The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-16
Boys DEVOTION
TO ''BABY-BROTHER"
TOLD IN 0RDINARY'S COURT.
DURING THE HEARING OF A
GUARDIANSHIP CASE.

Even the Baby-BrOther, Leslie,
Joined the Ranks of Wage-Earn-
ers-Paid OF Debts of Their Faith
er-Hnrd Work On Farm at 81 Per
MOntiI-RefuGe at Last With an
Uncle in Bryan County.
Pathetic in it's simplicity, tender in
its wealth of brotherly love and de-
votion to the baby brother" TEEN
ing in heart-interest in the recital of
existence, was the story of three or
phan boys, as told yesterday morning
in the Court of Ordinary.
Only when action had been COM
menced by an uncle of the boys, Mr..
j. d. Carpenter. to remove the guard
of Thomas, Marcus and Leslie Darr
come to light, rivalling in simple beau
ty and tenderness many a tale of fic-
ton. Mr.. Medlock resisted the appli-
cation for his removal, but Judge Nc
Alpin ruled against him. The follow
ing is brief summary of the little
story:
1t was just a little more than
year ago that the father of the three
boys died. leaving them only a small
amount of money, and with debts hang
ing over much of his personal property.
The Oldest of the boys, Thomas, was
then but Is years of age, and his two
younger brothers were aged Is and IL
years.
Mr.. Medlock was appointed guardian
of the three minors and wished to put
them in the Bethesda School. The
boys themselves, in whom the in
stincts of sturdy, independent man
hood, were firmly grounded, objected
to this course, and maintained that
they were fully competent to earn a
living. With this assurance the guard
ian left them. feeling that so long as
they did not apply to him for aid
they were doing well.
Paid OF Fathers Debts.
The first thing that the older boy did
when thrown upon his own resources
was to sell the furniture which was in
his fathers humble little home. This
furniture had been secured on the in
stallment plan, and there was still a
large amount due on it. a fairly good
price was secured and then the boy,
with sterling honesty rare in one of
his age, went to the furniture dealer
and paid him what was still owing.
The struggle for honest existence then
Began. Thomas secured employment in
cotton mill at 81 a day, and later
secured positions for his two younger
brothers at even lower pay. When the
regular work of the day was over the
Older boy remained steadily at his
r,lona nd Of
makers trade.
The small earnings of the three boys
were all given to the older brother, and
with it he bought their food, paid for
their lodging, and secured their cloth
ing. No debts were contracted, if they
could be avoided, and when such a
course was necessary, they were paid
off when money came in even before
the bare necessities of life were bought.
Only 80 Per Month.
Later in the season work at the cot
ton mills fell off and the two younger
boys lost their places. The meagre
earnings of the oldest were not suffi-
Gent to support the three and the sec
ond boy went into the country, look
ing for work on a farm. After some
difficulty he secured a place, doing
farm work at wages of 81 per month
and his board
Faithfully he worked, beginning ear
ly in the morning and working until
late at night, doing the hardest kind
of manual labor. Then came letters
telling that the youngest of the three
the baby brother" was in hard cir
cumstances, and that the Oldest one
could not support him. Without an
instants hesitation Marcus sent what
he had saved of his monthly four dol
lars to him, and few days later the
baby-brother went to him.
The employer of Marcus found work
on the farm for Leslie and the little
fellow started in at 81 a month. The
undeveloped muscles at last revolted
under the heavy labor and the two
boys found they had to give up their
work. Together they came into the
city and again begun a weary search
for employment.
Appeal to Guardian.
Vainly they tramped from one end
was there work for children" The
elder brother was consulted and the
three went to Judge McAlpin. He
sent them to their guardian and Mr..
Medlock advanced them two dollars,
telling them to come back when that
was gone.
The idea of dependence was re-
voting to the three. and they began
a journey TO Bryan county, where they
had an uncle. poor himself. but owning
his home and a small farm. Thomas
there secured work as a brick-layer
and Is now learning the trade. receive
ing for his labor one dollar day. The
two younger boys secured lighter
work and their earnings were used to
help their uncle and themselves along.
The uncle then came to Savannah
and asked the court to appoint him
guardian of the boys. One by one the
boys took the stand and their straight
forward story impressed the court
with its truthfulness. Time after
time they told things which were
against their case. simply because il
was the truth"
Kindness of the Judge.
The evidence did not show that the
guardian had been negligent. but Judge
McAlpin thought that il would be best
for the boys to remain with their I'M
Gle and in his decision. he accepts the
resignation OF the guardian and states
that the uncle. Mr.. J. y. Carpenter.
will be appointed guardian as soon as
he has taken out the necessary papers.
As there had been no negligence on
the part Of the guardian. Judge Nc
Alpin did not feel inclined to muict
him OF the costs. The beautiful story
Of brotherly love. the pathetic recital
Of a brave struggle for honest indie
pendent existence. the touching care
for the baby brother. and the sturdy.
straightforward honesty Of the boys
had touched the heart Of the court. and
Judge McAlpin would not take costs
from their small estate. As result
there a. one case a. least lu the his