The Washington times., 1894-09-26
SEEKING Her CHILD IN VAIN
Mrs. Russell's Boy Disappeared from
the Orphan Asylum.
SCANT INFORMATION GIVEN HER
She Was Told That He Had Been Adopted by
a Wealthy Lady-But Her Letters to the
Address Indicated We're Returned Unde-
livered-Her Permission Never Asked.

Mrs. Hettie Russell, of No 50 81 street north
east, is greatly distressed because, she says,
her thirteen-year- old boy Charlie has been taken
from her and she Is unable TO ascertain what
has become of him.
Mrs. Russell last night told TINES reporter
pitifuI story, which shows that she has had
more trouble than generally falls to the lot Of
one woman, and the recital of which will no
doubt awaken sympathy in many a heart
Mrs Russell was left widow seven years ago,
her husband dying after long illness She had
i've children to care for-the eldest, girl Of
twelve, and the youngest,a girl of two. Tho
latter was afflicted with congestion Of the brain,
which was followed with blindness, and the
mother was compelled to work for her living
and was unable to properly care for her baby
Mrs Russell was compelled to part with the
little one and send her to the Asylum for the
Blind at Baltimore.
The other children were in comparatively good
health, and Mrs. Russell kept them with her for
time, although 1t was desperate struggle for
her to provide food and clothing for them all.
She did not murmur, however, and it was not
until about four years ago that, finding that dur
ing her absence from home at work Charlie, the
youngest boy and Mary, the second daughter,
were not being properly taken care Of she
sought and obtained permission for them TO
enter the Washington Orphan Asylum, corner of
Fourteenth and streets northwest, as inmates.
/ Mrs. Russell visited her children frequently
as the rules of the institution permitted, and
she was measurably happily in the fact that she
could see her loved ones frequently, though she
was not able to care for them personally.
HER BOY HAD DISAPPEARED.
She was dumbfounded when, making one Of
her usual visits nearly two years ago, she was
told upon inquiry for Charlie that he was away
visiting and would soon return. Mrs. Russell
was told the same thing many times afterward,
and she would have continued to think that the
absence OF her child ON the occasion of her visits
was only sing ular circumstance had not one OF
the little tots who had learned Mrs. Russells
name by seeing her so frequently, said, Mrs. Rus
sell, know where your Charlie has gone. a lady
took him away q long time ago and never
brought him back,
Mrs Russell was Mortified at the information
and begged the matron TO tell her if what the
child had said was true. The matron at first de-
clined 10 give any information on the subject,
bur after much persuasion the part OF the
distressed mother, told the mother that Charlie
mad been adopted by family who would take
good care of him.
For a long period this was the extent of the
information that Mrs Russell could get about
her boy, but some time later the matron yielded
sufficiently to tell Mrs Russell Charlie was with
the family of Alberta Berry, wealthy lady liv-
ing opposite Lower Cedar Point, Md, and that
he was doing well, being loved by his foster par
euts ana lovihg them in return, but whether
they lived in Maryland or Virginia could not be
ascertained.
1t was a great satisfaction 10 Mrs Russell 10
hear this much, but she yearned for letter
from her boy, and she wrote To him telling him
that although her poverty had compelled the
separation between them, she stiu loved him
only mother can.
ALL TRACE LOST.
Long and snxiously the poor mother waited
for reply, but none came from Charlie, and
when a letter did arrive from the post-onlce at
Lower Cedar Point, it was simply the cold, for
NAL official notice accompanying the undeliv-
cred letter that no such person as Mrs. Alberta
time TO the present Mrs Russell has been IN
able TO learn a single syllable concerning her
Lhild.
But there was more trouble in store for her
For many months her oldest boy was unable 10
find employment. until few weeks ago when
On the first day his right hand was caught in the
stamping machine he was running and the end
Of one of his fingers was so badly mashed that
portion OF the finger had to be amputated
Mrs. Russell has been employed for some time
past in running sewing machine in the bindery
at the Government Printing once, but since
Public Printer Benedict took charge Mrs, Rus
sell, with other employees OF that department,
has had little work that il is about all she can
do 10 earn enough to pay rent and keep body
and soul together. few days ago she was
compelled to take a vacation and wait for
her pay until the Goth of next month. She ex-
pressed desire to continue at work, hoping if
she did so TO receive her wages regularly, as
heretofore, and was promptly informed that if
she did not accept q vacation she would be fur
Laughed
A reporter called last night at the orphan
asylum, and was told by the lady in charge that
She did not desire to give any information rela-
tive to the case. She finally admitted, however,
that the child had been disposed of as Mrs. Rus
sell stated