Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-19

aSter VIC find this mother to be, could
not be unmarried and have two children
Both were born in wcdlock.
What, then, OF the father? Had the
mother deserted him? lie mny have
been brutal, given TO drink, abusive. Why
not? The physical condition Of the boy,
as found by the medical examination
later. showed he could not have been
born Of dlssolute. diseased Or alcoholic
parents. We know the mother had not
been living with her husband for at least
two years before the boy waa deserted.
we know this because the boy did not
know the name of father. We know the
mother did not desert her husband be.
cause she was a religious woman.
How do we know this? On the day
following his legal adoption, his first
day in his new home at Eyndhnrst, Finley
took his first plunge In the great warm
enclosed pool on the estate. number
OF visitors had come to see him, and he
was enthusiastic about the swim.
I've been swimming" said he. And
when ] grow up I'm going to swim the
HUDSON River and the ocean. Oh, no. !
can't swim yet--Im only learning You
know put wings on--those big white
wings like angels, You put them under
your arm"
Clearly and Enthusiastically tho BOYS
imagery in likening swimming boy TO
angels wings shows that he had been
taught about angels. The mother who
told her little boy Of the white winged
ones who watch over children was there
tore a picus woman. Of deep religious con-
victions, and one who would not desert
her husband. The husband died before
the child began to prattle. Then the
nj
self with two children TO support She
was compelled to earn her living, and
she did this only by hard work Aside
from being religious, what more do we
know of the character of this mother?
She was scrupulously honest and
truthful woman. Many children like to
boast. Not 30 Finley Shepard, Jr.
Proud as he was. OF his swim, ambitious
To swim the Hudson River and the ocean,
he would not give the idea he had been
actually swimming, but volunteered the
information that he was only learning
lest his visitors be mistaken. This
shows that, from the time impres sions
were first made, he was trained 10 tell
the truth. He was never encouraged 10
boast. His mother was punctilious, al.
most Puritanical in the matter OF hon
esty.
His Mother Abandoned Him
QUE of Self-Sacri6ein9 Devotion
The mother VINO would desert a child
could certainly not care much for that
child, II was argued. Religious and truth
full perhaps. but could she have been
tender? She was compassionately ten
der and loving. The boy had never
been spanked or bulied. We know this
because he showed no fear OF adults and
because-in Mr.. Shepard's words-"he
never squalled." Children who are mis-
treated are given to petulence and cry
Ing. This boy had never been threat
ened.
Parentless children harshly reared do
not cuddle on wonen's breasts nor wind
their arms about their neck Finley
Shepard, Jr,, was nursed from baby
hood upon the milk Of devoted moth
er's most tender, most solicitous, most
cherishing love- He learned 10 respond
to the potent chord OF human sympathy
and love, and when he wound his arms
about the neck of Helen Gould Shepard
he instlnctively answered the call of ma
ternai tenderness known before his baby
lips began to lisp.
teaching her boy of angels, rigid in train
Ing him in truth, doting in her selfsacri
flcing devotion-have cast him upon the
mercy OF the world?
An unmarried mother. mother who
has lost her self-respect. would do this
under certain circumstances and condi
tons. Why did this mother, married,
respectable, send forth her child, pcnni.
less, virtually nameless? Why did sha
cast forth the boy and not the girl?
Because she was poor? We know she
cared for the child for three years and
more under conditions yarging on priya,