FOSTER MOTHER TO FORTY-SIX

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 73, 2 May 1914, Page 6

FOSTER MOTHER TO FORTY-SIX

Little homeless children, —what would become of you if the refuges which philanthropy has raised in your name did not exist? Some such thought occurs on a visit to the Orphanage in Bligh's Road, which is such an important part in the work of the Presbyterian

! efficiently manage. They make their own beds, scrub their dormitories, peel potatoes, clean Knives, and so on, before and after school hours. Day commences at six o'clock, and at that hour the rising-bell calls with imperious voice to matron and staff and children, and everyone must obey the summons. Indeed, the assistant "" who does the cooking —they take it in turns —usually arises at half-past five, for preparation of breakfast for a household of fifty-one is not exactly a light and easy task. And then there are school lunches to cut —yes, but this is comparatively easy since the Blighi , s' v - Road School was opened. Thirty children now attend that school, and as it is just across the street from the orphanage are able to come home for dinner. Twelve attend the Elmwood School, and they take their lunches,, but previously, the whole lot went to (Elmwood, and then what a slicing of bread went on in the mornings! Sister Margaret speaks of it now with comical dismay. u We

Social Service Association. Sometimes one hears wonderment expressed that such institutions should be needed in a young and prosperous country such as this, but proof of its necessity is evidenced by the way in which its circle of usefulness has widened since the opeinug some two 3'ears ago. Then, at its commencement, it housed seven children; to-day the family totals forty-six. And the cry is '' Still they come.''

used to think sometimes that we'd never get through it," she said; '' honestly, it was no joke.'' A Homely Place. The orphange is planned with reception room, staff < and children's dining rooms, pantry, kitchen, and play-room on the ground floor. The latter room, which forms part of the | recent additions, is a big ! homely apartment, and the writer saw it full of children playing various indoor games —it was too wet to be outside—making a great deal of noise, and evidently enjoying themselves immensely. There was a small boy with solemn brown eyes and a rosy little face, who entered with muddy —oh, very muddy!— boots-while we were there. "Hello, Oliver Twist," said Sister Margaret; "wherever have you been ?'' Said the solemn small boy, "I've been out in the garden, play in'," Sister felt him hopelessly. "Of course," she said, "wet through; Why must you go out in the garden to play when it's raining?".

' They drift to the orphanage by various currents, these little New Zealauders, and Sister Margaret, the matron in charge, is foster-mother to. them all. Some-

times they are orphaned on both sides, sometimes the father and bread-winner has been taken away, and the mother who remains must part with her bairns so that she be left unhampered in. her attempt to take his place, and win from the world the right of existence for herself and for them. Sometimes the father "brings his little motherless chicks to the doors of the institution that is to be their future home, and sometimes—these are the saddest cases of t all—they come because those who should be their be|t friends arc their worst, because those .who brought'them into existence have not the faintest appreciation of the duties which they owe their offspring. And the orphanage takes them and does its best by them —tries to be father and mother, philosopher and friend, to every child that enters its doors.

A Household of Fifty-one. Happily situated out in the Papaiuii end of the town, the orphanage stands in the,-midst acres of ground, laid out in lawns, flower garden, kitchen garden, and so on. It is of necessity a big building, and recently extensive additions were made to accommodate the evergrowing family. At present the household numbers fifty-one—forty-six children, -the matron, three assistants, and a gardener. The work is performed by the matron and her assistants, the children, both boys and girls, helping in such household tasks as they can

A VISIT TO THE PRESBYTERIAN ORPHANAGE AT PAPANUI

TJy? small solemn boy had an excellent reason. " 'Cause," he said, without any defiance or disrespect, but just as one stating an every-day fact, " 'Cause I wanted to! " Dear directness of''childhood! Upstairs are the dormitories and staff bedrooms, the latter so arranged that one overlooks each dormitory. Strict supervision over the children prevails, and every effort is made to instil right thinking, good manners, and tidy habits in each one. Sometimes the work is hard, for there is so much uprooting to be done. Some have been allowed to become unruly, and bad habits are more firmly fixed than nature. ,-Then comes the tug-of-war between discipline of the home —which must be maintained—'and the bad habits which refuse to submit. A ...boys' home is needed in connection with-the orphanage, and a committee representing the Social Service Association is now Considering the matter. When the scheme comes to fruition —as it must do eventually—it is expected'to simplify greatly the'problem of caring for the children.

Keeping the Pot Boiling. It is not necessary to say that the upkeep of the home absorbs a large sum. For the past year it was £724, and the board paid for the children amounted to £lsl. Then, an amount of nearly £9OO was spent in additions, and over £IOO in furnishing. It means a big drain on the pockets of the association —if an association can be said to have pockets—but this year they have been fortunate in the receipt of a legacy of between four and five thousand pounds, besides various smaller

amounts, which' will all help to "k<jep the pot a-boiling." lit is needed, too, for the pot is such a big one, and it must inevitably grow bigger as time goes on. Asked as to how she managed to clothe • her ' '' family,'' Sister Margaret paid \ high tribute to the various ladies' philanthropic associations, which were indefatigable in sewing for the orphanages, and providing them in other ways with -necessary clothing. , Then people who knew of the institution often sent along gifts of clothes, and altogether they fared very well in this way. The Presbyterian Bible Class girls iook it in . turns to and darn the stockings every week—a task of some dimensions, this! Ladies interested in the work helped in other ways too—for instance, one of them recently gave a " jam afternoon "in aid of the orphanage, to which every guest brought a pot of jam, for the use of'the children. Sister Margaret proudly pointed to the goodly array of bottles and jars which still filled the pantry shelves,, although they had been using the spoil from?the "jam afternoon" for some time. Other ladies sent along" cake every week for the little ones, and one baked a huge basket-ful of scones every Saturday night for their tea. "People are really .most kind to us," she y.tisl; ' "and yet we always want jtnoro and more'of them! "

A Noble Work. That is so/, of course, but how can it be help-ad?. [The work cannot stagnate —it must grow arid develop and expand, and surely no people, happily situated themselves, would grudge the "help and happiness that they are able to give to inmates of this or any other orphanage. After all, an orphanage is a pathetic.'th'ng, no matter liow exemplary it is—one cannot help a swift desire to gather all its children, big and little, i nto oiic? warm embrace, and give them all the mother-lpve, the petting, the sweet sentiment that is so divinely the right of childhood. The institution that houses, then is doing a fine work, a noble work, a work of national economy (for after all the children represent our greatest wealth); all honour to"it ana to those who control'"its destinies. - Yet it remains an orphanage—therefore let all those Who real homes to give their children send a ray of' help or happiness whenever they can to ' somebody's child who has not. i ■'''■" '' • . S.I.R. ;