KVERYBODY’S FRIEND
Apkil, iyiz.
Record of the Children
The State Commissioner of Charities and Cor-
rection requested us to make a complete report
of the child saving work we have done from the
first organization down to the close of the last
year. Our year ends with the last day of Au-
gust—just before the District Meeting—and the
report we gave closed with August 31, 1911.
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One object the State has in requiring this
report is to learn the real condition of every
charitable institution, and to ascertain that no
graft or money making scheme be carried on
under the name and cloak of charity, as lias
sometimes been done. In this way the State
learns whether the amount of work accomplish-
ed is in proper proportion to the amount of
money solicited from the people.
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The State also wants to keep a careful watch
of every child and know that each one is given a
fair opportunity of developing into a useful man
or woman. It is a humane desire of knowing
that each child is provided a good home. A
society that placed children out carelessly and
did not look after them to be sure that they had
the right kind of homes would soon be made to
stop that kind work.
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This report we were asked to make extends
over nine years of work, during which time we
had in our care eighty three children. Most of
these children were placed only one time—that
is they found a permanent home with the first
family that took them. Nearly one fifth of them
had to be taken back and placed else where—
some half a dozen times. These changes, and
the present home of the child are included in
this report.
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Il also includes the name, and date and place
of birth of each child: the name of the parents,
and place of residence, if known: the source
from which we got the child, the date, and the
date when it was placed in a family. To got all
these facts required going over all the records,
looking through the papers tiled away, and often
going through the file of old letters. We made
this report in two copies and will keep one for
I ut n re reference.
Of these eighty three children fifty are boys
and thirty three are girls. In age they ranged,
when we took them in charge, from one week to
fourteen years of age. Some of them are now
grown and doing for themselves, but the larger
number are still little children, and are enjoying
all the privileges and opportunities of children
that are born into good families, and as they
grow up it will scarcely he remembered that
they are adopted children.
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It would be a beautiful and interesting scene
if all these children who have won such a warm
place in the heart of foster parents, could be
brought together into one crowd, or into one
Sunday school. If the foster parents could all
meet with them it would be quite a congregation
that would be worth going far to see. A picture
of so many generous-hearted people and the
children they have made happy, would be a
study to interest the best and wisest people.
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Then if one could lift the veil and with a
prophet’s eye look into the future and see all
that awaits these rescued children, it would be
the sight of a lifetime. However, no one may
know what lies before them—or before any oth-
er children forthat matter -but their opportu-
nities and prospects in life are as bright as that
of the average child of the land.
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Whatever these rescued children may be-
come. whatever they may achieve in the life
that stretches out before them, it will all be due
to the fact that generous people have contribu-
ted the means to gather them in from homeless-
ness and poverty, and that good-hearted people
opened their hearts and homes to them, and
gave them tender love and care.
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When we look at the almost certain ruin that
awaits the neglected child, and the bright pros-
pect that lies before the one placed in a good
family, it should inspire every one who realizes
that he is a steward over the worldly riches that
have been entrusted in his hands, that he make
the best possible use of them by helping to save
the little innocent ones. In no way can money
he invested that it will yield abetter return to.
the glory of God then by saving the children.