The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-14
Fourteen Ysar. r.0Id Boy Helps
His Mother at tho Tubs.
FOUR CHILDREN SENT AWAY
Rard-heartsd Landlord Would Not Have
The Little Ones In the Rouse,
Mother Said.

New York, May 1i--In a rear room in
the second floor fat at 20 somers. street.
Brooklyn, a boy OF IA was bent over a
ciotheswringer yesterday. The room was
sitting from the heat OF a range.
Bundles Of clothing were on all sides.
Round and round he swung the handle,
stopping only TO ft more garments be-
tween the rollers.
Come in." he called wearily. when
reporter knocked at the door. He passed
the back of his hand across his forehead
and leaned against the tubs. He glanced
at letter held out to him, and as he ac-
knowledged that he wrote u, little color
mounted into his pale cheeks. The letter
read:
I've heard OF so many people getting
helped through the papers, and ! wish
you would help US a bit. We are very
poor and my father died a year ago and
mother has to work hard at washing.
am the oldest In the family. I'm IA years
OF age. I've got two little sisters, three
and four years OF age, and two brothers.
six and II. The four OF them are In an
orphan home.
Me and mother are willing 10 do any
thing for a living. Mother said III you
could get her place out in the country
with the children, she and / would work
very hard Tor living. ffoplnB you can
help US bit, I'll end my letter
FRANK ABERGER
Me and mother want 10 get the chill
dren home and all live happy together
again." the boy said. That's why i do
the washing with mother, but she and me
can't seem 10 get much ahead, and he
pointed TO the piles Of clothing.
LANDLORD BROKE UP FAMILY.
Frank has been the mainstay OF the
family since his father died on Jan. II,
1902 On the anniversary OF the fathers
death his four children, William, IL;
Henry, six: Lizzie. four. and Emma,
three, were taken to st. Marguerite's
Home at Atlantic and Van Sicien ave-
nues, Brooklyn. Mrs. Aberger and Frank
were almost broken-hearted when the
children went away
Mrs Aberger entered the room and
drew Frank over to a window telling him
TO get cooled off while he was resting.
I'VE had to give the children up be-
cause no landlord would have us all, she
said Frank and l would have man.
aged somehow TO buy food and clothing,
but the landlord here said the little ones
would have to go or else ] would nave
10 move somewhere else. did try hard
to get another place. but everywhere IT
was the same. No landlord would nave
a poor widow with five children, so Frank
and had to break up our home
Our hardships seem 10 increase, al
though Frank and / work night and day.
Two weeks ago Lizzie and Emma were
separated from William and Henry, and
taken to a branch OF the home in Rock
away park / know the sisters who have
the home couldn't help IL. But It seems
10 me that my little ones are drifting FUR
ther and further apart and the thought
that we may never be all together again
nearly crazes me.
"My husband had six paralytic strokes
| before his death. He was a baker and
made good wages. but our small savings
were all used up In the two years he was
| helpless used 70 have 10 carry him in
| my arms. and he would say. Never mind.
/ little wife / will be we'll some day. and
| then won't we and the children be
happy? told him when he died that
! the children should never leave me, and
/ I would give my life to have them all
| back again"
HARD TO SAVE UP"
"I tried TO work in a factory in Eliza
! hethport" said Frank. but | couldn't
earn enough to pay my board. Mother
! and thought IL both of us were working
we could save up enough 10 have the chill
! dren with us this winter. But mother
had 10 send for me three weeks ago 10
help her with the washings. and I've been
4 doing that ever since. can't go 10
school. but | wish I could"
Mrs. Aberger said she started out at
daybreak yesterday to do half-a-day' $
work I'm family. Frank had the fire
going In the range and the boiler on when
she got back at noon. and together they
were striving 10 finish six family wash
,ngs before midnight. She receives from
EO 10 7b cents each for these but has TO
furnish soap and coal for the fire.
Mrs Aberger says II she could secure
a Mace out OF the city where landlords
would not drive away her children, she
could manage with Franks assistance 10