Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-04
18TH ANNUAL REPORT
OF tho Children's Home OF the CITY OF
Wheeling.

In submitting another years report OF
the work of the Childrens Home of the
city of Wheeling. it may be proper to
observe that the very nature of many of
the results obtained precludes the posi-
biiity OF any definite conception of the
value of the institution and its achieve
ments in brief review How can we
form the value of rescuing unfortunate
and neglected waits from the terrible
evils that surround them, and bringing
them under the best moral and religious
influence while their natures are still
plastic? Or how can We compute the
beneficial results Of providing destitute
little ones with shelter, food and cloth
ing and a permanent home with some
kind family? Although we cannot fur
nish an adequate idea of the actual re-
suits, in a short statement, it is we'll to
render an annual report to give some ac-
count of our stewardship to keep before
the public the needs of the institution, to
quicken the interest of new friends and
to stimulate that of old ones
The officers and directors gave due at
tention to the business interests of the
Home, but the work of the year could
not have been accomplished without the
unlagging interest and cooperation OF
the lady managers.
by the death Of Louis O. Stifel, second
vice president and a lifelong friend OF
the Home, and of Miss Louisa Forney,
the devoted matron.
ious departments of work under the
supervision of the Board of Lady Man
ayers.
Mrs. ]. c. Hupp. president, presents the
following:
'As board we have held eleven regular
monthly meetings. transacting at each
up at the time, all conscientiously. con-
sidered, for the best interests of our
work. which work, a board of man
ayers, is quite responsible one, not Civ
rilV n pIlhlicity Therefore,
what is done is generally known only to
the parties interested. The children IN
trusted to the Home by parents, guar
dams or decree Of court are by the rules
of the institution only given temporary
home, it being the work of the board to
place these children in homes of adop-
ton. That new home must prove TO the
child either veal or woe We are all La
BILE to err in our judgment sometimes, and
after investigating references, which can
be easily furnished by those applying,
we may make mistakes in placing chill
dren. If so, we remedy it by recalling
them. This we, seldom have to do on
the contrary, the majority sent out are
happily situated. Letters from the par
ties adopting. and also from the child, ex-
pressing complete satisfaction, are fire.
quently- received. The expressions OF
gratitude and pleasure Of the members of
the board at the reading of such letters
show well the great interest taken in
these frendless children. The average
number of children cared for during the
past year was greater than any preceding
year.
During the past year, our faithful ma
iron, Miss Louisa Forney, of twenty
years experience, was removed by death.
She was untiring in her duties. often be-
yond her. strength, her chief desire being
at all times the best interest of the
Home. She was unceasing in her de-
votion, and a mother to the little ones
under her care
without a few words concerning our sack
gathering. which has become part OF
our Children's Home work. It is a great
source of maintenance looked forward to
yearly. I am glad to say that the yield
each year is equal to the preceding one.
showing that the sympathy of the city is
continue to come in well filled with that
which is useful, and for which we
grateful to a generous public 49,
Mrs John ]. Jones chairman of the
Binding Committee, submits the following
report:
cations for children have been numerous,
especially for girls, those ranging from
IL to Is years of age being In the greatest
demand d During the year eighteen chill chill
and fourteen girls. Of these four boys
one ran away and went to his father: who
lives near the he fity up1n p had i
temperate man. and his circumstances
had so far improved that he was able to
st for his h hov so was def bre
BOYS have good homes in the country.
"Of the fourteen girls five were re-
turned to the parents or near relatives,
ayers to restore children to their own rel
atives, when they furnish proof that they
are morally and financially qualified TO
again take charge of them More good is
accomplished by this feature of the work
of the Home than the present manage
ment will ever know.
HOf the nine girls sent to places. we feel
that we have been particularly fortunate
in securing good homes for them, as they
have been given, with one exception. to
dren of their own. We find that in plac-
ing children in such homes they receive
more love and sympathy, more genuine
parental than when placed with
younger people.
Besides the nine girls placed in homes
during the current year. four girls have
been transferred from homes where they
have been for some time to other places,
and the change has been for the better in
all but one case. At one of the meetings
of the Board of Managers a few months
since a middle-aged woman was present
who wished to get little girl, She said,
Pap and me have raised a family. but
they have all married and gone to homes
of their own. which is all right. but we
are so lonesome without some young per
son about the house that ! just thought
l would come here and see If / could get a
little girl to take home and raise AS
her references were satisfactory and the
genial kindness of her face was suf-
her application was Immediately granted
and she made her own choice of little
girl. While she was waiting for the
childchild to be prepared for the journey,
the Board had occasion to make an in
uuiry of her and one Of the members was
asked to go out and get the information,
and she found this good. mntherly woman
standing in the hall with tears in her eyes
and when asked what was wrong. she
exclaimed. oh. Mrs. --. 7 can't stand
this: that little. girls brother is crying
fit to break his heart because his sister is
going away, if you ladies will let me.
will take the little fellow too and if
Pap won't keen him. | know a good man
who does not live far from us. who has
been wanting for some time to get little
TO take this one IT will be a good home
for him. and the poor. little dears won't
be far apart. as they will go to the same
school and can see each other every day
sist this plea and she was permitted to
take the boy also. and the three went
away together supremely happy. Pap"
did keep the boy and he wrote not long
ago that they are both good children: if
there is any difference I think the boy is
children happier and better satisfied
Cod will surely reward these good people
for their loving consideration in not sep
arating this brother and sister. This is
only one of the MANY pathetic cases
which occur in the work Of the Home
"A letter was received recently from
gentleman. who said. 1T is twenty years
since We got little girl from the Chill
dren's Home. She is now very happily
married Her husband is the editor Of
taken another girl to raise. and though
she ia a good child. she can never take
the place of our first one From personal
knowledge we know that this girl was