New Britain herald., 1925-07-17
POOR WOMAN GETS
 BUT s AS REWARD
Destitute, But She Returns StOO
 She Found

New York. July 17--Mrs. Jennie Byrnes, 25 years old of S03 East 61st street, had been working only two nights as scrubwoman in the Grand Central Palace building. 480 Lexington avenue, when she found $100 in bills lying loose ill an en- velope on a desk in one of the of- fees where she was cleaning.
 Earlier in the evening she had borrowed a small sum of money from another of the scrubWomen who come at the close of the days business to clean out the offices to buy a pint of milk for her 6-year-old daughter. Mary. She had not eaten that day herself, she told the scrub woman. and she was the mother Of q month old baby boy, She had not 4 cent of money or g scrap of bread in her home, she said.
 The head woman in charge Of the cleaning, who has 51 women e1n- ployed for this purpose In the build ing. was sitting in her office when Mrs. Byrnes knocked timidly at her door. Entering, she laid the en- envelope containing the money on her desk.
 Heres something I found in one of the offices upstairs, ma'am, she said. mentioning the firms name "and it looks like real money. Husband Tn Jail
 She hesitated q moment, then with tears in her eyes, told Of her troubles. Her husband was serving six months on the island, and she had two little mouths to feed, She had been unable to find employ ment since her child was born ana she was two months In arrears III her rent.
 And you were honest enough to return this money" said the mead woman. realizing that the young mother, who had only been in her employ two nights, had ample chance 10 make away with the money and something which almost constituted an excuse for doing so.
 "Oh, maam." said Mrs. Byrnes eft always pays to be honest. she returned to her work.
 This happened last Tuesday night and yesterday the firm whose money was found and returned, gave S5 to Mrs. Byrnes as a reward for her honesty.
 Mrs. Byrnes was happy at her scrubbine last night Five dollars meant food for herself and children for several days at least. and to- morrow she will receive the Slo due her for the weeks work of scrubbins between and 10 ?. m.
 She lives in two small rooms on the second floor, back, nt the ad- dress in East Sixty-first street. for which she pays $16 month rent. After her husband was sent away. about five months ago, she found odd 1obs, once in a restaurant, an- other time in 3 hospital. and was able to ken0 hor home.
 But she lost her last job when the haby was born, and since then she has tried hard to make just enough to buy food by taking in sewing. At times she has been forced to live on the bounty of her neighbors, all of whom find it hard going and have families to support, The rent has been riling up, and if it is not paid soon. the mother and her little family stand in danger of eviction.
 All the neighbors were glad when Mrs Byrnes found q job as a scrub woman. Some of them have been looking after her children while she was at work. A little neighhor boy was wheeling her baby last evening up and down the sidewalk, congeSt- ed with children at play and grown folk on their way home from work. Whenever the baby walked up 1t cried for its mother. Four Or five hours Is a long time for a mother 10 be away from her month-old child. the neighhors said.