The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-12-12
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
PHILOSOPHERS MAKES EARNEST
PLEA FOR FATHERLEss ONES.
As Result of Visit to the Decatur
Orphans Home.

by don't some rich man give an
endowment to the orphans home at
Decatnr-why don't somebody leave
it good lot of money in his will, and
then die soon after? And there is the
orphanage at Clinton, S. c.. that right
now 10 on strain to provide food and
clothing for the winter. / am satisfied
that flour 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 the 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
leges, but the fatherless are mentioned
over and over again, and woe and
curses are threatened those who neg
lect or Cypress them.
have long believed that good peo-
pie would give more to charity if they
were face to face with those who suffer.
1t is not 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.
1t is pitiful story, and every case is
diff rent, but all pitiful. They are all
children of misery baptized in tears.
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-
eatur Just to see 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 alb
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 word-it was all orphans and the
home. The farm wagon met US at
Decatur and took us ont mile in the
country. I didn't mind the rough
riding, for it did me good to have my
corporosity tumbled up little; bnt I
did mind getting in and out of that
high-swung wagon that had no steps.
| tried to show my activity, but I
couldn't, and almost fell dean before
got up. For aged orphans Ike me
they ought to have comfortable car
ryalI, but Mr.. Hemphill gays they
haven't got the money to buy it.
Where is the carriage man that he don't
send one right away? Mr.. Brumby, If
Marietta sent six dozen good, strong
chairs for the boys building, that has
just been completed. Now, where is
the big hearted carriage man? It is a
beautiful building, and will be dedica-
ted soon and I've notion of taking
my wife down with me if the carrysll
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 for
a water ram, but it will cost about $500
to fix everything and put water in the
upper stories but the money is oil
out. It has taken all to complete the
new building.
"Where are you going to get the
$500 ?'' I asked.
at have no idea," he said, aud he
looked distressed: "but I reckon it
will come. Three men have giver us
$500 each with the last'twelve months,
and I reckon there is one more some
where. 1 know that there are several.
if they knew how badly we needed it. "
Then he told me about what George
Muse, Mr.. Err Lawshe and Mr.. G. v.
Gresa and others bad done for the
home.
For about three hours went about
the premises aud mingled with the or
phans. Some of the boys were digging
and wheeling dirt to stop leak in the
dam at the lake. Two had to 60 after
the cows. Half dozen came trotting
down to the barn with their milk
buckets. The mich COWS marched to
their stalls and the stanchious closed
upon them, while the boys sat upon
their stools and talked merrily as they
drew down the milk from their nd
ders. The eldest of these mixers was
not more than IL aud the youngest
abons eight. Near the house, in the
back yard, there were two boys swing
| ing at the ends of large rocking
churn, and in 20 minutes they had
gathered several pounds Of nice yellow
butter. I saw the girls washing and
ironing in the laundry, and Others
preparing the evening meal, OF which
it. She looks after the needs of all
both boys and girls, their food and
clothes aud health and conduct. She
has one of those large, benevolent faces
that child could not help loving
Her tender care of the little ones and