The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-12-30
One Charity Different From Another
Charity.
CDR. G. g. BroXn.N

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To be left motherless is a great
misfortune. but not the sorest that
can befall a child. To have a mother
VINO Is a cast-a-way-whose name the
child cannot bear-of whom the
child must be ashamed in he after
years-this Is misfortune heaped IN
on misfortune.
something over a half mile from
my home out in the Columbia sub
urDs' Is the Rescue orphanage, whose
representative In the State is our
brother, Rev. Carlile Courtenay. The
trustees and managers, all good ana
kindly men, live here in Columbia.
and Mr.. William Devant, the active
superintendent, lives in a house at
the entrance to the grounds.
Ny first visit, some months ago.
was made in obedience to an invita-
ton to preach to the children. Since
then, upon the least provocation. nv
car turns its head in that direction,
and / find myself loving to go there.
When a visitor comes in, and I need
entertainment for him, I take him to
ride-out to the Rescue orphanage.
I want everybody to know the place
to see 1t. When I go there the chill
dren gather about me-mavbe be-
cause now and then 1 give some OF
them q ride-and seem to want me
to talk to them. There are now A
hundred and twelve of them from all
sections OF the State. of all sizes and
ages up to fourteen or fifteen years.
In the front porch. which is o
erly screened, there are six or eight
little beds with high sides, and In
each is q ohatteriny child. rolling
ffom aIdS @ sue. dr-nofdFhgr TO the
railing In the effort to stand up. A
few Of them I know by name
George and Moss and Sumter and
Leo and Ruby and Jappe. Their sur
names I have neve heard. In fact
they are supposed to have no sur
names. Their mothers in some cases
are harlots or %drunkards or human
wrecks Of some kind, whose names
would be but a curse to them. In
one bed I uncovered the head of q
tiny baby, only a day or two old, that
had been picked up at the union sta
ton. Out in front of the main build
ing the yard was alive with boys and
girls All around is the farm, the
garden, the chicken yards-in all OF
which the little ones are being
taught to work, so as to bring in
some ven to the institution and
to make themselves of some worth.
Many Of these little ones must
bear the burden of a curse for which
they are not responsible. The in
EQUITIES OF \ father and mother fell
upon them. To the grave, whether
1t be near OF far, they must carry n
secret which they themselves cannot
explain about father and mother. II
they had not been gathered into this
home they would soon have taken
their places in that dull line which
marches on to fill up the ranks OF
thieves and prostitutes. A thought
full and helpful charity has thrown
an institution across their pathway,
in which they find shelter from i'm
pending evils.
To one side is the last building
erected, a combined school and chap
ell. and here it is hat faithful women
are seeking to make good the alb
sence Of mother. Now and then
some loving soul. whose home is
childless. is allowed to adopt one OF
the little fellows, according to GER
tain prescribed legal forms-to
make the adopted one a child, but
not a servant. In his way the
number Of inmates is kept down to
the capacity Of the institution. /
have seen a childless mother stan
there among the little ones and look
on and wonderland weep. And
sure 1t is enough to move any hear,
that is not callous beyond all feeline
to stand there and gaze upon their
and hear their prattle, and think how
little they know of the fearful handi.
cap with which they begin life. One
comes away assured that there is M
superior charity anywhere; that thi,
Is the supremest-a whole flock Of
little ones, not only to be made into
something by kindly teaching. bu,
first to be unmhde and, in many
cases, to be taught away from al
that they have ever learned. Tt
make u real man out of one OF tho
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