The evening world., 1893-06-26


OF clothing for the Sick Babies Fund
came to 1.-The Evening World" office.
Accompanying the box was the follow
Ing letter:
| To the Editor:
send to-day friday by American
Express. a small box OF little things
ior the chicks you care for so much.
Am sorry they are not better and more
or them, but you shall hear from me
| again A well wisher and
A MOTHER,
Tarrytown on Hudson
The little things were packed In a
tomato catsup box the charges on
| which the contributor had generously
prepaid.
Without being opened the box was sent
at once to three unfortunate Chicks"
In the west end Of Thirty-second street,
who had been visited by n Fund
doctor and recommended for immediate
relief.
NO time was loat In calling on them,
but 1t Is doubtful whether the family
VIII survive the misery in which It has
been stepped since April. A two-room
nat In Henry street house was given
UP because the husband could not make
the rent. His work was unsteady, and
the birth Of baby now four months
old had used up all his savings. There
were two other children, aged two and
four years. respectively, and their care
prevented the wife from helping him.
They decided to move but the change
was Dad. The rooms they selected are
IN an old frame house unfit for habita-
ton. Even In dry weather the cellar
is wet and when It rains there is a
wading pond, from which a variety of
creeping things and foul odors emerge.
Little gray bugs. with mildewed wings,
creep along the mouldy walls and up
the rickety stairs as fast as their rheu-
matte legs will carry them. A fortnight
after their occupancy the husband con-
tracted cold. which developed into
pneumonia and the children fell sick
week later with measles. Everything
that q cent could be raised on was
taker to the .pawnshop--furniture or
nnments. cooking utensils and clothing
The woman paid the rent, but that was
all. Neighbors sent In little portions Of
her sick husband and children alive.
She told sad story Saturday after
noon, and during It's recital the baby
eooed and crowed as cheerily as though
| ne had good reason to be glad. He
| wore a blue plaid flannel dress and n
pair or wasted shoes-everything II has
on earth. When he. goes to bed the
mother does his laundry work. and yet
the little rascal played the harlequin
and tried all the baby manouevres he
could invent to jump out of her arms.
| The sick man lay on a cot. near the
window, helplessly weak and as pale
as death. He has been Ill since the
middle OF May. and now that the plague
has run its course he needs nourlshment
to build up his system. The little broth
er and sister are emaciated and feeble.
and although both are sitting up. .bc-
cause 1t Is inconvenient to have their
beds about the floor their recovery
In the same room. with the sick man.
to be exposed to the malignant disease
| that has Frustrated him for six weeks.
cannot but have bad effect upon their
susceptible constitutions.
All effort to place the baby In a
neighboring day nursery failed. Early
In May when an application was made
worth while, as the Industrial schoo
year was about to close. Later. In a
frenzy born Of hunger and distress she
the family ruled out her baby.
Her bill OF fare for Ave consecutive
days Is not apt to quicken the desire q 7,
may give him or her something to think
One Sunday a nelghbor sent in a bow
Tuesday. tea and bread =: Wednesday
rice and milk; Thursday, one quart o
milk and no solid food of any kind
Friday the doctor called and, with tn,
small change he could spare. the famil,
had its first wholesome breakfast sine,
they moved into the dismal house.
Saturday the Fund provided one week
supply OF groceries. meat fuel and meii
cine The children have neither shoe
nor stockings and no change of clothing
What the box contains only the gooI
} Mother" In Tarrytown knows. bu
Mrs. ID. was overjoyed to get 1t. She cal
=, sew and patch, and by this time has he
"chicks" as gay and trim as blue birds
1t may be weeks before her invalid
are better; they will never be well Will
they remain in the house with the dam
cellar but IL costs money TO move.
The Sick Babies Fund is growing
like a beautiful hay tree. The tota
Is not far from 5000. Old friends ar
coming forward with their subscrip
, tions, and in short while The Even
, ing Word' hopes to be able to eNten,
the relief needed With hundreds o
cases on hand It is only possible L
give Il very little but when the Fun
is bigger greater good will be done.
Contributors OF clothing are request e.
, TO address their parcels TO Mrs. Roberts
l32 West Thirty-fourth street. but let
+ tiers containing money should be sent {
.. Cashier. OF World Pulitzer Building
: New York" NELL NELSON
Fair in East Fourtesnth Street.
Miss Justine Bible. OF SO West Elev
anth and Miss Ida rohap Of "a