Year: 1878

In the early part of last year, young girl,
not yet fifteen of decent but poor parentage,
was placed as servant in the family OF
farmer living near New-YOrk. The girl was
innocent and IgnOrant-she had no mother at
hand to protect her the man was mercilessiy
sensual. Still but child, she found herself
about to become mother. She could not
stay longer where she was she burst not
carry her horrible shame home. In the whole
city-fuIl no decent house was open to her; no
mother of a family, however kindly, could
take this poor guilty child, with her disaster,
among her own children. The story is so COM
mon a one that il seems hackneyed to us all
But think of it a minute-this young creature
who, with a mothers care, might still have
been as innocent and gay as any little girl at
her mothers side to-day, is driven out into
the road friendless and homeless, forced to face
with her childish eyes a horror worse than
death. Physical pain, the terror of death, abb
soute want, the child's whole life to be
cared for-sho not able to care for herself
there was no element of misery wanting in
the weight that suddenly fell on her. The
man went on his comfortable way untrOubed
Society has not yet found any punishment for
his common offence. But society is not quite
the brutal tyrant which we are used to call 1t !;
there is a good deal of Chrisfs leayen at work
in the mass. Two or three good women, about
their Masters work, found this homeless,
hunted creature outside and took her in, fed
her, nourished her, gave her mOtherly kind
ness, until her trial was over and her child
was born She has home with them STILL
and when her baby is old enough for her to
leave they will find her proper work, keep a
watchful care over her, maintain and educate
the child until such time as she may be able
to reclaim it.


We have given only an isolated instance,
but our readers will not find the story less
pathetic when they know that 130 poor crea-
lures in this girls condition were received by
these good women during last year in their
house-the New-YOrk Infant Asylum, at
Sixty-frst st. and Tenth-ave. We urge this
institution upon the attention of such of our
readers as believe in teaching Christ's religion
in Christ's way, because we are convinced that
nowhere is His gospel carried out with more
simplicity and directness Of purpose. The chill
dren under its care are foundlings and other
abandoned or orphan babies under two years
of age; these are supported and educated until
of an age TO be placed in some profession or
trade, the institution maintaining its parental
care over them until the age of eighteen.


In the Country Home, a branch house at
Flushing, 66 women and 100 children have
been sheltered during the past year; of the
women 10 have been restored to friends, and
% enabled to earn an honest livelihood
Several improvements will commend them
selves to the old friends of the institution ;
among them the establishment of a new build
ing for obstetrical purposes, the enlargement
of the main building, and the establishment of
q small quarantine house. to guard against the
spreading Of contagious diseases The most
advantageous change, however, in the man
agement, so far as the poor creatures who
reap the benefit of this charity are con-
cerned, is the employment Of DR.. Angel
rs resident physician in the Asylum, a woman
not only eminent in those especial branches
of her profession which are here called into
practice, but whose tenderness and sympathy
for the young mothers inspire Them with fresh
courage and hope. Indeed. it is this tender,
motherly spirit pervading the workings
of the institution which induces us to urge it
upon the public. and ask that it be heartily
sustained. There is danger in the majority of
such establishments that charity should fall
into routine and mechanical effort. There is
no such danger here.