Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-07
POOR MOTHER GIVES
CHILD TO WEALTHY
WOMAN FROM SOUTH
Camden Parent Surrenders
Girl in Hope That She
May Have Better Home
With Strangers.

II, Mrs. Amelia Sauts of my own free
will and accord. hereby agree to surren-
der all future mother rights to my daugh-
ter Amelia. 10 years old. I also agree to
permit Mrs Ralph Sheldon to adopt my
child"
a poor mother. making her living as a
washwoman, and cultured and wealthy
lady met in the parlor of a cottage in
West Colllngswood N. j.. today, and
signed their names to this agreement.
Before the ink on the legal document
had dried. u mother suddenly made child
less. and q childless wife who became a
foster-mother, were on their way to their
respective homes.
Some day Amelia Saust, who until this
morning was an inmate of the Mary J..
Ball Day Nursery. in Camden, will be-
come the heiress of large estate. She
will be aboard Pullman car tonight,
bound for San Antonio. Texas.
The adoption of Amelia Saust who
never knew what 1t meant to have a good
home, nice dresses, spending money, auto
mobile rides and attending private schools
is the result OF wealthy woman's search
for a homeless girl.
Four years ago Mrs. Ralph Shedden,
who is the wife of q prominent physician
in san Antonio, Tex, made up her mind
to find u homeless girl and make her
happy. The Sheddens have never had
children. They own farms, ranches and
automobiles. Often they discussed who
their future heirs would be.
HAD LONG SEARCH.
Mrs. Shedden left her home with one
purpose in mind. to find girl she and her
husband could adopt. Her Journey led
her to many large cities, She visited
asylums and nurseries. A week ago she
reached Camden.
While visiting her sister, Mrs. Christ
man, who lives at 10 Nagill avenue,
West Collingswood, she heard of the
Mary j. Ball Nursery. Patrons of the
nursery told Mrs. Shedden of the many
orphan and homeless children who were
living In that institution.
1t did not take long for the news to
spread in West Collingswood that from
the South society woman had come to
Camden to adopt a poor child. Letters
began to reach Mrs. Shedden Mothers
from many parts of South Jersey wrote
that they were willing to have Mrs. Shed
den adopt their child.
II want little girl who will call me
mamma and my husband papa" said Mrs.
Shedden, when she called at the Mary ].
Ball Nursery.
Matron N1cEwen led the visitor to one
OF the dormitories Among the children
on the floor was dark eyes and black
haired Amelia.
"MAMMA A POOR LADY"
"Have you mother?" asked Mrs.
Shedden
Eyes, and my mamma is poor lady"
replied Amelia in a gentle and half
frightened tone.
Mrs shedden then made up her mind
TO adopt Amelia.
Mrs Saust was informed of Mrs. She'd
denis desire to adopt her child A meet
ing was arranged When Mrs. Saust
heard Mrs. Shedden's proposition, she
said:
my daughter never knew what It was
to have good home. Often she has
gone without food for days. My hus-
band doesn't work and when he does
he earns small wages. love Amelia,
but I am willing to part with her il /
can be assured that she will have a bet
ter home"
County Prosecutor William Kraft
agreed to help in arranging the adoption
proceedings, which was officially agreed
upon today.
Mrs. Saust went to West collingswood
today to say goodbye to her child, II is
probably the last time that she viii sac
her child
Five mothers were present at the time
when the two women signed the adoption
papers. Some of them wept. Mrs Saust
walked out OF the parlor and, as she
reached the street. she waved her hand
to her daughter who stood at the win
dow.