Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-07-29
: pErENsn OF MArRoN FnENcn.
Mrs. c. ID. brown Writes the Gazette
What She Knows.

To the Gazette: Having heard and
read so much of Mrs. French and her
cruelty, l take the liberty Of saying
few words in her behalf. as 1 have
known her better and longer than any
one else In this city
Eighteen years ago she first came
to US. We have never lost sight of
her for six months at a time, and can
truly say that while she is very nerv-
Gus and sensitive to criticism, 1 have
never known a more conscientious. in
dustrious and cleanly woman. Pcs
sessed OF large fund of affection.
all bestowed upon children, especially
helpless and suffering ones, she could
not be cruel to anything living.
Please consider if there is any mother
or father with families ever SO small
who never got impatient with their
children. or never scolded or punished
tnein.
There have been as many as ninety
children In the Home from all classes
Of soclety-.most!y the lower-abandon-
ed and vicious ones. THESE waits We're
cursed with parental influences as we'll
as bad examples, and the Home was
have visited 1t repeatedly and found
Mrs. French with ito mel the mcst
repulsive looking children in her Jap,
loving and kissing them and cleaning
their running noses, which no money
in Fort Worth would have paid me
to do. The youngest of the suffering
ones slept in her ROOM She has had
as many as five at a time, and never
tired in her loving care and efforts
for their comforts day and night.
/ viii not say that she has never
been angry, or punished in a passion
more severely than She ought to, only
to repent afterwards and make up In
petting and loving Kindness, as know
some Of the most kind and loving pa
rents do every day-but cruelty she
could never practice to any one; II is
not in her nature. I have known her
to take and cut up her own CLOTH
ing to make the girls look clean and
nice--to spend her scant hard earned
salary for ribbons and fancy pins for
them: to sit up nights TO nurse and
clean them and mend and make their
clothing; not for pay, but out of love
and sympathy.
1t seems to bad that a lone woman
without a husband or brother TO pro-
tect her should be SO s,andered-es-
pecially when no one has ever tied
harder to maintain herself honorably
ana respectfully against many huuhs
Her husband was dissipatcl never sup
ported her. left her months at time,
repeatedly threatened her life when
under the influence " liquor, get.
whenever he returned in rags, hun
cry and apparently repeltaut. a clean
house and good meals We're ready for
him, which she earned by sewing day
and night.
Six years ago he returned very III.
For eight months she nutsed him care
fully, cooking every meal herself, earn
Ing the money for his maintenance,
medicines and funeral expenses by
sewing nights, refusing money which
was offered her by Mr. Brown and
myself as well as others. We visited
the house daily, and IL my last days
come and l get half Of .he kind care
Mr. French and the orphans did /
shall be very thankful. He died in Or.
Broiles' house. and / am sure lhe dec
tor can tell of Mrs. French's untiring
kindness ana patience. as we'll as her
love for and patience with children.
could relate many more Instances
to prove her kindness and generosity
OF heart, but will not presume further
on your valuable space, feeling sure
that your desire is to learn tine Truth
and TO do justice on both sides, Before
closing, however, / must refer TO that
burning story which seems so cruel.
Long ago Mrs. French told me about
that circumstance, and how sorry she
was about It, and that she wouldn't
have done 1t for the world had she
known how hot 1t was. Several chill
dren were playing in the room, when
Mrs. French heard some screaming.
on entering and inqurlng into the
cause she was told that Pet Dooly
had burned them with a glass on the
floor Mrs French picked It up and
pressed It against the offenders check.
remarking, There see how you like
IT." How many mothers pinch one child
,0~ nuriehwert liter he has plnched n
brother or sister7
MRS, C. d. BROWN.