Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-04-01
HERE 10 A REAL CHARITY.
The Little Mothers Ala Society aud u
Good Work n L. poIne

The Little Mother.' Aid Society aud the
Good work n D. Doing.
Ono OF the saddcst phases of child
life in New York Is tho fatc OF the
'Littlo Mothers" among tho very
poor. You may sec them In any Of
the crowded streets of the tenement
house rcgion-littlo girls OF eight,
ten, oven six years, with sharp, care.
worn faces, Juggling smaller girls and
baby boys In their thin, bony arms
Their poor little bodies arc bent with
the heavy burden, their dwnrfcd
little souls scarcely less doformcd.
In such families, where father and
mother and all tho older children nro
wage earners. the little girls tao
small TO bo hired In tho factories
must mind tho baby, for there's M.
ways a baby TO mind In winter tho
little mother is usually locked into
the dismal rooms that such people
call home. In summer sho wandcrs
about the street with tho baby on
her shoulder. Some OF tho east side
mothers sit about on tho benches in
Stuyvesant square, where tho smart
nursemaids wheel the dainty lace
canopied chariots Of their moro for.
tunate charges.
A kind hearted lady whose house
fronts tho square used TO 90 out
among these children questioning
them Ms to why they did not 20 TO
school, and II they wouldn't like TO
go TO the country on some OF tho OK
cursions. and always receiving tho
sarne answer, that they couldn't go
because they had TO mind tho baby.
Tho lady interested herself in tho
matter, and with the aid OF her
friends arranged series of day ex-
cursions on Saturdays when the real
mothers Grc usually at home. Five
chaperons were employed, who Wis
tied constantly in the homes, found
out tho little carctakors, arranged
for some ono else to take tho charges
for the day and accompanied tho
children TO pleasant country places
at short distances from tho city But
when the summer was over, and tho
money raised by voluntary contribu.
ton and entertainments was OK.
hausted, tho lady opened the basc
ment Of her own house and invited
them in on Saturdays for a little les
son in sewing, and on Wednesdays
for u bit OF good time in gaines and
songs and story telling.
II you should go 20 one Of these
sewing matinoes you would be aston
ished AZ the size Of the tiny mothers,
some ofwhom might DO called babies
themselves. They are clad in q
heterogeneous collection OF things,
shabby md outlrown by tho rest Of
tho family, for the wage oarneH
must be wen dressed. They begin
10 Sow ON washcloth, which, when
1t Is finished, they take homo with
them, together with n cako Of soap
and towel, and, bo it said TO their
credit, they make good uso OF the
outfit before thoy come again. 1t
was the purpose of Mrs. Johnston,
th' i'tAiauA VI Aiih noNliANs anu hllh
Hearn, her capable associate in the
work, TO teach tho children to sew
on garments which should, when fin.
ished, DO given TO them. But so great
has been the need of the little maids
that the ladies have fitted them out
with clothing us fast M was possible.
Tho appeal made by these women,
who, with fow Others, have for
nearly two years carried on this
work, Is for half worn childrcn'a
clothing. Some OF the responses "a
this appeal have como in the form OF
bundles of ragged garments and old
shoes that Mrs. Johnston was Obliged
to pay her ashman TO remove. Now
garments arc less practicable than
those half worn, because parents
sometimes sell or pawn hom.-New
York Sun.