The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-03
Big LEE is HEARTBROKEN
has TO PART WITH TWd OF HIS
PICKANINNIES.

and Spectators STORY Of . Darby
Couples Happy Hfe-NO Picks OF Their
Own. They Adopt Three Stray Babies
taking on as he did yesterday in the Chill
dren's Court, and when he broke down and
cried as his two little pickaninnies were led
away even Justice zeller and the policemen
on the bridge turned their heads. Big
Lee didn't want to be parted from the little
darkies. and it was only after a heap Of
thinking and worrying that he finally con-
Guided it would be better for them to be
under more watohful care until the "ole gal
comes zach in the fall. Then they will be
returned to him, for Justice Teller. after
telling Lee what a great, fine fellow he was.
promised to do everything in his power TO
restore the children to him.
They seldom meet men Of Lee Crawford's
calibre in the Children's Court. and that is
why they made such a fuss over him yes
terday. He cam, into court with two little
lads as black as himself and sat for four
hours In a far corner Of the room. And
then. just as the clerk announced that the
court stood ready to adjourn, he timidly
advanced to the bar and started to unfold
his story.
heSSh yNoio NV DB DOOt eAo St1hN vi
the darkies working on the levee down in
Louisville, KY, became the happIest roust-
about when he led Susan johnson to the par
son and had her change her name to Craw-
ford. No darby ever sang with more
fervor or enthusiasm than Lee. and when
he went dow to the wharf one bright spring
morning and announced hat Susan John
son was now Mrs. Crawford they made
merry the whole day long. And from that
day IN Big Lee just chuckled and laughed
from morn till night and kept telling the
other roustabouts how sorry he was that
there weren't more Susan Johnsons, so
everybody could be as happy as he.
Three years elapsed and Big Lee came
down TO tbs levee one day sad OF heart.
There were to be no p~ickaninnies in his
family. They told hin he ought to be glad
that there would be no brats TO bother him,
but Lee looked upon them with scorn and
told them only a baby would complete his
happiness. True. it was a hard struggle
to keep a-going at that. but Just the same he
and Susan longed for a pickaninny and be-
cause there was to be none both were sad
Of heart.
One night twelve years ago Lee and Susan
were sitting on a wharf looking out on the
Ohio River when they heard cries coming |
from behind a bale OF cotton, and by the light
Of the moon they beheld three black babies.
two boys and a girl. not moro than three ,
weeks old. Their prayers had been an
swered threefold. Things weren't going
very we'll on the levee in those days, but
hard as times we're Lee and Susan told them |
selves that Providence had sent the little
ones to them.
There was no doubt that the p~ickaninnies
had been abandoned, and Lee and Susan
felt free TO adopt them. which they did with
out any delay, The care OF three infants
was a heavy burden on Susan, but she was
too happy and too thankful to complain
and the tots got as much love and care as
il they were her own.
Hard times came in the South, and Lee,
with the money he and Susan had saved,
came to New York, A massive fellow,
strong as an OK and eager to work, he had
little difficulty In getting a job on the docks.
They got a little fiat at 3il West Fifty-ninth
street and furnished 1t as nicely as could be.
And not q cloud appeared on their horizon
until six months ago, when Lee fell down the
hatchway of a Ward Line steamship and
was so severely injured that he had TO quit
his Job.
The children. Oscar. Eddie and Susan.
now ~ years old. were too young to be OF
any help, and when the family finances
dwindled down the mother had to 90 out
TO work. But employment in the city
wasn't steady, and when she received an
offer to 60 as cook In the country home
OF a broker on Long Island a month ago
she took IL. Little Susan was able to look
after tho house. blu Oscar and Eddie,
who'attended the Nfty-eighth street school,
scampered around during the day. played
and oftimes got Into trouble. With
the foster mother away. Big Lee unable |
TO work and look after the youngsters,
be feared something would befall them,
as once Eddie got In with a gang Of bad
II would be better for him TO put the
boys away until the nanny returns home |
Long Island In the fall
II took Lee a long. time to reconcile
he thought II would be best in the end,
and yesterday he escorted the two lads
the Children's Court and asked that
hey be committed.
10 act O charity he said. FHh insist pom
'ayin' fob DER bos'd. an In dab fall. wen
nanny come back, dab picks come home
Igin. All kin work ies' n little now an
dab rent; Susie kin tend house, AN till
Iin't got 10 kick agin' Oscar an Eddie, Il
bot good boys. but Ah'm 'fraid Y
lab kids II GIT into trubble. jest like kids
Sil wen dere's no nanny Dh 70 tend 9
Big Lee explained 70 Justice ZeIler that o
le never let the children know that they X
weren't his own. and when he told the Court il
he and Susan found the three little
'nsS twelve tive years q aS e. lSd leaned oyer the Z s
And when Lee had concluded his story O
uktice Teller reached out his hand and y
that Of the big negro vigorously.
mir. Crawford, you are one Of the finest e.
nd best men ever met In my life" lie said,
and this world wouldn't be no had II there n
we're more like you. I'll commit these boys
o the Brooklyn Howard Colored Orphan i.
and when your wife comes back O
D the fall Ill do my utmost TO restore the 81
oys 20 you. Once / commit them ! haven't b
power TO take them from the asylum. G.
don't think you'll have the slightest q
In getting them. When you are n
sadly 10 takeTthem home come and see me Lei
rat and III leave no stone unturned 20 "
them 70 YOU n
The boys didn't Ike the idea Of being D