New-York tribune., 1906-07-31
THE ONE BRIGHT SPOT
Memories of Fresh Air" Outing
Restrain Nan from Crime.

THE one bright spot in my life IS what
dOWnfallen man who came under the notice &C
missionary connected with the Spring Street Pres
hyterian Church in this city. called the few weeks
which he spent in the country ten years ago as a
fresh air. child This man came TO the Spring
street church several days ago a gospel meeting
He seemed interested. and after the service by
missionary engaged him in conversation gradually
drawing out the story OF his life.
1t seems that encouragement because Of lack CT
work had driven him to drinking He told OF the
hardships of his life from childhood, Of his wretched
home. of early years of struggle with poverty. Of
looking Cor work finding II. then losing his place;
then another struggle, and, finally, the resort
to drink He said that the only friends he had had
since his mother died. while he was still young.
was a family in OIL City Penn. where in 1885 he
sent as a fresh air boy. The following year
he was invited back. These four weeks spent in
the country were the only part OF his life which
he looked back en- with qualification.
Suddenly the man put his hand in his pocket and
said. I am going to do it, And as he handed
a jimmy TO the missionary he continued;
was going 10 steal tonight, for the first time
owe IS rent. and am TO be put out to-morrow. but
l will not steal for it. Do you know that the only
h ng sor Ina5 mas a Id kePs e e e s9enI in o cY h
kindness which received there and the lessons that
taught at the same time cannot 0e IOr-
gotten Many times, when / have been cut or
work with nothing 20 eat have been G 5enp5so , 10 %
the thought OF that time Tonight had almost
II back TO me.
The missionary investigated the case and found
that the story told by the was true His rent
was paid and he was helped TO md work When
the friends in Oil City written TO, they were
not slow in sending him letter Of friendship and
encouragement In ending the story about this
the minister said:
He is a good able-bodied man. still young and
was onlv fbs rnen1oTv Of those days in a Christian
family that made change of life possible for him
country would realize the possibilities there are in
that wonderful work.
It would be difficult 10 tell just how many chill
dren the Tribune Fresh Aid Fund sends out IN
whose lives the two weeks Spent in the country is
the one bright spot" two-roOm apartment
into which is crowded a family OF eight or zen IS
not a good place 20 cultivate either health or
morals Add to this drunken father. mother. or
both. and the duty Of protecting and even feeding
himself falls largely the child, and it is not
markable that he learns 20 steal
Only the worst cases that the Fresh Air Fund
sends out from these conditions. but il meets
with just such conditions every day. In the cOun-
try the child is placed on higher moral and social
level Numerous instances come to notice where
this change is enough to transform the life OF the
There were ninety-eight in the only party
O'Clock last night bound for fYerent points on the
Erie Railroad. In this party was a girl OF ten
father both hard drinkers mas beer. doing al
the housework. She also takes care OF the two
The names OF those who viii care for the chill
WellsviIle. n Y.-Mrs. P F, Wall Mrs. P C
Brown Mrs. Jones' Mrs Frank Freeman, z J.
Leach Eva c. Francesca. Mrs. Foster. Frank H.
Payne. Mrs. a. n. Dickinson AIrs- F. u. Elliot
and Mrs. A Groves.
Friendship. n. Y.-SIrs. L. v Howard.
Auegany, N Y.-Mrs Linderm.
Cuba n. Y-The Rev. Edwin D Hardin. Mrs.
Josie Brown. Mrs. F. B. Simpson Mrs E J. Cool
edge, John NJ Hill. Mrs, John Brown Mrs. B. G.
Phillips. Mrs FIorizeI Guilford. Mrs. Roy Grove
William German. John Sloan, Mrs H. Demcey,
Claude De Kay, Frank WillOver. Mrs. o. P. Brown,
Mrs. James, Welcome Cole. H G. Wagner Mrs.
z. Prentice. Mrs. Fred J. BabcOck Mrs. Bryan,
Mrs. George Park. Mrs. Charles Gee, Mrs. Edward
Amsden and Dr. Young
Atlanta N Y-Mrs z. Lyon, Mrs. J. Jones' Mrs.
3. Washburn, Mrs. w. RaWley and Simeon Lyon.
COhOctOn, n. Y.-The Rev J. ". TOrkingtou.
John EdmOnds. Mrs W. s. Caward. Mrs. G. Ca
ward and Mrs S. Abbot
Avon, N Y.-Rachel a. Brewster