Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-12-21
WEST VIRGINIA TAKES CARE OF
IT'S DEPENDENT CHILDREN.

SOMEONE has said: The very best
place on Gods green earth for a nor.
mai child is a good, normal home, With
normal Christian people" The State of
west Virginia does not knowingly al
low a really dependent child 10 go un-
cared for, unclothed and unfed, and
without that great requisite 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
"here they are receiving, as far as it
is humanity possible 10 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
De entitled, as such state of affairs
IS not true with all of the children
born within our homes, but they are
receiving far more than was given be-
fore they were acceptei as State wards
and as result OF the cooperation de-
veloped between the foster homes and
the Board of Children's Guardians,
these children are greatly benefited
thereby.
The wards of the State of West Viz
glnia 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 &C
cepting 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 just the
same as other children. The families
with whom the Board of Children's
Guardians places children are urged
not to allow the wards beyond early
childhood to go without household train
ing, knowledge concerning the activ-
tiles which surround them, or without
necessary practical experience needed
to prepare them for life
Many a 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
rs 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
ing to develop a good citizen for his
State.
Experience and observation have
taught the Board of Children's Gaurd-
ians that Gods great out doors in
West Virginia, with its miles of beau
tiful valleys, its mighty mountains and
streams, and the pure air and undefled
surroundings of the country, together
with the sturdy stock of the farmer
folk with their fear and respect for
the Almighty; and their honest and
earnest convictions regarding life, is.
in the main, the best place to locate
these homeless children. While il 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, it is also true that
these wards receive clean aspirations
and honest ambitions which are Of
tentirpe= lost sight OF in the crowded
centers.
Mr.. and Mrs. Farmer, have you a
place in YOUR hearts and home for one
or more of these wards of our State
who mus. receive the care, the love,
the attention and the spiritual train
ing which you people alone can give,
if thew are to become the right sort OF
citizens-assets of the future or. if
left uncared for, unloved and untrain-
ed-liabilities upon the future? The
State is honestly irving to do its duty
in behalf of its dependent wards but
must he met halfway by right think
ing, right acting people who are will
ing to do their part toward these chill