The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1900-02-03
DARK SIDE OF LIFE.
atrangs Hospital Incident Which
Furnishes Food for Thought.
Lsro, Mason, Reared b, an Old Col
ored Servant, After Mammy's
Death Becomes His Real Moth
er's adopted Son"
Especial Washington Letter.

Very many strange things had
FEN in large cities, and the tell
ing of them all would fill vast
libraries with stories of real life, and
''of the making OF books there would
be no end.
The founding asylums are interest
ing places TO those who are inclined
20 reflection and contemplation, be-
cuuse therein we see the beginnings
OF the lives OF men and women who
are TO take their places in the Affairs
Ct the immediate future. No matter
how well the waits may be reared,
they never know the real meaning Of
the word "home" They see other
children with fathers and mothers.
but they must live in ignorance of
their own ancestry. That one Thought
alone incites the mind to pity and
compassion.
Men forget their children and de-
sert their wives in the mad race of
life. Women cling 20 their offspring
as long as they can hold them to their
breasts. They also cling TO their hus-
bands "for better or for worse" even
alter they have found them 20 be
much worse than they could have an
ticipated. Therefore IL Is that We
have such deep sympathy for both
mother and child when they are de-
rerted. But no human being can
fully realize the condition of little
one bereft of both father and mother.
Not long ago there came to one Of
The hospitals of this city a negro
woman Of middle age, bearing in. her
rrms white child only few weeks
old. begging shelter for the child and
for herself because she was sick and
threatened with malarial fever. The
negro woman was given a cot in the
free ward and the white child was
taken in charge by one of the nurses.
The woman soon became delirious
and was seriously i'll with typhoid
fever. Two months passed away be-
fore she was able TO leave the hos
pital. She said that the baby had
been given to her 10 care for. but she
would not tell the name OF its par
ents.
When she was able to leave the hos
pital she asked permission 10 go TO
her rooms to get new clothing for the
white baby. saying that she would
return within an hour. She was per
mitted 10 go. Two weeks have passed
away and she has not returned. The
little waif was finally turned over 70
the care of sisters of charity In charge
OF an orphan asylum. II will grow
TO manhood and never know who
were its father and mother.
OF course the child will never know
The true meaning of the word "home,"
and what the future portends for IL
nobody can dare To foretell.
The average reader will say that
there are thousands Of such eases,
1nd that Is true. This incident is
narrated simply TO point moral and
adorn tale. Those who sin forget
The ELECTS OF their wrong-doing.
They forget that there Is a time com-
ing when everything will be laid bare
before the awful tribunal of con-
science. when "the rich and the poor
shall bc gathered together, for the
Lord Is the Maker Of ug ALL"
The little baby referred to may
have a life Of goodness or the reverse.
It's parents cannot tell but this lit
ale one has had many predecessors