Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-12-29
THE cHILDREN's HOME.

To the Editor Of the Alexandria Gazette; =,
read with interest the editorial
which appeared in your paper some days
since, giving the pitiful story of little
girl who had lived all her life in the
slums of New York. suddenly transferred
to the toy department of large store
where she was engaged as an additional
help at Christmas time. Sac was so
bewildered by the beauty of the toys.
especially the dolls, around her that she
thought one of them was her little sister
who had died some time since, and had
come back TO life. Shortly afterwards.
she had to be taken from the store to an
insane asylum, her poor little head en-
tirely turned by the unusual sight of so
much beauty and JOY. We can believe
almost any story which comes to US OF
neglected children in great city, but 1t
is bard for us to believe that in our own
midst there are children whose lives are
as much bIighted by poverty and sin,
and who are as far removed from the
wholesome pleasures aud enioyments
of childhood, as are those in large cities.
Since | have been working among
the children in Alexandria have found
Just as pitiful cases as any that /
have ever met in the slums Of
large cities. Last spring we had for
several months family of three chill
dren who were taken from hut by the
Cooperative Charities, not less than
half dozen squares from my own house.
These children haG been so degraded by
their surroundings that they did not
know how to sit at the table and eat. but
would take a piece of bread and crouch
in corner, gnawing it like rat. They
were thought to be entirely imbecile, but
after few months, surrounded by re-
fined influences and gentle treatment,
they developed in a remarkable way.
We really learned to be fond OF
them, and their devotion to us was
touching in the extreme, and when other
homes we're found for them, we saw them
leave with regret. At the present time
we have two little girls in the home; one
of them fourteen years old who has never
had a doll baby in her life. The second
little girl when asked if she had ever bad
doll, replied in tone OF triumph,
"Yes, had neonct. My mother give
it to me before she died. | broke it and
I cried and cried, but never nobody give
me another" This poor child has a
double inheritance of woe. Her father
committed suicide and her mother died
in the insane asylum, and at the age OF
nine years she was turned out to DRIFT
for herself, until rescued by band of
Kings Daughters.
"Do you hear the children weeping, Oh! my
Brothers,
Ere the sorrow comes with years -
At the present time we have thirty
one children in the Home, and the
majority of them are from Alexandra.
They represent every phase OF human
need. Some are orphans, others have eth
er a mother or iather who are not able TO
provide for them, and some have been
taken from their homes because of i'm
moral surroundings. A few have friends
who are able TO pay something for then,
but the vast majority are entirely un-
provided for, except as the charitable
and philanthr' pic open their hearts and
purses to them. Ia the last two years,
we have been able to find many
of them good homes. Two little
girls, eight and five years old,
we're rescued from a disreputable haunt
kept by colored people by inquiring
into the circumstances connected with
the children, we we're able to trace an
uncle who had gone West many years
ago, aud who knew nothing Of the
condition in which his nieces had been
left.
Correspondence was opened with this
uncle, and as result he gladly con-
sented to receive the childIep, paying
their expenses 20 Portland, Oregon,
where they are now living surrounded by
every comfort; the memory of the dark
days only serving 10 heighten their ap-
preciation of a Christian home.
The merchants of Alexandria have
been exceedingly generous in donations
of food, and we earnestly ask cooperation
of other members of the community in
the interest of these little ones, at
Christmas time. Donations OF groceries
will be gratefully received, and clothes
and shoes are specially needed.
ALI checks should be made payable
to Richard NJ. Green, Treasurer Citizens
National Bank, Alexandria, Virginia.
X ATE WALLER BARRETT.