New-York tribune., 1901-03-29
SAVING THREE WAITS.
WHAT THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY
DID FOR SOME HOMELESS ORPHANS.

The work of the Industrial School Of the Chill
drens Aid Society, exhibition in the United
Charities Building, recalls incident Of some
years since in connection with one of the socetys
wards. On a stormy night in December mite Of
humanity huddled in the angle Of one Of the
big Broadway office buildings. half buried beneath
the bundle of papers he had been trying TO sell
Other boys were still crying their wares to the
hurrying crowd. He watched them with jealous
eyes. passerby noticed this disconsolate heap OF
boy and papers. and wondered what 1t could mean.
Then he went and sat down the stone steps
and took the small half frozen fingers in his own.
''Tired?' he smiled down into the great. hungry
eyes.
Hurt m foot was the somewhat unwilling ad-
mission. Investigation proved that weeks Of cold
and exposure had converted chilblans into deep
wounds. and the skin scratched and
the knees.
Where is your home. little MANI
"An't got any
But where do you sleep?''
I'm e bin-sis she works upstairs"
Then you have a sister?'
"Bruvver, too"
well. you tell where the bin s?'
"On Riv'ton street"
What number?'
Don't know
Little enough, It seemed. to be gathered in
conversation like this.
IF / buy all your papers my little man, will you
take me back the bin and let where * tsp
Don't want TO go there any more-she beat me-"
And the JOY that for a moment had lighted up the
great hollow eyes changed TO scowl OF fear and
pain.
a month or two previous both father and mother
had been taken away, leaving this mite OF a boy
sister year or older. and tiny baby brother.
One of the ''neighbors'-a woman who occupied
half of the dark room Oittle than a closeU
of a fat the ground hOor-had volunteered,
under the influence of excitement and beer attend
ant upon the double funeral 10 care for the chill
dren Her care, however, had speedily dwindled
hiring the girl out for two cents an hour to an
other ''neighbor' making the boy sell papers all
day half of the night, and letting the baby
heap of rags in her halt the room" This
the state of affairs which Bob" did not
want to return. Under promise of protection, how
ever. he consented at last lead the way to "the
bin'-a sort Of hole in the cellar of the tenement
building in which she lived. She by this time
was weary enough OF her bargain and for a con
eierarjar -tpIcb ~ .i,,,IIisr - -
coercion, was glad TO reinquish all claim the
kindly care of the Chdren's Aid Society.
Curlously enough few months later friend OF
the society that a friend OF hers in the West
wanted to adopt a brother and sister-one TO be
baby. if possible. Now, here brother sis
ter, and baby as well. After some little time the
Western friends Were persuaded that this just
he he right number, m ana that these were Just the
ought TO be. SO the three were dispatched with
new home. And such days and weeks of sunshine
and fresh air as foloWed-such months and years
81 % e66 @d of ba & ove ane s
came back to the friends in the East into whose
of Bob" and his pet goose, Bobby of Sis and
the big collie who had been fast friends with her
ba by brother who had at last found such a haven
Of strong arms and love and plenty
now. Sis, is married and has has a home of & her own
cares for his foster-mother who is a widow now
and growing gray and weary; And for the one
ter's night the letters from the happy Western
home the stories OF farm life and little household
years roll by.