The Dangerous Classes of New York, and Twenty Years' Work Among ThemBrace, Charles Loring
History
The Dangerous Classes of New York, and Twenty Years' Work Among Them
Brace, Charles Loring
Child welfare -- New York (State) -- New York; New York (N.Y.) -- Social conditions; Poor -- New York (State) -- New York
"There was another, J. L., a very pretty little girl, who was with us at
the same time, who was guilty of the most aggravating petty thefts. She
was so modest and pleasing in her demeanor, so sincere in her
attachments, that it was difficult to believe, until she acknowledged
her guilt, that she had picked the pockets of the very persons to whom
she had made showy presents. Vanity was her ruling motive--a desire to
appear smart and generous, and to show that she had rich friends, who
supplied her with money. She was expostulated with long and tenderly,
promised to reform, and has lately united with a church where she is an
active and zealous member. We have never heard a word respecting her
dishonesty since she left us, and she now occupies a responsible
position as forewoman in a Broadway store.
"P. E. was also a Lodging-house girl, a year or more, at the same time.
She came to us in a very friendless, destitute condition. She was one of
the unfortunates with the usual story of shame and desertion--she had
just buried her child, and needed an asylum. We have every reason to
believe her repentance sincere, and that she made no false pretensions
to piety when her name was added to the list of professing Christians.
The church took an unusual interest in her, and have paid her school
expenses several years. She is now teaching.
"Our next is Mary M. Here is a bit of romance. When she first entered
our home, she was reduced to the very lowest extremity of poverty and
wretchedness. She remained with us some time, and then went to a
situation in Connecticut, where she married a young Southern gentleman,
who fell desperately in love with her (because she cared for him when
ill), returned to New York, and, when she called upon us, was boarding
at the Fifth-avenue Hotel. This was noticed at the time in several
Eastern and New York papers. She showed her gratitude to us by calling
and making presents to members of the House--looking up an associate,
whom she found in a miserable garret clothing her, and returning her to
her friends. She greatly surprised us in the exhibition of the true
womanly traits which she always manifested. This is a true instance of
the saying that a resident of the Five Points today may be found in her
home in Fifth Avenue to-morrow.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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