The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-27
81, 1s93.-COPYRIGHT, 1898, BY THE
ONE DAYS RURAL OUTING
SMALL CITY 1oILERs At THE LITTLE
MOTHERS HOLIDAY HOUSE

|
| Wonder OF the Tenement Children mt Yer
| durc, blossoms, and Other Unfnnilinr
| Sirhts-Never saw the Country Before.
rs tho country all green in winter ?"
Are the cows and chickens ever coldH"
Twill there be any daisies left for us next
summer"
"Das't we pick the flowers"
| Can we keep 'em 2"
Strange questions these to DO asked by girls
| from to ~ years old. Strange creatures they
| arc who ask thom. Wan in face and bowed In
| figure, with tntterod garments and premn-
turely old expression. they are the little
mothers" class OF human beings Indigenous
to tho tenement districts OF the city.
Mrs. J. H. Johnston. who organized the move
ment for giving an occasional happy day to
the poor little souls can tell hundreds OF
stories about them. The little mother Is
the girl who takes care OF her small baby
brothers and sisters while the real mothor
| Is out at work. or drunk or otherwise
| engaged. She Is under twelve generally. be-
| cause after that age she can work. and her
| earnings nre In demand. She not only takes
| care Of the little Ones but she washes dishes.
| cooks scrubs. and Is the housekeeper. Mrs.
Johnston was ut ono time interested in giving
| tene ment children fresh air vacations. and in
| her visits for this purpose. she gradually be-
came aware that there was one member of.the
| household who could never be spared. That
| was the sister who was acting m other to tho
| younger children.
"Oh. we can't let her Go!" was always the
answer to an offer to give her day in the
| country. and the mock little mother would
| swallow her sobs. lug the baby down stairs.
| and stay ut home. =
Mrs Johnston determinedthat these young
| girls should at last have q chance for holt
Tha plt hpusa Pelham
Bay Park was secured and ohristened the
| Little Mothers Holiday House." 1t has
| airy rooms open freplaces. and is surrounded
| by orchards and meadows sloping down to
| the waters edge. Every Tuesday and Fri
| day during the season. under the charge OF
"chaperonee." forty little girls are taken
| there for q days outing. They gather at Mre.
| Johnston's house, 3O5 East Seventeenth street,
| at A. NJ. They bubble over with pleasure
Their countenances irradiate the whole Of old
stuyvesant square. and as st. Georges clock
strikes they are all bundled into the car. and
it's no! for the ferry and Pelham Bay Park.
The things those emancpated little mothers
say would I'LL volume.
A tall, wild-eyed girl OF twelve astonished
her hearers by exclaiminG. as she started
home: II hate babiesl This is the first time I
ever got let out without taking one along"
Another child. Betsey by name. had glori-
ous time playing bean bag on her holiday.
aaes !is Ben! ta%t h @ Ses
OF said BetsoS. Il didn't think you wore
Why not2"., ,,,
20, oh cause, >. snickered tho child. you
grass. which. was ali bloom Will, daisies.
cause s9R t LOOKS ts ike k % saS any
country before: except graves.
eathersd ON her one sxpeenee Of
The irst excursion q, the Year was when the
SS syf s ms the Sf in obs ss
fireplace to take the chill of the big rooms
to warm the mere thtnl Sy siad deb n
dieious blaze. the like Of which they had pever
smed %ord an sas ho
them the diminutye apples ct the rT3 Sa OF t the
snpposed everything was made in factories
They did not seem to grasp the idea that APP
''si d don't think them apples Is ANYTHING like
so good as them that comes out o barrels"
Many OF the children have been kept so
steadily at home that they never seen a tree. a
and and horses. They they view !. cow with dumb ad.
miratlon give small pigs such reSe22thlonfs . as
and ss for itis encEens the Children are
hypnotized with rapture at the sight. Some
SS
tbey rush up to the ehaperon and furtIvely
kiss her hand. the hem Of her garment her
When the little mothers are Insu1ttlc is
work supply necessary articles from donations
whose sole wardrobe consisted OF an mol old dress.
| received suit OF underclothtng. Then pair
OF shoes was found for her. but they were
"Ssv YER miad." she said. I'll STUFF 'em with
Her suggestion was at once acted .i u Its.
kind to be found was a bonnet The child put
1t on. and. standing before the glass. surveyed
Wa St aiRs E1sa HG IN p%rps and
and thsnoit had Gsen happiness before it Was
One day the universal Joy at Pelham III Park
was disturbed by heated discussion tS zen
chaperon listened before she interfsred: Eyl.
IDENTIFY the little mothers were discussing
' sAnyhoWs. said one tauntinglH my
She does; tool seen her tumple down
she don't often" breaking into sobs She
per. shs's got TO have something"
Poor little loya soul!
can't get sewing" said one pretty twelve
.::how mary rooms have you ?" ,..o -. r,
and tT Esro Sn Wv oags s09I nIsop
and Jimmy and Tommy and mamma sleep In
ono teepy-weeny room, and have the little
on and the baby in the other"
DO you take care OF tho baby nights as well
sdaysY" ~ .,, 81, ,oro o,t wbor
she gets home. Last night ! had to walk up
an down the hall to keep him quiet. cause
he's teethin': an had to step over them mems
feet to got out" A
Perhaps the oldest story about one Of the
little mothers Is that Mrs. Johnston tells about
Emily Chase, who keeps boarders. ono cold
winter day. Mrs. Johnston was sitting in front
Of a blazing fire whom she heard tap on the
standing shiyerng on the steps. She opened
the door and let her unconventional VISITOR 10.
| The child was about II years old WIN u strong,
earnest face, dark eyes, aud sunny hair. she
carried a basket. and she promptly asked for
| piece OF bread to put In II
| Where is your homer asked Mrs. Johr-
stoon; r .u. -. ,,r ,ro,, hsr. y
was thn ranIv Nv mas gone away and mann