Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-06-08
West Virginia Takes Care of Its De.
pendent Children.


with normal Christian people" The
State Of West Virginia does not know
ingly allow really dependent Child to
go uncared for, unclothed and unfed,
and without that great need of child
life, mother-love and father-love. The
State Board OF Children's Guardians
is today responsible for nearly twelve
hundred youthful wards who are, in the
main, placed in private foster homes
where they are receiving, as far as il
is humanity possible to give, the care
and attention which kindly disposed
people are willing to extend to them.
BY this it is not meant that every
child is getting everything to which
il may be entitled, as such a state Of
affairs is not true with all Of the chill
dren born within our homes, but they
are receiving far more than was given
before they were accepted as State
wards and as result of the co-opera-
ton developed between the foster
homes and the Board OF Children's
Guardians, these children are great
ly benefited thereby.
The wards of the State of West Vir-
ginia are not placed in private homes
to act simply as servants, but they are
placed in these private homes with the
intention on the part Of the Board of
Children's Guardians that they shall
become real members OF the family
accepting them; that is, that they shall
eat with the family; shall have the
same kind Of clothing provided for the
other members of the family; shall
have the same type of sleeping quar-
tiers, and, at least during the grammar
school period Of life, shall attend the
day schools of the community lust
the same as other children. The fam
lilies with whom the Board of Chill
dren's Guardians places children are
urged not to allow the wards beyond
early childhood to go without house
hold training, knowledge concerning
the activities which surround them, or
without practical experience needed to
prepare them for life.
Many childless home or a home
which has lost its little children has,
to its great happiness and satisfac-
ton, found the biblical quotation:
Suffer little children to come unto
me and forbid them not, for of such
is the Kingdom of Heaven" to be lit
orally true. Many a mother-heart
which has been aching for the little
one who did not come or perhaps the
little one lost by death, has found
means of expression by taking unto
itself one of these little ones. Often
times the husband who has yearned
for man-child for a chum and COM
panion, has taken one of these little
fellows into his life and is thus help
ed to develop a good citizen for his
State
Experience and observation have
taught the Board Of Children's Guard
ians that Gods great out-of-doors in
West Virginia, with its miles of beau
tiful valleys, its mighty mountains
and streams, and the pure air and un-
defiled surroundings of the country.
together with the sturdy stock of the
farmer folk with their fear and re-
spect for the Almighty; and their
honest and earnest convictions regard
ing life, is, in the main, the best place
to locate these homeless children.
While it may be true that the children
thus placed do not receive all of the
fancy frills and furbelows given to
children in the cities of our State, il
is also true that these wards receive
clean aspirations and honest ambitions
which are oftentimes lost sight OF in
the crowded centers.
MIR. and Mrs. Farmer, have YOU a
place in your hearts and home for one
or more of these wards of our State
who must receive the care, the love.
the attention and the spiritual train
ing which you people alone can give.
If they are to become the right sort
OF citizens-assets of the future or,
if left uncare for, unloved and untrain.
ed-liabiltieS upon the future? The
State is honestly trying to do its duty
in behalf of its dependent ward, but
must be met halfway by right think
ing, right acting people who are will
ing to do their part toward these chill.
dren.
Upon written request, applications
with the Conditions of Placement"