The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-10-30
A CHILD'S PITIFUL STORY.
A 14-Year-Old Girl, on Her Way to
Wilmington. Stopped in Green's
bOrO and Will be Taken Back
Home-She Weeps at the Thought
of Her Cruelty.
Especial to The Messenger.)

Especial to The MeSSenger.)
Greensboro, N. c., October 27.-An in
cident occurred there today, which has
behind it a story so pathetic and sad,
it being the tragedy daily endured by
SO many helpless, innocent young lives
in this Christian land, that It needs to
be told. It should arouse the blood in
feeble age, move the benevolent to ac-
ton, incite the hardened to pity, and
cause the officers to avenge the wrongs
of the innocent, by enforcing both the
vagrant and the child labor laws.
Yesterday, the chief of police here re-
ceived a message from R~eidsville, ask
ing him to be on the lookout for a four
teen year old white girl, named Ami
Smith, who had run away from her
father, a resident of Reidsville, named
James Smith. Today the girl was
found at work in the American Compa-
ny Cigar factory, having obtained en-
ployment there this morning.
An officer from Reidsville was or
hand and took her back to Reidsville on
the noon train. The girl, while in the
police waiting room, was weeping bit
terly, saying that she would be almost
beat to death if she was taken back to
her father, who was cruel to her. She
had delicate features, and used good
language, having an air of refinement
in her dress and voice that betokened a
good mother, n a correct life. AL
though IA years Of age, she looked to be
but 10, being evidently dwarfed from
work. The child between her sobs gave
the following account of her life and
of her escape from home, the pity of it
all being that by taking a wrong train
here yesterday, she failed to reach a
more restful haven of hard toll at Viii
mington.
II was treated so bad at home so
long 1 could not stand it no longer
aid she. My fathers name is Jim
Smith. He will not work, and he
drinks, and he often abuses Us terribly
when he needs more money than we can
make. 1t was not SO lard a year ago
when my little brother, II years old was
at home working, but he was treated
sc bad, he run away and went to work
in a cotton mill in Danville. and ever
since them, my little sister and me, she
is eight years old have to support pap
by ourselves inc we can't half do it.
We work in the cotton mill there and
he gets all our wages. My mother died
when / was s years old. She was
mighty good to me, but she died. Then
I was made to work in the cotton mil.
and ! have been working there for six
years, and I never had anything, and
never saw any chance to get anything
but cruelty and 1 made up my mind tC
run away and work somewhere in
peace. My little brother was gone
and it was too hard for me at home, and
he sent me word he was getting on
and would help ME to leave, but he
didn't.
Il had a good friend in Wilmington
Mrs. Raglan, who used to work in the
mill at ReidSville, and l wrote to hel
1 wanted to get wor there, and she
sent me enough none TO pay my way
So l left home and come to Greensboro
yesterday, and at the depot l took
train they said was going to Whining
ton. and when the conductor ook my
ticket he said it was the wrong train
L would have to go to Gibsonville and
then come back to Greensboro. So
$1,000 ~ ~ y" -AAAA = 49, AAAC INV
enough money to stay here TIL today OF
TO pay my way TO Wilmington, and SC
1 heard I could get work at tn ciga1
mill and I went there SOC this mo n
ing, and they gave me a job. and I was
hoping to save enough money TO sc
10 go TO Wilmington to Mrs. Raglan ir
a week or two, with what 1 already had
and now the officer has got me. anG
l have got to go back to Raidsville.
hated TO leave my little sister. and
Will be glad 10 see her again, but I jur'
know l am going to be nearly kilt wher
pap gets 4 good chance at me. and
wish sometimes I was dead and gone
If this child's story is true, and there
isn't a hell somewhere for some people
there ought to be.
Greensboro lost an excellent citizen
in the death OF Mr.. George 4. Smith
~ 1919 - d.,