New-York tribune., 1909-07-21
WEE WAGE FARMERS
Sometimes the FMnd Mast Make Up
Pay That They May Go A1cdy.

Workers for the Tribune Fresh Air Fund often
have the greatest difficulty in persuading parents
to let their children 20 into the country 1t Is not
because the fathers and mothers are unWlllng that
they should go, but they cannot afford to let them
stay away for two weeks. Very often cases are
found where little girl. nine or ten years Old is
one of the wage earners of the family Instances
exist whore the city missions have been compelled
to pay the parents the amount of money the chill
+ dren would before they would allow them to
be taken into the country. This seems AT hrst
surprising but when the circumstances are con-
sidered the for this attitude are more evil
dent ga
The combined labor Of mother and daughter,
working from twelve to fourteen hours day,
often brings only So or So at the end Of week
for the support of a family Of small children. and
the absence of the little girl in the country for
two weeks means material financial loss to the
family. Sometimes the fund is able to send away
all the children Of family at the same time.
thus cutting down the expenses of a home 50 that
the mother has only herself support for the
time being
Louise is thirteen years old. and the workers
at the Rroome Street Tabernacle have been en-
deavoring to send her the country. She IS the
oldest Of family Of five Her mother is widow.
Together they wcrk home. finishing gloves after
they have come from the machines. Seyenty-tve
cents dozen pair is the best they get for
the work. The little girl needed the fresh. air
badly, and her mother wanted her go. but
couldn't afford 70 lose the cents she earned
during the day. Arrangements were made 10 take
her away. hut only too often II happens that little
be done relieve situation Ike this
one girl only ten years OF must STAY az home
this summer 70 help earn the s. a week which she
and her mother get for many hours Of sewing. Her
father is crippled with rheums tism, and mother
and daughter forced support him Four
cents dozen FOR making towelsNis all one mother
gets 70 support a family Of six. The little chill
dren who work contribute very largely To the
livelihood % the family in cases or this Find These
gre the children that the Tribune Fresh Air Fund
1a-F1 F,-~- l0-
hours OF work and confinement are serious handi-
cap 10 their health.
Among the children who recently won't 70 the
Eunice Home. Chapel Hill Y. !. little
rrl slightly twelve years Of age. whose care
face attracted the attention of the attendant
once on the way from the station 70 the home
the girl sat in the carriage silently adoring the
green fields and trees 4 faint smile PLAYED from
time 10 tirne over her pale. thin face. which was
otherwise as serious though she bore the burden
of an entire family on her shoulders. She
fded to the attendant how she happened to come:
Il was ironing she said. when they and
said ] could come 10 the country Oh, was 50
glad, I'd Il had all day. cause there are
FIVE children and I the oldest Now cs pick
daisies. cant -
As the children return the city from the dIf-
ferent homes their words and actions would in
dicate that their happiness had been complete
during their vacation. one OF the most popular
homes Is Ashford FIjll one little boy returning
from that home this week declared that q was
more better than last year When asked Just
what better he replied.
Everything was more better. The shadow pict-
ures were more better. the InJuns more
better and the ice cream more better. and the
ice cream " he added. 81 to atone for any dis
loyalty. was awful good isst year"
one hundred and eigh-y children were sent away
Yesterday. Seventy~one Of this number went TO
Utica. \. y. twenty-five 20 Claverack thirteen To
Carlisle Penn. hr,y-siN - Albion. y. y, and
fifteen To Warwick TWenty-four children returned
from Clayerack and eight from Rushvile.
The manager appreciates very much the Increased
contributions which have come IN the last few
days. They Of material assistance 20 him IN
planning Tor ~" work for the many large parties
which are scheduled 20 next week