The San Francisco call., 1909-09-26

who have passed through the Profess
tant orphan asylum So earnestly and
faithfully have the managers of this
institution lowered over their charges
that there would be no sleep o. nights
for them IL anything were going
wrong This extreme conservatism
kept the children quite aloof from the
world When the fiftieth anniversary
was celebrated, the orphans of this
institution were still going TO the home
school. Shortly after this period, how
ever, all the children of sufficient-age
Were enrolled in the nearby public
schools and have given a splendid ac-
count Of themselves. The directors
soon found that they were rearing q
lot of entirely seIf-reIiant children.
The experiment of sending the children
out to school proved most successful
No Children Are Lost
The future of these children and
their home placing has been the mat
ter Of the greatest concern to the
managers. Indentured children have
been closely watched and have been
returned to the asylum when condf-
tions surrounding them have not BEEN
good Regular visiting by the man
ayers had been an important part OF
abandoned children. nor Committed
children. there have been n very few
children eligible for adoption. Tha
majority of the children. even the
whole orphans. have some relative who
Is willing 10 do for them when thsy
are grown One genuine help has come
from @ benevolent woman who haa
taken several boys from the asylum.
carrying them through trying years.
paying them for service. but making
them part OF the family life. One
boy who had the good fortune to be
sent to this homo had money enough
in the bank when he came OF age TO
buy small farm.
The last impression OF the after.
noon given to this "nrst charity In
California" was OF the nursery tuss
at cradle time. Toddlers undressed In
an adjoining room. were climbing into
their little beds which had been In
vitingly prepared for them.
One Of the most recent arrivals. stfl1
homesick for the mother who had lust
gone forever. had been carefully tucked
in her bed by the gentlewoman In at
tendance and given her Teddy bear for
comfort, the'on which had been placed
In her arms but a short time ago by
the youn ng>mother so full OF hope for
her little one. Half frightened and al
together strange. this baby lay perfect
ly quiet; her quivering eyelids were
not to be opened for the coaxing But
she will be cuddled and soon will be
one of the chattering little throng hang
ing over the end of their cribs dron-
ing
Now lay me down to sleep'-
with God bless me and make me q
good child" at the end.
This evening prayer in which every
So was lisped and every long word
struggled with. was said in a unison.
strange and wonderfully intoned. with
no two little ones saying the same
word at the same time and no two
keeping on the same high key. But
every small boy swayyd to the rhythm
given the prayer.
Soon each baby head was comforts
ably pillowed after God had been in
voked for his blessing; there was soma
chattering back and forth. from one
crib to another and then. one by one.
the sleepy voices were hushed. After
a very short time all was quiet for
fat little legs had taken fat little bod
les on u merry trot since sun up"
These tots slid away in lullaby land
even though daylight was still trying
to get through the long green curtains
that had been drawn.
The next article of this series VIII
tell Of life at ths Boys Aid