The evening world., 1908-12-18
Supt., Jenkins and Justice Ohm
sted Interested in Case of
Little Miss Lawrence.
TT WAS HER OWN IDEA.
Tired of Being a Nurse Girl,
She Wants to Study, Also
.' to Play.

A quaint little pilgrim OF fourteen.
htg-eyed, raven-tressed lassie, with
trim little figure and bewitchins smile,
has sought shelter with the Children's
Society and appealed for an education.
To-day she is holding an audience with
Supt. Jenkins and Justice Olmsted, who
confess that they are vastly interested
in the little miss. ana her earnest plea
that she be freed from the drudgery of
caring for peevish babies.
She appeared in the offices OF the
Children's Society yesterday afternoon.
her hair and her little blue cloak pow
dered with snow. her cheeks ruddy as
q pippin and her brown eyes swapping
brightly.
II am Elizabeth Lawrence" she said
TO the clerk, and l want a home.
have no real home and have no school
to 60 TO. There are so many things
want thai other little girls have, and
vixen I saw you- 81 outside the door
I came IN"
Solemn Clerk Thaws.
Then she smiled on the solemn. Sc
overlooking clerk. He instantly called
one OF the housekeepers and said:
This little girl has story to tell
and she seems to be out in tho cold.
Sec what Il is that she wants"
The housekeeper took little Miss Law
rence upstairs where It WAS warm and
where there was great chirp OF chill
6rens' voices.
The child appeared delighted with her
surroundings. but as she was taking og
her little cloak she paused and sad 70
the housekeeper with a w!stful appeal:
II won't have TO tend any babies
here?" She had heard the cry of an
infant from distant room.
mo, dear" said the housekeeper,
kindly, we have grown-up nurses for
our babies"
II am so glad OF that" said the little
pilgrim. for have had three wears OF
nothing but babies and baby carriages
and wheeling them and hushing them.
with not moment for myself to play or
read books"
Then she began TO tell her story, iust
rs she retold It to-day TO Justice Ohm
sted and Mr.. Jenkins.
Brought Up by an Aunt.
ney. Pa. little mining town. Her
parents were poor and both died in her
Infancy. When two years old she had
Been brought 70 this city TO live with
an aunt. She Lal remained 10 the nome
of the aunt until three years ago. when
Il was decided that she was old and
strong enough TO earn her own living
as a nurse girl Since then she has been
Q servant.
Now, you see," said the child 20 the
kindly Justice of tho Chidren's Court,
that ! have had no really home, and
no books and schooling and no play.
think ] ought 10 have both. but most
ly l want TO know things, do not
want to be servant and tied all my
life to crying babies. 1 want to read
books and know what pictures mean. l
try TO read everything, but don't know
what Il means. and I would know IL I
could only go to school.
Then l would like TO be able to play
about Just a little. want to be free TO
DO some little things that would make
me happy. without hearing all the time
"Don't do this and don't do that Don't
you think n llttls girl Ike me, who
really wants to know things and read
books, and laugh now and then just as
hard as l ever can, ought to have some
OF these things"
Justice o!mstcd certainly thought so.
Ole said that II her case was Just as
che stated II. she would certainly-be re-
lioved from her small slavery to crying
babies.
A Bright Child.
Y ,.t1,a
brighter or more attractive child than
this little pilgrim who comes to US seek
ing knowedge and freedom said JUS
fioe Olnsted Today. she seems 80 alb
nsolutely ingenious and honest that |
hone all that sha has told us VIII prove
rue. Her mind is just as sharp and
Keen as It can be, and her disposition so
sunny that your heart goes out to her
The moment she begins talking.