closely or
the big policeman's heels until he went
up the steps Of the marble building in
Mulberry street, and was lost 70 view be-
hind the swinging doors.
Bluff Sergt. Kelleher was on duty, and
when he saw the little bundle of human
ity brought in, he sat down at his desk
and began to turn, in businesslike way,
the leaves Of an enormous book which
lay in front Of him. He kept turning
until he came to the page where he had
written last. Then, after carefully adj
iusting his eyeglasses, and dipping his
pen in his big inkstand, lie queried;
boy or girl, officer:'
Girl"
"How oldi'
"Bout years"
"Where did you get her"
Sixty fifth street and Third avenue"
take her upstairs
upstairs" meant TO the top floor Of
the big building, where Matron Webb
presides and acts the part of foster
mother to the waits and strays and
foundlings Of this big city who are pick
ed up by the police.
The came scenes are enacted every
night. and each day sees the pages OF the
big book, which Sergt. Keleher keeps, /
fill up one by one with the brief stories
and records of lost children.
Every night in the year fathers and
mothers visit police headquarters and
ask for the children who have Deen lost
during the day. On pleasant evenings
they sit on the stone steps and wait If .
the child has not already been found, .
and on stormy nights they go home, to
return again later on.
A woman comes running down the
street. She is one OF the East Side poor.
A shawl answers the purpose Of cloak
and hat. She stops long enough to ask
OF an idler on the corner:
Where is the headquarters
Down where you see the green light"
il always the answer. and she is of
again. Up the steps she runs eagerly.
AS she passes the swinging doors she al
most runs down Old Joe, the doorman.
who keeps little private record on
slate Of the children who are brought in
during the night. Joe's voice is gruf,
but it bellies his nature.
whats the matter" he growls.
"Have We found me babyy and the
toll worn hands clutch nervouSly at the
frayed edges of the old red shawl.
boy or girl.'
"a little girl with light hair"
"Go up stairs and look-top floor"
The stairs are steep and tiresome to
climb, but mothers on such errands don't
tire easily, and up she goes. Five min
utes later step is heard on the stair
way. She is coming down again and
the red shawl kthe background for a
head OF golden hdir. Two dirty, chubby
hands are about her neck. The woman
is smiling now. She Is about to go out
to the street, but Old Joe again is in the
way.
"Go in there and give your name"
and he points to Sergt. Kelleher, and
chirrups at the baby.
The sergeant takes the womans name
and address, and, hugging the lost one
tightly, the woman passes out into the
York Evening Sun.