The Washington times., 1917-04-10
BOY OF 5 SIGHS FOR
MOTHER DARLING"
Joseph Petconk, Surrendered
by Rich Couple, Is Unhappy
in Old Home.


little rich boy whose real mother
Mrs. Helen Petconk, was forced by
poverty to put him in an institution
when he was a tiny baby. Then when
she had. lost all trace OF him she
Ionged for him so that she searched
and searched till she found him and
insisted on taking him from the
prosperous home of Mr.. and Mrs. Leo
ID. Shire, at Il West Eighty-second
street. whose treasured child he had
become, and back to her poor home
on a crowded tenement street in The
Bronx.
. A man mustn't cry. So George-to
give him the name he knows-de-
clared yesterday with great positive
ness, gazing solemnly with his big
black eyes at reporters who visited
him in the little four room Petconk
flat at S9S Union avenue. And so,
though he ID sadly bewildered at be
ing whisked away from his dear
Mother Shire's home, and so unhappy
that his real mother. Mrs. Petconk.
sees now that it was a mistake to
claim him and wishes to send him
back to this wealthy home again, he
isn't crying, and he won't cry even
il. as seems possible the Shires de-
cline to take him back.
She Wrote His Foster Parents.
II was yesterday morning that Mrs.
Eaetconk came to the conclusion that
it Was for her boys good to return
him to his foster parents. She wrote
them. telling them so, but they had
left town-aIl broken up, it is said.
over the loss of the child they had
grown TO love-and are now at New
Jersey resort. The rumor sperad that
they had declined Mrs. Petconk's over
lures, but as a matter OF fact they
couldn't be reached. Mr.. Shire's law
yerE, EIkus, Gleason & Proskauer, of
iii Broadway, said they had heard
nothing of the case since a week ago,
when Mrs. Petconk started court pro-
csedings to get the child and the
Shires agreed to give him up. At that
time Mr.. Shire exclaimed:
IF the mother takes him she takes
him for always. We will never con-
sider taking him back"
But it's hard to see how anybody
who could have George wouldn't grab
MIN at the first chance. He's a dear
ehild-too dear and gentle to get
along happily in a crowded Bronx
neighborhood. Fancy leaving a broad,
quiet street near Central Park. where
YOU can ride your bike" in peace and
the other little boys. wouldn't dream
Of trying to take it from you-fancy
leaving such a locality and going to
place where your big brother says to
you:
Here. gimme that bike I'm boss.
Gimme that bike or I'll fight you"
Mother Il In q Sad Plight.
Poor Mrs. Petconk is in a sad
pickle. A hard working seamstress
sewing all day to exc out her hus-
bands wages, she had little time to
protect the new little brother from
his seven-year-old brothers agEres-
SionA so she was forced to send Will
liam away. She is boarding him at
q cousins home, she said yester-
day.
george didn't know what to make
OF ii when Willie threatened to fight
him." she said. He would look so
bewildered, and then his eyes would
NIL. but he'd choke them back and
cay that a man mustn't cry. He's
brave enough, but he's been brought
Up a gentleman, and Willie-well.
Willie has had to make his way. with
the kids on the street and he's diff
ferent.
Il see now that can't make George
Il
realize how he had been accustomed
to such a different life, 1 was just
30 crazy to have him. l thought,
because we are better of now than
when poverty made me put him in the
institution, that it would be all right.
But when Willie saw his pretty man.
asrs. how he said please and thank
YOU and wouldn't fight, he called him
sissy and teased him till il was ter
An
m the street to play because he will
rear had words from the kids there.
and he never heard such things be-
:nre. He's been brought up a gentle
man, you see"
Boy Longs for GM0ther Darling,
She wiped her eyes and turned a
look of the greatest pride on the
child, who is so much like her that
one would know they are mother and
son. Both have the same big, black
eyes, white skin and dark hair.
George was playing with the little
fire engine. one of the many toys
hs had brought from the Shire home.
He dragged It back and forth over
;hs bare floor Of the poor little room
in which his mother sat sewing.
81 have lots to do" he explained.
Il put out lots of fires. Men must
put out hreE. No, l don't let my
mother help me. becausu ladies must
mt have TO put out fires. 1 wish
could see Mother Darling" he said.
his big, black eyes growing wistful.
That is what he had been taught TO
call Mrs. Shire. Maybe she will come
and take me tomorrow. But I've got
something nice here; something to
show her. It's a little baby, and it
drinks milk out of a bottle"
That's my youngest" said Mrs.
Petconk. Yes, I've had three chill
dren, but ] couldn't help longing for
GeOrge-Joseph. as We named him
when he was born. But now 1 wish
hadn't claimed him. He isn't happy
here; never will be happy. His life
with the Shires has spoiled him for US.
and 7 hope for his good they will take
him back"
George iG n Brave Little Man.
Presently George ran so hard TO put
out a fire under the kitchen table that
he stumbled over his engine. In an in
slant his mother was by his side. gath
ering him UP.
Did you hurt yourself?" she asked.
A little. but men don't cry" he said.
Course. IL I bumped myself real hard
i might cry a little. but l won't cry
now. mother darling"
rs that what you call me?" she