The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-03-04
CAME FOR HIS. CHILD
PATHETIC STORY OF AfATHER'a
SEARCH,
Captain John shannahan, " Selma is
sick-Dr. Liny Of Tuscaloosa
Delivers I Sermon--Judge
Austill In Central City.
!, Advertiser Bureau.

=
- Selma, March 3.
A strangely sad and pathetic story
came to light in Selma today, a story
that lifts the veil on one Of hfe's little
tragedies. which are being enacted every
day. The story commences with the
Summerfield Orpfisns' Home and ends
with It, the curtain falls on 1T at this
stage of the tragedy, at least.
About year ago . middie-aged woman
came to Selma and stopped at the pas
senger station with small boy. some 8
or 10 years old. She telephoned for H. H:
Stewart, who Is on the local Board Of
Directors Of the eummerfeId Home. and
he went to. the Union Station and found
the woman and the chiid. The woman
told long story about the mother Of
the little boy being quite III and unable
to take care OF Him. and asked that he
be taken to the Home ana cared for, the
woman in charge OF the child remarkiny,
a. she turned him oyer to Mr. Stewart:
'Tf the mother Of the boy lives, she Will
come after him: n she dies, you must do
the best you can for him."
When the little fellow entered the Home
his body was efnacfated. his features
pinched, and he showed that he had suf-
fered for the necessities Of hfe He had
a ravenous appetite and dcyoured any
edible ne could ret HIS hands on. even
eating green peas For q while he fat
tened and, hooked hight and cheerful.
but ne seemed to be longing for home and
mother, and Of late ne has not eaten
anything and foohs like an Old man, 80
shriveIed ID his ccuntenance and woe
begone his expression, He made several
attempts to ESCAPE frofi the Home ana
has been one Of tho few children taken
there who was not satisfied With his lot,
and who wished to}run away.
Time passed on, and nothing was heard
from the mother. 30 far AZ the officials
of the Home. and the little boy were con-
cerned, they were not even aware that
there was such q person In the world az
the chiid's mother But yesterday the
veil was lifted and the second act in
the tragedy was enacted. e'
H. Fl. Stewart was sitting IN his home
after he had returned from church. when
the door bell rang He answered the call
and a strong, vigorous man. IS years of
age, stood before him. He was evidently
q working man. and was visibiy affected
a. he asked Mr.. stewart II his boy was
at the Orphans Home Mr.. Stewart. Of
ceurse. did mot know who his boy was,
but when the man told his name and
where he was from, Mr.. Stewart remark
ed to him that there was q child there
bearing that name. and he related the
circumstances Of how the little fellow
came under their care.
The man listened intentiy as Mr.. Stew
art unfoided the story and from the man
ner IN which he tried to keep down hi
emotions. 1t was evident that he was
laboring under great mental excitement.
When Mr. Stewart had completed his re.
marks about the child. the man said
yes. that Is my child. The mother and
boy were stolen from me and / did not
know where they wee The first thing
knew of my wife was a short time ago.
when conn, was consigned to me-
went to the station to see who 1t was.
and on opening the comm found that II
was my wife, who had been absent from
me for nearly year, She was In bad
health when she was stolen from mo and
after che left must have gotten worse.
and her mind must have been dethroned,
for from the marks on the coffin. she
must have died in an insane asylum.
What that poor woman has suffered
none but God can tell -.
II have looked everywhere for my boy.
and row you tell me that you have him
at tho Orphans Home. thought ne was
there and have come here to ask you to
let me take my child home with me-" D.,
Mr.. Stewart told the father that he
could have the boy. as he seemed to be
grieving himself to death to get back to
those he loved. and he gave the man an
order for the child. He got vehicle
and drove to summerfieid and got his
little boy. The meeting between father
and son was mort affecting, and 1t is now
hoped that since the little fellow has
found his father that he will recover
from his melanchoiia and become stout
and healthy again. -"
Under the circumstances, the officials
Of the Home were glad to turn the child
over to his father and sincerely hope
that he will be all right soon