The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-28
THIS CRUEL WORLD
Helpless Child Semi Back to
her Unhappy Home.
IS this Sad Story Tru,?---0cublsss There are
Many Such That Should Arouse
People TO Actor.
Especial to News and Observer

Especial to News and Observer
Greensboro, n. c., Oct. 27.-An incident
occurred here today which has behind it
a story so pathetic and sad it being the
tragedy daily endured by so many help
less, innocent young lives in this Christian
land, that it needs to be told, to arouse
the blod in feeble age. move the benev0-
lent to action, incite the hardened to pity,
and cause the offices 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 message from Reidsville, asking
him to be on the lookout for fourteen
year old white girl named Anne Smith
who had run away from her father, a resi-
dent of Reidsville, named James Smith
Today the girl was found at work in the
American Company cigar factory, having
obtained employment there this morning.
An officer from Reidsville was on hand
and took her back to Reidsville on the noon
train. The girl while in the police wait
ing room, was weeping bitterly 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 fea-
lures, and used good language, having an
air Of refinement III her dress and voice
that betokened a good mother, and a cor
rect life Although fourteen years OF age
she looked to be but ten being evidently
Gwarfed 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 Will
mingtOn
II was treated so bad at home so long
! could rot stand it no longer" said 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
! hard year ago when my little brother,
! twelve years old, was at home working,
but he was treated so bad he run away
and went to work in cotton mill in Dan
vile. and ever since then my little sister
and me-she is eight years old-have to
support pap by ourselves and we can't
half do it. We work in the cotton mill
there and he gets all our wages. My
mother died when l was eight years old.
have been working there for six years
and l never had anything and never saw
any chance to get anything but cruelty,
and [ made up my mind to run away and
work somewhere in peace.
Il had a good friend in Wilmington.
! Mrs Ragan. who used to work in the mill
! at Reidsville, and l wrote to her / wanted
| to get work there. and she sent me enough
money to pay my way. So l left home
and come to Greensboro yesterday. and
at the depot / took train they said was
| going to Wilmington and when the CON
| ductor took my ticket and said it was the
wrong train. l would have to pay to Glib
sonvjle and then come back to Green's
| boro. so had to do it, And it left me
without enough money to stay here till
today or to pay my way to Wilmington,
and 30 / heard / could get work at the cigar
mill and | went there soon this morning
and they gave me job, and l was hoping
| to save enough money to get to go to Will
mington to Mrs. Raglan in week or two.
with what I already had, and now the of
! ficer has got me and have got to go back
to ReidsviIle. l hated to leave my little
sister and will be glad to see her again,
but [ just know / am going to be nearly
| killed when pap gets good chance at me,
and / wish sometimes | was dead and
gone"
this child's story is true, and there
isn't hell somewhere for some people,
there ought to be-