Orphans Shouldn't be Neglected, March 22, 1923

Whose Boy Is He?

Greensboro News

Editor of the Daily News:

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40.

In the February Missionary voice I read this article of a little boy falling off a ship far out at sea. They brought him on board, gave him first aid, then they waked the physician, told themw hat they had one and he said, “You have done all you could, he is dead.” But when he saw that it was his own boy all had not been done that could be done. With his instruments and hot cloths he worked on and on until the boy was revived.

When we begin to think of every man’s child as our own child, our work will begin to live in our life. This leads to a much discussed conduct of the 17-year-old orphan who has been abused, censored and hunted, also I notice an article in your paper March 8 that “Sentiment against the youth who shot one of his benefactors is said to run high in Rockingham.” Right here I want to say, whose boy is he? I have been interested in and trying to teach a Sunday School class for 31 years and I know from personal experience the worst boy needs the most love, care, kindness and personal interest. That is the only thing to make him a character worthwhile. They are losing in the fight for a “Little Bit of Love.”

We are building good roads, fine brick schoolhouses. Why not raise money to provide a good home for the poor homeless children of this country where they will all be treasured alike, given a good education; make men and women of them of whom we will be proud?

The wealth of our country consists not of material things but the character of our citizens. I love the boys and with a heart full of love I want to say that orphan boy of whom I never heard before, who under the impulse of the moment did a rash deed, has my sympathy. I feel we are responsible for what we have not done and this poor orphan boy had to pay for our neglect.

What would your boy do without love, prayer and words of encouragement from parents? I do hope the Christian people of Rockingham will arise and stop the putting out (I say this for lack of a better word) as slaves to the stingy “close fisted” farmers of Rockingham the poor helpless, homeless, unloved children. The farm help has demanded higher wages, so the poor little unfortunate orphan is treated as the negro in slavery time—only people had to pay for the negro and they can get these children as servants for their children from the County Welfare officers for their board and clothes. A poor pretense of a home. Cannot we do something? For all has not been done.

Let this be our battle cry for better equipment for our orphans:

Someone has started the downward slope

That leads to an open grave;

Someone has abandoned every hope

Of trying himself to save

Someone should check him before it’s too late

And tell him God loves him too.

Nor let him feel the world is all hate

Can’t that someone be you?

So like the old bridge builder let us build a home “by the side of the road” for the orphaned youth who must pass this way. For we shall not pass this way again.

A Friend of the Boys, Leaksville

From the editorial page of the Watauga Democrat, Boone, N.C., March 22, 1923. I wish this man had signed his name, but if your relative was a Sunday school teacher in Leaksville in 1923, old enough to have been teaching in the Sunday school for 31 years, this may be his letter.