Godfrey Holden Pike
Published: 2012-01-01
Total Pages: 70
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This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1875. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... chapter ii. parents who are no parents. the street philanthropist'S material. persons who are familiar with the work of reclaiming destitute juveniles know that they are not to be judged by the same rule as other children, for they know nothing of the discipline of parental care. In the main, the little Arab is his own master, and if by ' father ' and 'mother' we mean persons who affectionately welcome their child home at night, and send him to school with their blessing in the morning, he never knew father or mother. He uses his own judgment and follows his own inclination. On his first taking the school into favour he is looked upon by his faster companions as 'a religious cove;' and should he continue to go, he is at once set down as a 'character ' to be avoided by all who formerly called him their 'pal.' Should he, on the contrary, relinquish the school, no parent or guardian will chide or punish him: he and his teacher have the business altogether between themselves. Some of those who have parents are even worse off than they who have none, for no slight hindrance to the work of reformation is found in those parents who systematically fatten upon the dishonourable gains of their tender offspring. A preacher lately depicted a child whose wants he summed up in one word--mother. The child is ragged, dirty, sick, and sorry; indeed, it stands in need of all the necessities of existence; but bring forward its mother, and you give it everything. If a good mother be all this, how deplorable the condition of those whose mothers are no mothers, and whose fathers are contemptible loafers, willing to lean on the tender reed of childhood, if it will but support them ...