The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-06-04

/ More than 1000 children were de
lprived of a parents love when influ
| enza swept over Montana, leavin
death, suffering and misery in it
wake.
| Such is the statement of the Mon
tana Children's Home society.
| A. L. Burton, district superintend
ent of that organization, explained
the situation as follows:
Children of Dry Land Farmers
Influenza has left 1000 orphans
partially or wholly dependent in the
state. Many of these are on the dry
farms which have been SO sorely hi
| by the drought. The remaining par
ent does not want to give them uI
and should not do so. The appeals
that come to us are numerous and
very pathetic. Private board is out
of the question, as people ask from
$50 to $50 per month, and because
of high costs should have it, but this
is simply impossible to these parents
Thus it will be seen that aid work is
a real necessity. I will give. here
three cases which have come to us
lately.
A Pathetic Appeal
"The flu recently took a mother,
leaving a tiny baby boy, and its
young and inexperienced father kept
baby and himself on the homestead
for some time; but food was wrong,
and baby sick and about to die. His
appeal to US was pathetic. Baby was
all he had of his once bright hopes
of home and love. He had no money.
We found place in our nursery and
his baby is now developing into
fine roly poly boy. Not much has
been paid, but we are amply compen-
stated in knowing that we are helping
a worthy father and the pay will
come later.
Saved Life of Child
"Some months ago a young man
was found walking the streets of
Helena carrying a four months old
baby and leading little lad of four
years. The flu had taken his wife
soon after the baby was born. They
lived in the country on homestead
where he remained as long as he
:ould. Baby was about to die, money |
vas gone and he was walking the |
treets with no place to go. He beg
,ed for work, just anything he could |
10 to keep his babies. This was
ound. A party took the older child
While baby found it's way to our nur-
cry, where it is doing fine and a
heck comes regularly to help with
IS expense.
Another Case
"Still another case is a mother
nth three children; the husband met
18th an accident and was killed.
BUSINESS affairs were so mixed that
he could realize nothing from what
yas left for year or more. She was
to leave her children in
Undesirable places while she strove
D earn a living. She came to us and
espite the fact that our home was
lied, still we found a way to take
er children and it is a real joy to S
re them upon frequent visits. She I
avs her check in such amounts as
lie can afford each month. T
''These are only few cases. We &
i've been compelled to refuse hun S
eds, some just as worthy, because a
no room. In all the cases men
oned and many others, we would f
i've been justified in recommending O
lease and placement by adoption. f
e have many homes waiting such e
ildren where there is plenty and t
spare, but. for some good reason n
ID gave them to these parents, who, v
rough no fault of their own, have D
me to the point where they must n
We aid or fail. A tide-over for a Il
W months or years is necessary un- s.
home can be re-established or if
her arrangements made. They can
ually pay part of the cost of this.
,eping loves ones together is the
IL hub of the child-helping wheel 81
d shall have a large share of our g
.ention in the future. IL
Despite advances in the cost of o.
ing and almost prohibitive prices II
babies shoes, scores of Montana G,
n and women desire to adopt chill l
IN or provide homes and love for "
lie dependents. u