New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-08
LITTLE TOTS WHO SUFFER
Whdt the Fresh dir Fund Means to
Some City Children.

!
A party of the Tribune Fresh Air Fund children
READY for a summer. outing Of two weeks in the
country. stood patiently waiting one day last week
W the side OF long train bound for Northern
-'eW- DIRK The children were long ahead OF time,
una 1leir car not ready. The conductor Of the
"alii genial man. suddenly approached the group
| and said:
| Come. little folk your car is way IN near the
| front. Follow me-
They hurried along after him. One little boy. In
| MS eagerness to get on the first spilled the
| contents Of bundle of clothing he had been car
rylng' and stood in a perplexed manner. debating
whether or not he should go aboard A brakeman
| saw his plight and shouted:
Go ahead, my lad; I'll get your stuff
| "A pair of stockings tiny shirt and ball had
rolled under the train. The brakeman crawled in
after the stray articles. and handed them through
| the car window to the boy
| Got two boys at home about that size said the
brakeman as he busted his uniform. I'D do any
tIhs Tor these little people. 1t does my heart good
10 see EN- come through the gate. To how many
places does the Tribune Fresh Air Fund send chill
Oteh' how many do you send out every year? 1t
must take heap of preparation"
The questions of the brakeman are asked by
uo@els OF people every day IN the various railway
| stations Of the city, when the children start
never realized what the fresh air work really
meant whispered elderly man to ono OF the
escorts OF party that went away this season. II
Hao some business the East Side this year
ana saw the revolving atmosphere in which the
little souls are reared"
In one family from which two children were
sent away this year by the Tribune Fresh Air Fund
the mother died recently from pneumonia A mis-
siohary had been with the woman for twenty-four
consecutive hours, and was taking a few hours
rest "hen the woman died. When the missionary
returned she found that the husband had gone
Inc children were playing IN the street and the
room where the dead woman lay was flooded with
water from rainstorm that ragged while she died.
From another portion Of the East Side child of
SIX mad been sent away that had been the sole
caretaker of sick baby for three months The
mother was compelled to go out and do washing
by the day and refused send the baby TO a
nursery. The elder child was locked in the room
with the infant. and warned to make no cutlery.
Few crusts and some cold coffee constituted the
chllds midday meal
Said prominent worker among the poor OF the
East Side with regard to the responsibilities placed
on the young:
s1P IN great many cases the mother is the only
vi ullAatu or has deserted his family. 1t IS inn
Perauye that children OF six and eight should
many little face bears the lines Of care and
%orTy e Iar beyond its years It would be sad in:
rom some OF these dreadful! hardships, and in two
heapd upon the Young gs have eSPpRed the
TO rise above their conditions they grew older.
But acting the part of young mothers is not the
form m OF hard labor to which children are
edsnt WI" no went away fortnight ago with party
sent by The Tribune Fresh Air Fund, who used to
during the winter would carry a bag OF coal for
fourteen blocks 1t with great difficulty that
induced the parents to let the child go away. II
seems a marvel TO me that some of the children
many families meat Is a luxury, and is only in
dulged In once twice week. Bread and onions
ana a vile decocton called is often the bill Of
fare for the week.
In nearly every party out by the Tribune
Fresh Air Fund there many children who have
never been outside the Ermy bounds of the sQuaNd
tenement district. a party from the lower East
Side, on the way TO the Grand Central station re-
up in the seats Tor the greater part OF the trip
after the got above Fourteeuth-st. AS the
was about to enter the tunnel at Thlrtyfourth
boy, who had done much thinking during his
little brow and said with elaboration:
The Kids up here must be awful bad. don't
see any on the sidewalk. Their mothers must keep
EN- locked up cause they're bad. Sometimes I get
locked up in the house when an, not bad. cause
have to wait TIL my clothes come out % the
the wash"
with the same party a girl OF five became en-
houses IN Fourth-ave, and she said the
taker: How do the people stick the leaves
the houses when told that the ivy planted
by the side Of the house and spread tho
house gradually from year to year. the child smiled
and said despairngly: Il guess II wouldn't grow
for me; Amt got money enough When told that
she could get an the ivy she wished FOR in the
country. whittier she going the smile OF
The last child that boarded the train that day
the little admireT OF the ivy. She stood the
car platform and put her tiny arms around the
kindly caretaker and whispered something Tho
latter kissed the child hurriedly, and quietly
brought her handkerchief TO her eyes Poor chiId,''
she muttered. she promised bring some Ivy for
10 send TO her mother The mother has been
dead month.