The sun., 1902-01-26
DREAMING UP A FAMILY.
Ono Day Out OF the Life OF q Charity
ORGANIZATION Agent.

Ono Day Out OF the Life OF Charity
Organization Agent.
The agent of tho charity organization
climbed flight after flight Of greasy stairs.
She was led on her way by faint. despair
ing wall. growing ever louder as she ap-
preached its source. This wall. coming
In gaspng sobs, had attracted her from
the specific errand that led her into tho
tenement house. She listened to 1t with
knit brows, and then began to move toward
1t.
What Is that baby crying like that for?'
she asked fat woman who stood in the
doorway Of her apartments as the agent
passed.
Dunno replied the fat woman stolidly.
Cried oil night same way
When she opened the door which let her
into the presence OF the wall, the agent
saw one Of those squalid rooms of the very
poor that battle description. The plastered
walls were black yet upon them hung
various pictures almost indistinguishable
from their frames by reason of the dirt
that covered them. The boards OF the
floor were invisible; heaps OF old clothing.
foul and rotting, were strewed about A
little boy Of s years his crippled shoulders
up between his ears, his elf-like eyes shining
large In his aged little face, sat silently
watching. A gaunt. haggard girl OF eight
was holding the waiing baby and up and
down the narrow room paced a wild-eyed
woman who wrung her hands and NUT
tered to herself.
Mad as a March hare remarked the
charity organization agent. who was also
a trained nurse. She examined the baby.
The poor little wretch gave forth dreadful
cry with every breath. She found its back
and limbs covered with blisters.
How did the child get burnedf' she
asked.
Tommy had to mind him last night, and
he dropped him on the stove,' replied
the girl alphabetically.
Tommy was the fve-year-old cripple.
The c. o. S. agent took the mothers
hand, and said softly and soothingly: I'm
going TO send for an ambulance TO take
the baby to a hospital. Then well send
the other children 20 good home, and
wen take you somewhere where you can
have good care and get well. l see you
are sick
Instantly a tempest ragged In the ROOM
the crazed woman seized the baby, and
pressing 1t tightly TO her breast, strode
up and down the room, declaring that II
should never be taken from her; that she
would not be separated from her children.
Hor frenzied clasp caused the suffering
child the most exquisite torture. and his
cries became more heartrending.
The C. o. S. agent argued. plea ded,
begged. to no avail. She understood
quite well that it was illegal to take the
children without the consent Of their par
ents. SO she found out from the girl where
the father worked, went down TO the street,
telephoned for an ambulance from the
nearest pay station. and then sought the
factory where the father worked. There
she had TO find the foreman, and get per
mission for the man 10 accompany her.
they went back TO the tenement, where
they found the ambulance, a physician
and two policemen awaiting them. They
went up 20 the room, crowding the miser-
able little apartment when they were all
in. Then the task Of persuading the mother
began. The husband seemed 20 have no
influence.
He do beat her and knock her around
fearful when he gets drunk said the fat
woman. who had followed the procession.
and vas looking on with silent Interest.
. IL we're he wot stepped on tho little felier
and crippled i'm. wen he wor baby
But the girl, Annie. now came out strong
Mother, mother sho pleaded in tones
almost as frenzicd Rs the woMan's. you !
must let ~ 20 with tho lady Oh, DO let |
Al. 20 with the lady. You know we're cold /
all the time You know we're hungry all /
the time You know YOU can't take care |
Of uF ON. you must lri NJ -.
m. Weirdness u this child. realizing, /
like mature person tne necessity ni hi"ah-
iry up tho family, Va- sat 20 hook upon |
Then Ami. chargei her tone hhe took /
Lrf mother ly the shoulder and fofoet |
hrr ~ meet hef eN"
Now YOU g. ard 81, down there sle |
.. and .u down th.rr ard krrr stN auI /
fsha," yuursef Aren't y"u ASHAMED "i .
Tid- chni = eight had been forced - /
. , With tI.- GRAVY woman. ahi if"''.' J.
f.s younger children. and r." bat i"ain"d /
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