Evening star., 1943-08-22

city editor OF The Star yesterday.
Its purpose lDGS to call attention
to the circumstances in the home
OF Furn,ond D. Ellenburg, father
OF 12-year-old James Ellenburg,
i0ho Uas killed in a traffic dcci-
dent August II. There are sir
other children, the oldest IS.
The note said: There is not
enough to eat for the children,
Dery little milk, not near enough.
Friends are unable to carry the
load as De are all poor" The
note suggested visit to the FL
lenburgs.
The landlord led a reporter to the
closed door of the basement apart
ment. Inside somebody coughed.
"Yes, he's home" said the land
lord.
A gray-haired man stood in the
doorway. 1t was Furmond D. Ellen
burg. ..
II was taking a little nap" "sapolo-
gized Mr.. Ellenburg. II can't seem
to sleep at night"
He led the way into the second
room of the three-room fiat. Two
children were sleeping, curled up,
each at an end of the sofa. A baby
mapped on folded-over blanket on
the floor.
Light Needed at Midday.
Although it was midday, the three
rooms, separated by curtains, were
shadowy. Mr.. Ellenburg turned on
the light bulb in the living room.
The room was crowded with a bed,
sofa and bureau.
Mr.. Ellenburg reached for a
cigarette, coughed and put the
cigarette away again.
Its just habit" he said. I'm
trying to get over it."
A boy came whistling into the
fiat.
Freddie, run down the street
and get your mother
Yes, sir"
While the children mapped on,
Mr.. Ellenburg talked-but not with
out interruption. A little girl
popped in with some bedroom slip
pers.
Lift up your feets, sir. Here's
your shoes"
AS she bent to put them on, Mr..
Ellenburg ruffled her hair.
Thank you, ma a'am," he said.
Meanwhile he was telling about
coming here from Danville, Va, two
years ago. He found a job as an
automobile mechanic-he's been one
since 1916. Then he brought his
wife and seven children here.
Wife Goes to Work.
Despite his cough he stayed on the
job until the day he finally had to
go to the hospital. His wife got a
job-the first during her married
life. Her earnings and what he had
been able to save tided the family
over till he left the hospital.
He had been home less than a
week when policeman came to the
house at 1905 N street NV. A boys
boday was at the morgue. Mr.. Ell
lenburg was too i'll to walk alone
His landlords wife went with him
Afterward it was the landlord who
advanced the money for the funeral.
Mr.. Ellenburg paused in what he
was saying, but the footballs outside
the door passed by.
Il thought it was my wife. You
know, she doesn't look well to me
She hasn't been able to work since
what happened to James"
James was crushed under a Treas
ury Department truck when he fell
from his bicycle. Mr.. Ellenburg
never wanted to see that bicycle
again, but he was told he would
have to take 1t away from the sta
ton house. He put it out in the
back yard
MY wife didn't know I'd put it
there. She went out back to hang
up the wash the other day and
saw it. I thought she was going to
faint"
Worried over Bicycle.
Mr.. Ellenburg stirred restlessly in
his chair
THE bicycles still there. I'll have
to get rid of 1t some way"
A pallid woman opened the door
Mrs. Ellenburg. Her husband
wandered into the next room. He
didn't see her expression when he
coughed.
Mrs. Ellenburg sat down on g
packing box and adjusted hei
glasses to read the ages of the
children from a little book.
There's Freddie, our oldest boy
He's Is. And Marvin. He's the
thinnest one, We give him all the
milk we can spare ="
Her husband came back as Mrs
Ellenburg was reading the names
and ages of the other children
carefully skipping one, As she lef'