The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-03

They are I'VE. these little Gray orphans.
who are stin wondering what il all means
this sudden, strange. unaccountable abb
sence OF papa and mamma" gone TO
that bourne from which no one returns.
The orphanE. knowing naught OF Death
or Of its mysteries, have mistaken conf
dence that thsy win come home soon, re-
gardless of what these kind. sad. sympa-
thizlng strangers tell them.
Louise. the second OF the children. a
bright pretty girl of thirteen. Just enter
ing high school, faces the crisis bravely.
She is just aching to cry, but she is
afraid 90. Amid heartbreak, she can
smile. and smile so that the youngsters
are lutte deceived. That is the work she
has set out TO do-to keep up the spirits
OF the little Ones, and not let them know
that papa and mamma are gone forever.
and that the utter desolation Of orphan
hood is before them.
They have their little home out In Tux
edo, Nd, and even if it lee now empty and
cheerleSs, it Is still a home-the only one
they have ever known. How much better
II is than an asylum. or institution, where
cared for, they do not know, and il is the
intention of the benevolent people Of this
communt " that they never will know
For the home VIII not be abandoned.
Home 10 he Retained.
To be sure. the cottage is now incum-
bered with an $500 mortgage, and payment
Of the principal IS overdue. But even
with this handicap. it viii not be sur
rendered. Far from it, There VIII be no
disDiriung scene Of hve children cast out
in the cold by money lenders. The COM
munity viii see to that
The sun is already shining. Nearly
$500 has been subscribed through various
sources. and more is coming. The tide
OF charity is steadily rising. From day
TO day it swells and flows forward with
renewed impetus. The children do not
know how many hearts have been
wrenched by the tragedy which engulfed
them; DO not know how many good deeds
have been prompted by them but a few
weeks before Yuletide
A. meeting at Tuxedo, Md, last even
ing. committee was appointed to receive
FUNDS Tor the temporary support OF the
Gray orphans. composed OF the following:
d 7
and Mrs. McKeon, aunt Of the children.
This committee Will devote all money
contributed 10 the immediate relief of
the children, and the amounts so received
viii not conflict in any manner with the
other subscription. conducted by The
Washington Herald. for the raising OF
the mortgage on the home.
AS soon as the $500 mark IS reached.
the mortgage Incubus viii be lifted, and
the home Will belong 10 the little family
without a single string attached TO IT.
IL will even be tax free, for under the
laws Of Maryland a home held for minors
is immune from the assessors. Il Is
theirs, and no power in the world can
take it from them. Until they are OF
age they cannot dispose of 1t.
Need OF Funds Imperative.
The raising OF this mortgage is i'm
perative and contributions should not be
delayed With the land. the house is
easily worth $1.J0O. there being four lots
involved. Clothing. food. details of the
care of the children can wait-the present
work must be 10 raise the mortgage.
Little Aloysius. only four years old, still
watches for my candy" His mother
promised to bring him some from Wash
ington. He watched long at the window
that night. and watched in vain. For
mamma never came home. Then he fell
asleepg but he has not forgotten that
candy.
The extent of the sympathy In Wash
ington may be gagged by the many sepa-
arate collections which are being or
gained Employees OF the engraving
department of the Geological Survey sub
seribed so in a few minutes. In addi-
ton. subscriptions are being taken in the
Patent Office. Pension Office, the Treas
ury Department, the Government Print
ing Office, and elsewhere. and in many
department stores and other establish
ments
Working at Tuxedo.
In addition TO The Washington Herald
subscription list, which now totals S2lS.
Arthur j. Cherryholmes. oR Tuxedo, is
enllsting the interest Of the people OF
that section, and Miss Ethel Pryor, a
friend of the family, is doing the same
The following letter was received by
Miss Pryor yesterday:
Enclosed please find S from afTR. Mounicastle. OF
Brightwood, d. C.. member Of my church. for
the Gray children, whose parents were recently
killed by a tFain Through she wished 10 express
her sympathy for them in their loss.
Faithfully yours.
HOWARD G. ENGLAND.
ST. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Rock Creek Parish.