The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-11-26
The Pearl Eagan / Tonne
! and the HOUSE =Mother

is red-headed Eddie, the dearest boy |
in the world. W
These children are at the home
through no fault of their own.
The Mother.
Perhaps the public, and even those
who are closely associated with the
Pearl Eagan Home, hardly realize the
good fortune in having at the head of
the home such a woman as Mrs.
Eldridge, real mother to the
children who are placed in her
care A great love for children
beats in Mrs. Eldridge,s warm heart,
and to see the look of love these lit
tie ones turn upon her, and to hear
their voices when they call for
"Dady," shows one more clearly
than anything else could, how dear
they are to her and how their quick
youth responds to her loving care.
Mrs. Eldridge. is sixty three years
of age, She is the widow of the late
Captain Enos Eldridge, before his
death employed by Baars and Dun
woody, and afterwards by Captain
Aiken. Mrs. Eldridge does her work
at the Pearl Eagan Home not only
for money price, but because she
wants to do some real work in the
world, and serve her Maker, and she
! feels that she can serve him best by
caring for His little ones. She was
) formerly a nurse, and could practice
her profession at any time, as she has
had many offers made her since she
has been matron at the home. All
those who know her tender care of
the children, and her valiant spirit in
their defense, will hope that size may
remain with them for many more
years of usefulness. She is not en-
tirely dependent upon her salary, as
her husband left her an income, which
/ made her in a measure independent.
| To talk to Mrs. Eldridge about
! these children gives one a stronger
faith in God and humanity.
@ Her Children.
Ten children to send to school.
Think of It'll
/ Think what it means to get your
boy or girl off to school each day,
and then think what it must mean for
Mrs. Eldfidge to send ten boys and
girls to school each morning. Ten
clean morning faces, ten lunches, but
tons to be sewed on jackets, elastic
carriers to hold up the ten pairs of
stockings, that have to be kept neatly
mended- for be very sure she does
not allow these children of hers to go
to school unkept. Their clothes are
neat, and their little bodies are
sweet and clean.
IS To Mrs. Eldridge they are her
children. Not just children left at
the home until someone calls for
them. While they are with her they
are hers. She loves them, and
mothers them, and fights for their
l rights. 1t is a wonderful thing to
! see Mrs. Eldridge's face glow with
indignation when she speaks of
1 wrongs her children have endured,
through no fault of their own. Many
2 of these wrongs can never be correct
! ed. They are the sins of the fathers
/ which have been visted upon inno-
| cent children. But there is a minor
wrong which has given Mrs E1dridge
much pain, and shall let her tell it
her own way:
'They are my children" she said,
s"and they are just as good as any
! body's children. They are sweet and
clean and good. teach them to be
truthful and honest and upright in
all things. know they are only
| children, but l train them in the
right way, and they reward me by
being good boys and girls. And they
love me and confide in me.
F si"Many times they come home from
school in tears because the children
I tai1nt them with coming from the
/ Pearl Eagan Home. They have
pride, just as other children have,
1 and it hurts them. Sometimes they
| tell me the children viii not play with
4 them, and the thought makes me very
indignant that these harmless little
ones, whose hard lat is no fault of
their own, should be stunned by
their playr,ates. | have wondered if
the parents would not talk to the
children, if the teachers would not
y talk to them" TT
Il And so ! am sending this message
out to you, fathers and mothers.
Recently ten of the children at the
Pearl Eagan Home underwent oper-
. ations. Ten children all in bed at one
Il timeI Adenoids and enlarged tom
= sis were removed ct the Pensacola
q Hospital, and for several days the
!, home resembled a hospital ward
s1af Good Friends.
~ Mrs. Eldridge's room, with it's vel
:. low canary swinging in its golden
j cage, is like Mrs. Eldridge herself
/ bright and inviting. This is her real
: living room, where she eutertains her
4 = = L II. -