The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-09
WoMlAANNc ANcrprv

H Mercy Home means throng or visitors. They are drawn there because IL is an institution apart from the worlo' and because 1t reveals the other side or life. They like to see just how Birming- ham cares for it's foundlings, just what provision Is made for the little waifs who have the misfortune to be born under wretched conditions, those who come in the world unwanted, those who are de- serted by heartless parents.
 Yesterday there was the usual throng at the Mercy Home. It was the eleventh anniversary. The day was ideal. It was just the day to tempt the children out doors, and when hundreds of little ones were basking in the April sunshine.
 The babies at the Mercy Homel
 Almost every visitor asked to be taken first to the nursery. It is a large sunny room, lined with snowy cribs Some or them were asleep, the dreamless sleep Of babyhood Others sat about in their baby chairs and stared at the visitors and al- most every woman who went to the nur- sery lifted baby from It's crib and ca ressed 1t.
 Caresses for Birmingham's waifs!
 'I had heard about the nursery at the Mercy Home." said a woman bending over a snowy crib, "but did not know 1t was like this" There were tears In her beautiful brown eyes.
 Mrs Ramsay, the matron, was telling the history of some of the helpless little ones.
 EA1 Iol. f.. ,rfh xnrou of a basket at the Mercy Home last week. This little brown-eyed one was a waif found by the police. The little fellow Of four was abandoned by his mother, the blue-eyed little girl of two was desert ed. The babies looked on with the in- different air of babyhood. They blinked at the streaks of April sunshine stream ing in the nursery. There was the odor l of spring through the open windows. There was a spotlessness throughout the nursery, and the babies in their little white slips had the contented appearance of being freshly dressed. They did not object to being handled and talked to and caressed. They seem to expect 1t, and they had one whole day of it.
 Every department of the Mercy Home was inspected by the visitors. There have been some recent improvements in the way of kalsomining, and the long corri- dors and the sleeping apartments present a fresh and attractive appearance in their new garb.
 The dormitory maintained by the Creche has been freshly painted
 The older children at the home enter tained the visitors with songs in the school room. Altogether there are forty-three children, twenty of whom are In the nur- sery. There are ten babies In long clothes.
 There are thirteen women at the home, including two invalid girls and one old lady
 Among the women of the Mercy Home board who received the visitors yesterday were Mrs. c. B. Spencer, Mrs. Ballard, Mrs. Weisel, Mrs. White, Mrs. Jeffries. Tea was served during the afternoon and there was an old-fashioned spinning wheel of which souvenirs were given away.
 Mrs. Margaret Ramsay, the matron of the home, met personally every one who came. Every one almost wants to see
 
 many of the little ones at the home call her. Anniversary day. is always a hap py occasion for Mrs. Ramsay. She wants every one to see the Mercy Home, and while there are visitors days twice a week, 1t Is on the anniversaries that the greatest number of people visit the home. It is impossible to ever describe an hour at the home, and no one can ever tell all that Mrs. Ramsay does and says In an hour. And there are years of hours like those you saw at the home yesterday. Just what she accomplishes every day cannot be put In cold print. But If you will watch her for even few minutes you will understand something of the work of a woman who understands and comprehends the tragedies that make up life.