The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-10-31

Tots to Raise-May Adopt More.
While the annual farmers picnic
was in progress in Ravenwood, Mo-, q
few days ago big, comfortable farm
wagon rolled into the grounds and dis
charged its human freight Of nine
happy, hearty boys and girls upon the
grass under the trees. writes a Ra-
venwood correspondent Of the Kansas
City Star. These nine boys and girls
were soon engaged in cleaning all the
Joy that childhood can gather from
candy, peanuts, lemonade and gayly
colored balloons. The oldest child was
fifteen years old, the youngest five,
"An interesting and happy group"
said q stranger. rs it possible that
they all belong to one family?"
''They do and they don't" said BY
stander. "The man and the woman
you see with them are Mr.. and Mrs.
Oliver P. Russ. They are the foster
parents of the entire nine"
Mr.. and Mrs. Russ do not run an
asylum for orphans or a school. They
have taken these nine little folks into
their hearts as well as into their big,
comfortable home, home which be-
yond doubt has not its duplicate in
Missouri and probably not in the ma
ton.
Mr.. and Mrs. Russ have no children
Of their own. They have, however, q
goodly supply Of this worlds goods
and desire to do their part in max
ing the world better and happier. In
the furtherance Of this ideal they have
taken, In all, eleven children under
their roof. One Of these children,
girl. has grown up, married and has
home Of her own. A boy died in young
manhood. OF the nine children they
now have five are girls and four are
boys. Eight were taken from institu-
tions for orphans. One is distant
relative of Mrs. Russ. One Of the old
er girls is a sister Of two Of the boys.
"No, we did not take these children
because we were lonesome" said Mrs.
Russ. 'T was never lonesome In my
life. We were not extravagant. We
had a home. We wanted to accom-
plish some good in the world, but
where and how to do it puzzled US.
At last we fell upon this plan as be-
ing the one most apt to result In the
most good with the time and money
spent"
The home that Mr.. and Mrs. Russ
had was roomy and comfortable
enough for them, but when their famf-
ly began to grow by leaps and bounds
it soon overfowed, and Mr.. Russ had
to enlarge 1t. An addition was built
to the building, and the house now
has thirteen rooms.
Mr.. and Mrs. Russ give their foster
children all the advantages they would
give children Of their own-all the ad-
yantages, in fact, that a well to do
northwestern Missouri farming COM
munity affords. The Russ family home
is one-half mile from a church and
three quarters of a mile from school.
All the children 60 to Sunday school.
Those old enough go to district school.
The girls take music lessons. One OF
them, Mrs. Russ says, with pride,
shows unusual ability. One Of the
younger ones also gives promise Of be-
ing musician.
"The children are not prodigies," said
Mrs. Russ, "but we are pleased with
their work. We believe In heredity to-
a certain extent. We get child with
fine mentality If possible, but we do
not look for that altogether. We seek
moral qualities in the little ones, not
brilliancy of mind. We know at least
a part Of the history Of all the chill
dren. All are Of legal parentage."
"Do you ever become discouraged
and regret having undertaken this
task?" Mrs. Russ was asked.
Never" was the decisive reply.
1--WE considered it well beforehand, but
we were willing to endure it all for
the reward of knowing that we had
done our duty"
Mr.. Russ, a tall, rather heavy man,
with red hair and whiskers, appeared
rather aggrieved that he had been CIV
en- more credit for the work he and
his wife were doing than he believed
be was entitled to. Mrs. Russ gently
objected, but Mr.. Russ insisted.
"What could I do without her inter-
est and cooperation In my plans?" he
asked. 81 can attend to my stock, /
can care for my crops, but this-why,
she has the heavier part"
Mr.. and Mrs. Russ said that they
have fonnd It necessary to Whip only