Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-04-03
From the Mariinsburg World
The Good Deed Of a Kindly Man.

Last October The Evening World
told of little deformsd boy, Charles
La Fevre, whose unfortunate physical
condition had excited so much pity in
the mind of stranger that he resOlv-
ed to endeavor to make him enjoy life
as other children do. That stranger
was a Philadelphia who came here
looking up facts in the famous Won
Rosen case.
The stranger, Joseph R. Wilson,
while here went on a drive to the Sui
phur Lot at Bedington in company
with Attorney F. Vernon Aler and as
result of that drive that poor little
Berkeley county boy is one Of the hap
piest boys in all the world. With
prospects of being hopeless sufferer
and unable to walk for life, he now
has feet on which he can stand and
walk.
All this i. the result Of the philan-
thropic spirit of rich Philadelphian,
who through Mr.. Wilson and Mr.
Aler, was interested in the helpless
lad. Moreover besides spending a
large sum Of money in having the lad
treated by skilled specialists, he has
provided for his future.
The lad arrived home on train No.
7 over the Cumberland Valley railroad
Saturday night in company with his
father and over the roads and floors
on which he once hoped and crawled
he is now able to walk. There is to-
day no happier home in Berkeley
county,
Mr.. Alsr received from the Phila-
del phian today check for hand'
some sum, with instructions to deposit
it in one of the banks and let the lad
draw the interest until he is q, when
he is to have the principal. The
whole story is one Of the most remark
abI. on record. It is vividly told by
the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, Of
Saturday, as follows:
"a bright little boy of 7 walked
down the platform of the Broad Street
station this morning clasping his faith
ers hand, aud the two boarded the
ll.4O train for the South.
Tears rolled down the old mans
cheek, but they were tears of gladnsss
and the boys face wore the happy
smile of youth-and that smile wal
the cause of the fathers tears, for ii
wa. the first time he had ever seen
that little face when it was not dis,
torted by pain. 1t was also the first
time he had seen his child walk.
There was story there-even the
passengers hurrying to catch their
train could see that. And it was .
tale worthy the pen of Dicken. or
Victor Hugo-a story that rebounds
at one and the same time to the cred
it of Philadelphia surgical skill and
Philadelphia philanthroPy-the sort
that does not proclaim its good deeds
from the housetops.
Six months ago that little boy had
no more hope of ever being able to
walk than he had of learning how to
fly. Today he walked out of the chill
dren's orthopaedic ward Of the Uni
velsity Hospital cured of a frightful
deformity, happily so rare that even
the doctors looked upon the case with
interest.
In September last Philadelphian
was visiting the Sulphur Springs at
the village of Bedington, w. Va. One
day in driving with West Virginia
friend, Lawyer F. Vernon Aler, OF
Msrtinsburg, a little cripple child
hoped across the dusty road in front
of them, Just as crow would do.
The horse was pulled up and the gen.
tleman got out to have chat with
the child. 1t was found that the poor
cripple was obliged to stand on hi:
little ankles, and the instep on each
foot was where the sole ought 10 be.
The little deformed toes pointed back
wards, and altogether it was a pitiful
sight for summers day.
Inquiry developed the fact that the
child had been born that way, and
had never been able to walk. The
father had FIVE other children to pro-
vide for, and his monthly wages wal
$50. The future looked dark for that
little boy then. He had already lost
all the pleasures that even the poorest
of children enjoy in the rough games
their foot races, and the countless
other sports of childhood. And thi
is not all. By some curious dispensatioT