The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-10-30
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
'PHLosoPSER MAKES EARNEST
FOR FArHERLEss ONES.
Q Result OF Visit to tho Decatur
Orphans Homo.

SrpuouB' fHOkn0s
Why don't some rich man give On
endowment to the. orphans home at
Deoatur-why don't somebody leave
it . good lot OF money in his will. and
then die soon after? And there is the
orphsnage ct Clinton, 8. c.. that right
now 10 on . strain to provide food and
clothing for the winter. I am satisfied
that if our good people could visit
these institutions and see the children
and realize their condition, they would
help them. 1t is all right, Of course,
for the millionaires to give millions to
the universities and colleges, and so
provide cheap education for tho poor; /;
but there Is class Of helpless, friend
less children scattered over the land
who will never get to college, and who
would be grateful for bread and
clothes and shelter. The scriptures
make no mention OF schools or COL
legss, but the fatherless are mentioned
over and over again, and woe and
curses are threatened those who neg
lect or oppress them.
have long believed that good peo-
pie would give more to charity if they
twere face to face with those who suffor.
It is not a pleasant business to hunt up
the poor and look upon want aud rags
and pale faces, but it ought to be done
sometimes, even by the rich and busy
people. The good st. James said that
true religion was to visit the widow
and the fatherless-yes, to visit them.
1t will not do to sit in the parlor or
counting room and wait till somebody
calls for charity. Little orphans can't
come; they don't know the way. Their
father is dead or their mother, or both,
or perhaps one or the other is in the
asylum or down with chronic sickness.
It is n pitiful story, and every case is
diff rent, but all pitiful. They are all
children of misery baptized in tears.
I have been Illuminating about this, and
must write about it. though to most
people it is an unwelcome subject.
A few days ago I rode out to
the orphans home near De-
catur just to SEQ how the children
were getting on. My good friend,
Robert Hemphill, went with me. He
is the business man of that busy pa
per, The Constitution. but next to his
family his hearts affections are ab-
sorbed in the orphans home. He is
the president Of the board, and ought
to be. He goes there every few days,
and the children smile when he comes.
On the way we never talked politics
not a word-it was all orphans and the
home. The farm wagon met MS at
Decatur and took us out mile in the
country. I didn't mind the rough
riding, for it did me good to have my
cAsooropi+y tumoled up n little; but
6G mind getting in and out Of that
high-swung wagon that had no steps
l tried to show my activity, but ]
couldn't, and almost fell down before
I got up. For aged orphans like m.
they ought to have a comfort table car
ryall, but Mr.. Hemphill says the,
haven't got the money to buy j.
Where is the carriage man that he don
send one right away? Mr.. Brumby, g.
Marietta sent six dozen good, stron
chairs for the boys building, that IN
just been completed. Now, where
the big carriage man? 1t is ,
beautiful building, and will be dedicn.
ted soon; and I've a notion of takin
my wife down with me if the carrya!
is there she can't ride in road wag
on any more. But that building and
the girls building need water-plenty
of water. There is little lake of clear
spring water not far away, and Mr.
Hemphill says there is fall enough fol-
O water ram, but it will cost about $500
to fix everything and put water in the
upper stories-bnt the money is al
out. It has taken all to complete the
new building.
"Where are you going to get the
$500 ?" I asked.
"I have no idea," he said, and hi
looked distressed; "but reckon il
will come. Three men have given II,
$500 each with the last twelve M months
and I reckon there is one more some
where. know that there are several
if they knew how badly we needed it. ,
Then he told me about what GEORGE
Muse, Mr.. Er Lawshe and Mr.. G.. v
Gress and others had done for the
home.
For about three hours I went abou
the premises and mingled with the or
phane. Some of the boys were diggins
! and wheeling dirt to stop q leak in the
dam at the lake. Two had to go after
the cows. Half dozen came trottine
down to the barn with their milk
buckets. The milch cows marched to
their stalls and the stanchions closed
upon them, while the boys sat upon
their stools and talked merrily as they
4
ders. The eldest of these mixers was
not more than IL and the youngest
about eight. Near the house, in the