New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-26

Days for Little Mothers An old farmhouse was
secured at Pelham Park. and during the hrst sum
mer-ls9O-927 little girls had the first happy day
OF their own. They were told that they might
pick all the flowers they wanted and roll on 'he
grass as much as they pleased. because every
,h,ro uas theirs They could not believe 1t, be
cause they had never owned anything IN their
lives
ct belongs TO the people said TO the chill
dren They own IT, You the people II was
beautiful 10 see their little souls expand wheh II
nnally dawned upon them that they were the
people, and that all they surveyed was theirs
"'Oh' cried one child. overcome with JOY It's
so big"
"If nv mamma could only smell IL SAID an
other child whose home was in the midst OF the
fou; odors where so many children spend their en-
tire lives os-s--
How to get the little mothers days outing IN
the country was not always an easy matter. They
had to wait perhaps until the real mother could
get n day from her work and stay at homo while
tho little mother was away. Often the child wouId
work late the night before. and 'rise earlier the
next day to perform her labors. so that she could
60 There was always the kind neighbor ready
to care for the baby and let the little mother on
from her duties The children ragged and
filthy and when they reached Pelham In the
tentative days, 1t was necessary 10 burn their
clothes battle the owners and supply them with
new outfit Nowadays, owing to the Fresh Ar
before Joining them and the public schools; that
teach habits of cleanliness. we get less repulsivey
dirty children The little mothers are not OBJECTS
of charity in the sense that they the recipients
OF things for which they do not pay. For services
rsnGtrfd Of fneY ay Money they are taught is
valueless until transmuted. little mother is
given a dress. How can | pay for IT.? she asks
She is told to take good care of the baby; and
when talk on hygiene IS given she Is reminded ,ed
instructions she will have another dress The chll-
dren taught how to tighten their lapors nj
Il think the Fire Department owes us debt
for teaching them how to make fire In the me G hI
have been cared for by the little mothers.
In the dning-room of her home Mrs. Johnston
frS a South FSr second in Four
feminist and a third at No. 3Oi East Twenty
hrs;-st. The little mother only goes to school S1
some Of the children have returned to watch the
baby and for the in he tb rSm
They also taught sewing If they hem a
The first lesson Is on washrag' which becomes
their property together with CAKE ho or SOAP
circles. The girls are apt pupils. and In twelve
lessons they able TO cook at home twelve
dishes. and cook them VEL ,,,r., On, ,uroor anu
more said tenement father. when asked by a
elow-workman to go to salo9 h TOR ,i free Lunch
Cooking School. and she gets me such good
breakfast that don't have that awful thirst
"The little mothers have solved many problems"
asserts their 'mother They have lowered the
ana advance the cause Of model tenement-houses
by pracng anay H aSsh IN the tn sare for or
the baby that at the dspensaries their opinion is
She comes with the sick babe always defers to
the little caretaker when the physician asks ques-
ens e Mr o 90 ne began her work ten thou
sand children have found JOY az Pelham Park
Miss t smith read b an ss on by USd
gestive discussion