Year: 1874

The Sorrows OF . Poor Young Man-The


Three Orphans on the Steamer Mary


POwell-Is RandaIls Island City


Charitys


On Saturday afternoon the steamer Mary Powell
sailed from the foot Of vestry street at the usual
hour. Her spacious decks and luxurious cabins
were crowded with the well dressed throngs es-
Gaping from the hot city to West Point, Cornwall
and other pleasant summer refugees in the High
lands OF the Hudson River. AS the noble steamer
giided by the Palisades and the passengers were
settled comfortably on the decks and In the hol.
lows OF the luxurious lounges. there was
a murmur like musical chorus, and
bubble or laughter from the hundreds Of
pleasure seekers on board that made one
forget unitarian New York and connect
the scene with picturesque groups on Rhine
boat or the lazy crowds with cOlOred robes that
might he gathered on a Sultan's yacht skimming
over the blue waters OF the Bospn0rus. Waters
were hurrying here and there, children were romp-
ing under the awnings with babbings like the
notes Of unknown birds, while bountiful nature
herself was bathed in the glory of the summer sun
light and scarcely shadow clouded her fair
bosom. The turrets and gables OF many o pic
turesque villa uprose from the terraced lawns on
the eastern shore Of the storted stream, and from
many crag upon the heights the waving Of an
American nag was the only sign that an American
home was peacefully shrined upon an eyrie along
side OF the eagles nest


On the lower decks of the Powell however,
among the freightmen and the loungers there
was pathetic picture. Near great coil OF the
steamers rope man sat desDcndent. He seemed
not to enjoy the glorious sky nor the balmy air;
the laughter OF the moving groups did not I'LL his
heart with the echoes of their music. His face
was buried in his hands, and through the fingers
slowly trickled sears. 1t was piteous picture
right in the iace OF joyous mrth, and it needed
cause OF his distress. But men look upward when
they want to laugh, and but few idle men or
gsa on that so
'Oniy that and nothing more" man with
heart more tender chan the rest stopped mo
it a fraudulent appeal to human sym
pathyS Was It one OF the many devious
sympathies OF the charltables No, there was some
thing gaunt and despairng IN the mans lace ana
mien. That those were his children was evidenced
the unconscious ones with his tattered coat and
kept the hot sunshine from their faces. He made
boat, face to face with his and despair aud
to him the scenery and champagne air, the merry
se.sa sad as ne music apPS
stranger addressed the man. He looked up and
replied without appeal, without interest. He said
less. Yes, these were his three children. Tom,
there. was almost big enough to work; Mag
gie, she was seven, and Mary almost Eve.
They were worn out, poor things, and he,
their father, was almost worn out, too.
God help 'em. Where were they gOingY
Well, up the rver-somewhere, anywhere, TO get
away from the cold town out into the green fields,
where he could earn enough 10 keep breath in the
chdren's bodies. Was the mother dead or
course she was, or what would he De doing with
the poor d8rings away from herr Had ne ever
tried to get the children placed in some OF the
might be free OF their and better able to work
for their support2 Certainly he had. He had
tried Randalls Island for ins,ance-a pretty place
that, where they first degraded man, and held
the threat over his children that ne did not
promptly pay his IS or SO month to the Commits
sioners that they would ',arm, 'em !tne
out-God bless en- he would die with
them on the Presidents highway struggling to
beg, to work for 'em, or to die with them, before
they should be "farmed" out. What was his
names Why Thomas Cronin and not ashamed OF
1t either-an honest wOrkingman, who had tried
to do his best to take care Of the little oneS and
here they were at last-pOOr little devils-lOr no
fault Of theirs, with food In their stOmachs and
no shelter belonging to them but HIS ragged
coat.


It need not be told how the simple story went to
the heart Of the stranger; how his sympathetic
nature was aroused and the poor fellow was made
glad for the little orphaned waits, nor how his
example was followed quickly by a score OF men
with hearts in their bosoms, who only needed an
example to teach them that charity Is greater
Catholic institution to do practical good for more
fhnr