New-York tribune., 1906-07-26
THESE NEED NO NURSE.
Many Fresh dir Children Ablt
to Care for Themselves.

One of the striking things about fresh work Is
the ability of young children TO take care of them
selves. Children that are so young that il they
were IN some homes they would never be allowed
out of sight of nursemaid look after themselves
as though they had been accustomed 20 do il all
their lives. as indeed most Of them have.
In the party leaving the city for Mexico n. Y,
Tuesday night. little girl who looked scarce
ly five years old. carrying a bundle almost as big
as she was She came TO the station with the other
children. but so far as she associated with them
she might have been alone. When she reached the
station she calmly seated herself short distance
from the rest of the party with her bundle beside
her. Only once did she leave her seat, and that
was TO walk unconcernedly over to the drinking
fountain. get drink and then return.
When the signal 20 start given, she fell In
behind the rest of the party and boarded the cars
stih carrying her bundle. When she reached her
seat she calmly took off her dress and lay down,
evidently intent on getting a good nights rest
While the girl was waiting in the station. another
little girl OF five in, but with her hand tightly
clasped in that OF her mother. In contrast to the
others cheap red cotton garment. she wore
starched white dress, white stockings and shoes
and jaunty little hat. She had not been seated
very long before she was heard TO say;
Mamma, mamma, want drink'
Her mother arose, led her over TO the drinking
fountain, and. after Tinsing the cup out carefully
held it while her little girl drank from It. Then
she led her daughter back to the seat. There the
little one leaned her head in her mothers lap and
was soon fast asleep.
Such is the contrast between some CT the chill
dren who go TO the country through the Tribune
Fresh Air Fund and those who live in well-to-dO
homes. Fresh air children are able to look after
themselves because they have 70. They have been
accustomed to do it ever since they were able TO
walk.
It is no uncommon thing to find a girl Of eight
or nine who Is not only capable OF looking after
herself, but who has complete charge OF two or
three younger children. These little nurses. pick
essary If one of her tiny sisters is car Sick and
an attendant IS not around, the older sister does
Most OF the children, if they are sick on the
train, 90 not think Of asking for help from the
person in charge. An attack Of nausea with them
to be grinned and endured. short time ago a
Tribune reporter accompanied party of small
years old. Several were sick on the train and yet
nov one made any sort OF an appeal to the attend
For some, Of the children the only real bit of
dh that ,be they get during the year comes
entertairs them in the country. II is true that
there are cases where a child is homesck after
reaching the country. but severe cases of this
that when the time comes 10 go back to the city
there are loud walls Of distress
In the party that returned from BinghaMlton
terday was little girl whom a Tribune reporter
asked whether she wanted 20 come home or not
Ne, No was" was the reply.
4" Cause the lady was good TO me. played all
There were one hundred and seventy children in
the party that returned from BlnghamtOn yester-
time of their lives"
When they saw the attendants waiting for them
Il wish We was going. instead of coming back"
Only. two parties left the city. yesterday. One
Windsor, n. Y To-day however, more than three
hundred children viii leave the city.