New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL.
WAITS FIND HAPPY HOMES
BOYS FROM NETWORKS STREETS TAKE ROOT
READILY N TEXAS

READILY n TEXAS
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: on November a I started from the railroad
station at the West Shore ferry in this city, with
company OF twenty boys. for whom homes were TO
be found in Texas The boys were jolly lot
gathered together from various sources. all having
undergone q short season OF training at the soci-
ety's farm school at Kensico They ranged IN
years from eight 10 seventeen. and were all pract
cally homeless, with no future before them in the
crowded city but want and misery. Each one OF
them was anxious to try his fortune in the Prom
ised Land" and loud were the complaints Of those
left behind at the farm school Our journey out
was interesting, bu- uneventfuL The time was
passed with the help Of dominOes and checkers and
mouth organs, for experience has taught me the
wisdom OF laying in large stock OF anything that
will serve TO keep the boys occupied
Toward the end OF the third night We arrived in
Whitewright, and. oh, the luxury OF a bed after
Two nights and half the road! AT noon the
next day the distribution OF the boys took place in
the courthouse. Our coming had been advertised
in the local paper, and a committee composed Of
the business OF Whitewright had received
applications from about forty families, from among
which picked out good homes for eighteen OF
our boys. The other two I had sent further west,
TO try the experiment OF placing them on cattle
ranches This seems TO have been success Ny
two embryo cowboys write enthusiastically OF their
new homes and the strange new life. and have al
ready secured two homes for other boys II is
life that appeals 10 many whom regular farm
work would seem dun. and if our means would
allow It might be the making OF many boy who
otherwise could not be persuaded 70 leave the city
made a trip 10 Abilene TO about placing these
two boys and 10 make arrangements for the future
and found the people most kindhearted and gen
erous-
After placing the boys near Wh1tewr1ght my next
duty was to drive about and visit them IN their new
homes. Besides being duty. IT was real pleas
ure The homes were comfortable and often pretty,
the new foster parents were kind and hopeful and
the boys were happy as any boys could De- N
several cases. although barely week had elapsed
since their arrival the little fellows were saying
papa" and mamma" were making friends in
school, and in fact, were already taking root
Their Bowery accent and ignorance OF country
ways were a source Of great amusement One u
them was greatly excited about some strange
birds" IN the trees that weren't exactly birds.
either because they had four legs and a great
bushy tail. The poor little chap had never been IN
the,wOods before. and did not know what squirrel
was Another caused hearty laugh BY announc-
..co1lpons' However I noticed that II did not take
them long 70 learn all about pecans and persinl-
mons too, nor about 'pOssums and coons and al
the other delights Of Southern woods.
After three delightful days spent in seeing the
new homes started OUT on an even more chaT
round OF visits 10 older friends, the boys mad
One evening four Of them called on me al the hotel
where staying, and four nicer looking or bet
OF them had ridden in nine miles on his pony, which
he showed me with great pride found the boys,
a rule, successful and self-reliant- Ny plan is
20 place the older ones in families 10 work for
board and clothing for one year. and find that
after the first year they can get plenty OF work az
good wages. One Of them told me he had his
choice Of half q dozen places He had saved money
and would soon be in a position 10 farm for him
self. He SAID there place like Texas for
saving money. I OF them with S25 saddles
Of their own. and all, young and old. had good
clothes for going tC town in and for Sundays one
OF them has rented q piece Of land that he viii
farm on shares this year, and his prospects
good.
Thanksgiving week spent with doctor who has
two OF our boys, brothers II was most delightful
the happiness OF the TWO little fellows. and
the way they had won the affections OF the doctor
and his wife. Coming 10 they did from the
dreary rnonotOny Of an institution, they have
changed all that for the free, healthy life OF a
fined home. with prospects as good as any boy in
the town. Imagine the change and fancy what a
pleasure II was 10 10 feel that I had brought Il
about On Thanksgiving Day had old fash
Oned Thanksgiving dinner. the table. heightened 70
its full extent. groauing under the weight good
things and I wondered II II were not all Ike q
fairy tale 70 the little boys.
This visit finished the trip, and after making the
necessary arrangements for another party 10 ar
rive next month, I started back for New-York nv
thoughts dwelling with pleasure on the past and
looking forward with hope 10 the future.
New-York, Jan Z. 1850 ROBERT y. BRACE