New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15
rWENTY.THREE IN A TETHER.
pp,vc1NG HOME A PARTY OF TRIBUNE
FRESH AIR CHILDREN.


Il was early in September when I arrived In
Nev-York to join the mighty army OF paupers
Who dignity themselves with the title Of music
students and glimpse of the Hudson sufficed
N inspire me with deep desire to take a trip
uron its waters, while realized the necessity
of doing Il in an economical way
While casting my chances over In my mind
heard that there was still crowd OF little New
Workers up at Claverack enjoying a Tribune
Fresh Air trip, and that some responsible person
would have a passage to Hudson and back to
bring them down to New-York ! promptly
volunteered my services. and seeing that was
sbe-boded and had good testimonials as to
responsibility. etc. the authorities accepted me,
and was duly labelled with a piece OF white
rbbon bearing the r. +. A. +. inscription, and
vas invested with the requisite number of tick
cts for myself and my charges.
The eventful day came. and with II sense
OF my own inexperience. for my previous travels
had been confined to the borders OF one small
Southern State where the conductors know
ones family and take a kindly interest In seeing
that one gets of at the right place pu'
these considerations aside however. and de-
terrined that I would look old enough at any
rate 10 travel anywhere. To accomplish TINS
] needed only 10 don yellow hat, donated 20
NV wardrobe by brunette cousin. TOT nature
gave me sandy hair which becomes perfectly
gray a, even a distant glimpse OF yellow
tan and brown striped shir,waist perfected 'he
charm. and thus attired SC: forth upon my
Journey.
The frs, problem that presented Itself was
how 70 find the Grand Central Station. anc
Providence sent kind man 70 solve tha' i"r
me-but once there what train should lake Z.
To this day ! do not know how IN the turino
o. nv mind CHANGED To get the rgh' one l
think that same good man had a hand in II. but
found myself on board. and seeing no'hihI
else to do sat down feeling almost certain mat
7 was on the wrong train. but no one seenen
70 care When the conductor took my TICKET /
.crewed M courage TO ask IL this train went 10
yyusson whereupon nc eyed me sternly and said
YEP" l was SO glad to know I; that did not
care when found 1t too fogry on the river 10
see much and found pleasant occupation IN Cd
servjng nv fellow passengers and the hus'ilhf
vays OF a Northern railroad
We arrived a, Hudson about noon and mao
an hour In which 10 investigate the town Dc
fore my children came from Clavcrack waIhec
through the pretty streets until ! came 20 a
public square. where I sa; beneath shau'
tree and ate my lunch Ike an EXPERIENCED
tramp. There was hu. one obstacle III inc wa
Of complete happness-I had carried on n large
ouantitv % Hudson River Railroad coal aus
or NV face and hands and knew not where
might wash them. Turning back to the station
from tn. square ! spied a street pump kh'"
no one and no one knew me Accordlnty'
boldly laid aside my yellow hat and wash'n my
face and hands al the pump to the INFINITE he-
ueh, ~ a crowd OF children just escaping from
school
They cheered and applaudcd wildly during inc
performance but when II was accoH'plishco
resumed the yellow hat and they SUNK AWAY
ashamed 10 have thus derded poor oiu
woman.
At the station found the twen'y-thrce ch'i-
dren waiting FOR me. and once with 'heHl ie''
quite at home There were four httle I'aI'anS'
one small colored girl and the resi- were A'''''
German. etc Each child carried her "aro'"o'
some in brown paper bags some In houf BACK
others In newspapers etc. but no one wa"
guilty - a satchel One and all, thoufh' 'ne'
carried small paper bags. CONTAINING 'u'''" "
2 al which they already cast longing eyes' "o'
outstanding the fact that they mao pa'''S
swallowed No J. Here was serious situa''o''
Apparently they could not endure the pahbs VI
hunger ten minutes longer. but n they a'e u'a'
lunch then they would be ready 10 eat e~o
other before we got 10 New-York AT o.So oe'ooA
that evening. The wcman who brought ue"'
from Claverack advised them TO give me Inv
bags TO take OF. but they refused P"s''N'''
10 consider this, and had to interview each o"e
OF the twenty-three before / got those iu"cheA'
after which achievement was Obliged 10 sua''
them like a dragon TO keep their owners i'o"