New-York tribune., 1902-02-09
CITY WAITS AND STRAYS.
WHAT BECOMES OF LITTLE FOLKS
WHEN THEY ARE LOST.

amt got any fadder mudder" the small
voice piped "They'se dead a long time and I
amt got no place 10 stcy"
The tall young policeman who had hrought the
boy into the Lost Child Bureau" at Mulberry-st
fehce Headquarters, looked down sympatheticaliy
at the forlorn little figure He had not been long
on Inc force and his experiences with lost chill
dren few.
me face of the behind the desk who was
questioning the child. impassve and TO the
new policeman, seemed unnecessarily stern.
Where have you been staying since they ded?'
asked the man behind the desk, looking keenly
the boy who had given his age as eight years and
his name Joe McManus
Joe responded readily: Il amt stayed much no
where, but jest sleeps in doorways and entries.
Mems gives me tngs ter eat in der saloons" Then
he added in tone of satisfied recollection: Some
times dey gives me OF deir beer"
Take him upstairs till we see If anybody comes
for him. said the man the desk and the tall
policeman took little Joe" kindly by the hand. The
door OF the office at that moment was flung open
and woman rushed in: Has yer honor seem
was on her lips but the sentence remained unfn-
ished as she seized the hoy and kissed him breath
| iessly' then gave him an energetic slap.
'fe imp of mischief! she exclaimed. yer at Yer
thricks agin. Sure, yen get the soundest spankin
| Of yer life when / git yer home Tommy Regain
The man at the desk looked with d grim smile
| at the tall policeman. who returned 1t with a
| stare of blank amazement Kid. is this your
mother" he demanded and the child. glancing up
| ward with an impish grin answered:
| Bet yer life she's mudder Say, didn't I kid
! youz good?' and followed his irate but relieved
| parent from the office.
We'll. III be-blessed,' said the tall policeman.
| You'll get used to that before you're month
| older" said the man at the desk.
| Such instances are common in that that
the most fearful tale of from the most nno-
| cent looking child is received with large grain
! of salt" until it is verifed-and tien the be-
hind the desk is sympathetic any could
| desire.
The number of actual eases of lost children
| that brought to the bureau is large, amount
| ing to 2.262 last year. Hardly day passes in
| which at least not IeCorded. and in sum
| mer, when the children OF the tenement districts
Factically live outdoors. there often many
twenty.
| district in which il is wandering and kept there
| to the headquarters whore 1t is cared for unit
| morning. The accommodations simple, but
| neat and comfortable. They the third floor
| of the building and under the of a ma
tron who lives there.
The first glimpse is rather funny. Hopping from
the elevator, visitor sees, the opposite enc
of the large, wide hall. a collection of small rock
from floor ceiling. If the day IS fine and rm
several occupied by little in VariOu:
| stages OF unhappDeSs. Occasionally views tht
situation with philosophy and is amused and inter
ested by its strange surroundings, but disma
walls proceed from most of the involuntary guest!
at frequent intervals
The little wanderers are placed in this conspcu