The Washington times., 1916-10-19
.urseryat Settlement
Had Unusual Origin
And Fills Real Need

The Day Nursery at Friendship
House had its origin in a rather un-
usual way. Before the residents
there had thought seriously OF open
Ing day nursery, they had one
literally thrust upon them. mother
In the neighborhood had been i'll for
weeks, and, true to its name, Friend
ship House had stretched out It's
neighboriy hand to her and said. III
we can help you in any way. call
upon u.s."
SO, one morning. one of the older
house, carrying the baby of the fam
ily In her arms. and asked IL they
would keep the baby there for
while. as its crying made the mother
The little while" proved to be
matter of Ave months. for. two days
after the removal OF the baby, the
isther contracted typhoid fever and
little while after died. Meanwhile,
the baby. which had been sadly neg
lected at the home OF the sick mother.
grew and thrived at Friendship
House. and other mothers who were
perplexed to know what to do with
TO Friendship House for help. 80,
never since that day, six years ago,
has the nursery been empty Twenty
four children is its capacity now,
ana there Is always a waiting list.
Nursery Is Unique, .
The nursery In unique in every re-
spect. There are no iron bound rules
for the opening and the ciosing OF the
doors. which might bar out the very
Children who need the care. II the moth
or has to go to work very early, she
may send her child to, the nursery be-
fore breakfast. and the child may stay
all day and have his supper there, II the
| case demands IL. .f...
| In special cases. such as an Illness in
the home or some other emergency, a
limited number Of children may be kept
there at night. as well as in the day
| time IT,
But the settlement makes a careful In
| restigation in the case of each appli-
cant. and children are received only
when real need is shown. Those who
| reap the benefits OF the day nursery
may be divided into three classes, moth
erless children whose fathers are striv-
ing TO keep home. those whose moth
ers are compelled TO work and those
whose mothers are Ill.
The need for an institution OF this
KIND Is shown by the fact that not only
do the mothers of the southeast take ad'
vantage OF the nursery, but children
are sometimes brought from the far
distant sections OF the city down &c
Friendship House every day. because
there In no nearer place where they car
be cared for. One mother used to brine
her child from Soldiers Home. and
another one now comes daily from tn,
Columbia Heights section.
Fees Vary With Income.
The fee charged varies according &c
the income of the parents and the de
mands upon 1t. With very few excep
lions. the mothers and fathers WHIT
make use OF the nursery are deeply ap
preciative and desire to contribute al
much as they can toward the support
OF the work One letter was received n
, Friendship House by a mother who's
. boy was In the nursery for some time
1t shows, according to the workers. tn,
feeling held by the parents whose chill
dren have been kept at Friendship
House. Part OF the letter follows:
. For two years" writes the mother
81 was confronted with the question o
who will take care OF my boy. and hoy
will / find him when | get home? Jus
, or any God in this world. But Just a
this time. a friend came and told m
about Friendship House, and advise
I me to go and see about 1t. Thus. 81
years ago. did your lights so shine a
to become n beacon in the stormies
part of my life. ! came the very nigh
, I was told about you. and ! was me
at the door by a friendly. loving house
next morning and arrange with tn
. head worker the next evening,
, Friendship House has formed a soil
foundation for the education and prac
truer and better citizen. The things
has done for me and helped me to d
are innumerable, and II has brought m
through these years to realize tina