Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-02-16

There is happy and contented
little family in Pne Bluff, or rather
q big family Of little folks, that the
citizens know very little about And
vet it behooves every citizen to inter
est himself or herself in them, first
because they are looking to the people
of Pine Bluff for their daily bread,
and, second, because some dav in the
very near future they are going to be
big folks. citizens of This wonderful
little city and they will either be good
citizens of pubic wards II accordance
with the way they are cared for IN
the next years years.
Out at 1901 West Seventh Avenue
Mss Grace Strobridge, Chief Proba-
ton Officer has established home
for the little tots of the city who
have no home of their own. 1t was
opened about a year ago and the
family has grown to eleven mem
bers "Unfortunates" they were called
but any one who happens to see their
smiling faces as they gather in a circle
around the matron for faeir morning.
lessons, or witness the affection that
is bestowed upon each of them Nv
Miss Ella May Owens, matron. VINO
is "mothering" them, would consider
them extremely fortunate.
The "Little Mother"
The, Oldest member Of the family IS
girl of fourteen. She is practical,
helping with the meals, washing
the dishes, aiding with the house
work, mending garments, assisting In
caring for the younger children. Be-
sides she goes to school and Sunday
school AMI manages to find time to
amuse herself with books and the
other meager means that the home
provides. The youngest is a brown
eyed baby boy of two years.a man
" little fellow who is lust beginning
to realize what happy home means.
The others, three boys and six girls,
range in between.
The home is a two-storv house,
Immediately clean, but showing the
marks of time. The paper on several
Of the walls is discolored and the
stain has been worn from the floors.
The furniture consists Of odd lots OF
chairs and beds, donated or bought
on different occasions. Sometimes one
or two of the children will have L
+
haven't enough dishes to go around
The pads on the he'd we're made Ny
matron of cotton, covered with Bleach
ed flour, meal and sugar sacks, do
mated by different grocers in thu
neighborhood. The quits and comforts
were made Of pieces Of flannel do
mated by the Red Cross. And one o.
the little girls has "nightie' made
\ the same material and rivaling ia
cob's coat of many co,ors.
They Are Happy.
With all their modest surrounding g
I the little folks are happy AMI con
tented.
I'VE started the home with thrt,
children end nothing else Miss
Strdbridge said yesterday. at wa
built On faith hope ard charity. ant
mostly hope. If We could only let til;
people of Fne Bluff know am sur,
that they would be only too Glad t.
aid u.s. There is enough old turIi
ture stored in attics in this city t.
make us comfortable anil even affcr'
us few luXuries. A. times it ha
seemed almost impossible TO max
ends meet. Our allowance is 50 GOO
year from the Quo!om Court, ln
it is givn to us in script that is on
lyI worth about seventy five cents o.
the dollar. Then We get s25 mont
from the city. But the salary Of III
Probation Officer and the matrnn ha
to come from this sum and II doesn
leave very large magin 70 FL a til
clothe fairly of eleven
Wants New Home.
Miss Strobridge hopes. eventuall
to be able to obtain location close
to in town so that She can have he
offices in the building and supevis
the work. Then. too, she wants III
children to be situated ':llser to III
city schools and churches.
Besides the dependents. delinquent
are kept at the home nnti the
are sent to the state institution an
TUNIC M mn = 4 NEn Al