The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-05
LIT TIE ORP HANS
FIND FRIENDS
Most Striking Illustration Of
Kindness of Heart Bedford
City Waits.

. The safest way in this world to send a
child is to put tag on it and label it
an orphan.
That was strikingly proven yesterday.
Two children, brother and sister, the
boy five and the girl nine years of age,
came to Richmond last night from Bed
ford City. They have for months lived
in the Bedford City poorhousc. They
came to Richmond to be placed under
the protection OF the Childrens Home
Society.
These little people started alone They
we're put on the train in care OF the con-
ductor and two cards were tied to the
Jacket worn by the girl. One gave di-
reLtions where they were to so, and the
CHER asked that the friends of the faith
erless, with whom the children were to
meet during the journey, might protect
them from harm. If these children had
travelled with an escort of United States
regulars and had been the orphans of a
national hero, they could not have been
better cared for.
Their names are Virginia and Reuben
Gilmore Phillips.
As soon as the children were seated in
the train they began to attract the at
tenticn of the passengers. The kind
the passengers who got on at Bedford
CITY. Then, thinking that the children
might be lonely, came and sat down by
them and talked to them. He pointed
cut the places along the road which he
thought would interest them with as
much interest as if they had been not
little begEars, but the guests of honor OF
the road. He told what he knew of their
story to his friends. They told others
until all on the train knew. Then Vir-
ginia's little lap began to be loaded with
good things. Candies, oranges. peanuts,
and everything that a child loves flowed
into their laps. If the poor little people
had eaten all that was given them SO
freely and so wel-meant they; would
probably have died of Indigestion.
At Appomattox Mr.. Samuel l.. Fergus
son, a prominent lawyer Of that county,
get on. He soon learned the children S
story, and at once took them under his
care. A happier fortune could not have
.,ecn their lot. Captain Camm Patteson
was also a passenger, and he, too, was
soon their friend. The upshot of it AN
was that when they all reached Richmond
last night these gentlemen had raised
SS233. SS2333 so for the children. They came off the
train at 1916 last night, led by Mr.. Fer
gusson, while Captain Patteson swung on
his crutches close behind thenp
Or. Maybee. of the Society, Was rot al
the depot, but had sent u carriage 10
take them to the Belle Bryan Nursery,
Nineteenth and Grace Streets, their tem-
porary home. But NIessrs. Ferguson
and Patteson were not willing TO let
them so alone. Neither could so, and
The Times writer agreed to see them
safe at the Nursery. He did so. Both
MIR. Ferguson and Captain Patteson
kissed little Virginia goodbye and SHOOK
hands with the boy. They promised a
visit for to-day, when the money will be
tIrned over to them.
The sirl is a beautiful child with black
lair and eyes, and a sweet, low voice.
She says Yes Sir and mo Sir'' to You,
and tells that her mother whom she has
,ot seen for a long time, taught her.
Their father is dead though the mother
is living. Both are handsome children
aid are destined to carry sunshine into
Now childless and darkcned homes.