New-York tribune., 1906-07-11

me lecture on the sin of bringing children into
the world when knew ] couldn't care for them.
Then Well. it was the same story. Iust
be parted from my children or there was no Nelp
for either of us. Upon my saying l must keep
my children with me. j was told, Well II you
stubborn You must just go to the city
lodging house.
Next" Mrs Bresnan went on. Il applied 70
the Children's Aid Society. There was told
get some one to adopt them. The older one is
fine boy they said; we can get good nome
added what those good homes i'm the West are
My child shall never go to one.
THAT night I slept in the City Lodging House
with my babies. Before she gave me bed the
matron said TO me. That boy isn't more than
three years old. is he? / said he was four
oh she said why didn't you take my tip?
Don't you know that If the child is over three he
isn't supposed 20 stay here with you. and you
will have TO go in the patrol TO the station house
and be committed a Vagrant?
We'll. stayed there that night, and in the
morning we got away My friends in goth street
have given me food. One night took refuge on
the 18th street pier, and took off my petticoat
and made a bed for my babies. One night-it
pouring Tain-I sought shelter under some
sheds near a ferryhOuse. When the watchman
saw me he said: That baby will take cold
You just go into the waiting room There's
sofa there you can lie on; but don't let that
bounced for not clearing the waiting room.
"At the Florence Crittenden Mission they kept
me one night for pity, but they are not supposed
10 allow children, and couldn't admit me again.
ing House ,o,,,o. .o, 49,.
just opened at East 64th street, they will only
admit babies who have homes. I, you see, am a
vagrant, and unless am committed as such, and
give my children up no one will help them. No
one, 1t seems, except Hattie here.
Yet I am sure that my husband will soon
have a home for me. He is out OF jail; he is a
good workman and willing to work l do not
say" Mrs Brosnan added that man who
drinks is well calculated to bring up children
as one who is sober. but. after all, it is the
mother who brings up the children. No one can
say that our home immoral. There was
never any quarreng in our home. AS for my
self I willing to do any kind of work that
would enable me to keep my children, but there
are not many kinds of work a woman can do
who has two little ones. and who will have
that these rich charitable societies refuse tenn
porary aid to a mother in distress? And, OH
the insults I have had TO endure in my search
for little help for my babies"
If only foreign diplomas were accepted in
American schools Mrs. Brosnan could easily get
work a teacher. for she was well educated in
Italy. where her girlhood was passed. In those
days her family had wealth, for her father was
DIR. Samuel Appleton Mason, well known man,
at the time Of his death vice. president Of the
Harlem Republican Club. Their wealth went. IL
is said chiefly through the dishonesty of agents
who had their property in charge. Whether Mrs.
Brosnan regrets the impulse which made Miss
Mason marry Patrick BTosnan, ito reform him, y
she does not say. All she says Is that she must
keep her children with her.
The elder one, Patrick Cornelius Brosnan,
jr," he says his name is. is a bright. engag-
ing little fellow. whose chief grief seems to be
that he is dressed in a girls apron.
wis somebodyd div me a suit. cause my
papa didn't det one" he said wistfully.
His papa promised him a suit last time we
explained. 'rhe child has heard people say he
looked shabby, and It hurts his feelings. But
how could keep the child decent, or myself
either dragging about as we have these last