New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-04
LITTLE SADIE'S PRESENTS.
SHE HAS MOI RECEIVED THEM YET
, KIND WOMAN REMEMBERED HER, BUT FATE
WAS NOT 50 KIND.

Among the many people VINO read in last Satur
DAYS Tribune the pathetic story of Sadie Dawson
the little girl for whom presents were hung
on the Christmas tree in the house where she was
"bound out" was Miss Clara Louise kellogg.
Those who happened to be in the room on the
morning when Miss Kellogg was reading her
Tribune and slipping her coffee noticed that she
searched hurriedly for the handkerchief which
like most women she carried in an undiscovort bic
pocket and wiped her eyes as she read "Vnat
an outrage" she finally exclaimed, pacing the
floor as Leonora PAGES the stage outside Manrico's
tower. Poor child; not single Christmas pres
emit for her among many. Well she shall have
something for Ncw-Year" And then, in answer
to inquiries she read the story Of the little girl
thirteen years old, who, when she saw that there
was nothing tn" Christmas tree for her. stole
sadly and silently out of the house and sat all
night alone on a hard, cold stone out on the
meadows.
Cant you see her." said Miss Kellogg. the
poor, little, friendless thing out there in the
night alone with her sorrow? She didn't cry and
scream some children would have done She
folded her grief away down in her little heart
and sat alone, out in the cold and wet while the
ether children danced in the light of the Christmas
tree that she had helped prepare for them.
tell YOU there is something terribly dramatic TO me
in the thought of that child and the way she
bore her unhappiness She shall have New
Years presents if she didn't have anything for
Christmas Something about that pathetic lit
Gle figure sitting on the stone out there touches
me-, and again the handkerchief brushed quickly
across the eyes Of the prima donna.
Miss Kellogg good her word, but
what to get the child puzzled her. At first che
bought her two night gowns, then some under
clothing and pretty brush and comb TO these
ELL dad ol-oo IF k-bia oil
teristic touch. for any one who knows Miss Kel-
logg knows that cleanliness is her mania When
she got these things tied up she thought that, use
full as they were, something more lively might
please the child. So she added a little bag such
as women hang frem their belts, pound Of
candy and a silver pin. Then she gave the parcel
to her maid with the address given in The Tribune,
instruc;ing her 10 go over to Jersey City and put
them into the hands of the child herself.
A reporter of The Tribune called at the home
OF William j. Benson, No. 90 Jewett-ave, Jersey
City, yesterday, TO ascertain how Sadie enjoyed
Ncw-Year's. The reporter was received by Mrs.
Bcnson who said her husband was not at home.
Mrs Benson said that Sadie not there either.
for she had been sent back to the Almshousc at
Snake Hill.
why did YOU send the girl back to the lnStl-
tution?' sne was asked.
Because | was afraid to keep her any longer.
after the fright she gave me the night before
Christmas when she left the house and went to
vacant lot half flooded with water and renamed
there all night because she feared she would not
receive q Christmas present. once BEFORE Shc
frightened me by going to my sisters house TO play
with her children. without first telling me wherc
she was going My husband took the child back
10 TIE Almshouse the Sunday after Christmas.
but ne intends 10 go there to-day ana get her
again"
Then YOU have recovered from your fright
concerning her,
When my husband took her 10 the Aims
house the Warden said he did not believe She
weud run away again if we kept her, and 50 he
decided to go after her to-day"
Did the child receive any presents for New
Years Day?"
Yes: young woman on New Years Day
visited me and said lady in NewYork had sent
Sadie some presents l have them here now and
will give them TO the child when my husband
brings her back. Tie presents consist OF night
gowns underclothes, comb and brush, some
soap candy and other things IL was very KIND
to send these things to the child, although she
did not need them"
The reporter went to Snake Hill and Warden
RYAN said Sadie was a good child He sent for
her and she came TO his office Sadie is thirteen
years old small and delicate. She does not appear
10 be more than ten years old. Her face IS pale
and her hair is cropped short
She was dressed in clean garments. She placed
her hand in that of the Wardens in trusting
manner, and when he asked her if she wanted to
80 back 10 Mrs. Benson Sadie looked sad and said
quickly that she did not want TO 60 back. war
Gen Ryan asked her if She would rather remain
with him, and the child smiled and replied that
she would. Sadie said that Mrs. Benson had
I'D b.hx nd hat
while she was with Mrs Benson her duties were
TO take care Of these children, scrub the floors
and sweep and clean rooms. She did not 90 10
school but did 90 TO Sunday -schOOl. The nttle
girl said that Mr.. and Mrs. Benson frequently beat
her that sometimes Mrs. Benson would slap her
with her hand and sometimes Use STICK ohe
insisted that she did not want To
return to Mrs. Benson 10 20 to her father, who,
she said. drank a great deal. He is a tinsmith
in Hoboken While Sadie was talking, MlLlam
j. Benson drove up 10 the Almshouse he I had
his little boy with him. sadie trenoIed snghuy
when she saw Benson and crowded nearer TO lais
Warden. When Benson entered the room ne said
in loud voice TO his boy; There is oaaie,
Willie. Go kiss your sister" This attempt 10
convince the Warden and the reporter OIL ms love
Warden Ryan did not speak 10 the man at all
when Benson greeted him Willie apparently was
not full Of love his father, for ne refused 70
kiss the child, and then Benson said Sadle.
kiss Willie The little girl kissed the boy ana
then looked appeahngly at Warden Ryan, VINO
appeared 10 know what she wanted for he told
her she might go upstairs. Before she went
the reporter told her Of the New-Years
giits wnlch had been sent her. and her face lighted
with pleasure. She said nothing, but the bright
smile which passed over her face indicated truly
that her heart had been made lighter Mr..
Benson when asked about Sadie, said that il was
true she had been whipped but he said she was
not punished with greater severity than his own
children. Benson said Sadie had all the comforts
which his children had, and that he wanted TO
take her back with him.
you can't do that" said Warden Ryan, unless
Board OF Freeholders When you surrendered her
LIZ. clairn nr,S Sadie