A FARTHING BREAKFAST.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8161, 16 April 1895, Page 1

A FARTHING BREAKFAST.

There are some efforts that operate upon a level juat higher than that of the outcasts cr the submerged, and that are worthy of all support. I had the opportunity of seoing one of thoso this moruing of tho Ist day in February. It is on (he south side of iho Tlnmos, ucrosa the new Tower Bridgo, and it is no doubt bub ono of many such tnovemonts carried oub hy various bodies in otli3r parts of our Babylon. My immediate object lesson howovor, is a farthing breakfast to poor children, managed by the Blum officers of tho Salvation Army. There are eightocn such centres in tho metropolis, and in sixteen of thorn ovory morning, from half.past seven to half-past eight, these breakfasts are given. At first, when tho door is opened, the children represent tho very poorest, a pathetic asssortment of ragqod and neat, cheerful and wretched. The "barrack" hall is not lirgo, and tho breakfasts are therefor served to batches of not more than forty. Each child pays its farthing, and is served with a currant loaf weighing Goh and at least a pint of good hot cocoa. Tho lady in charge— Major Mildred Duff — -while tho youngsters fortify themselves with tho provender, too busy upon their own affairs to talk much on thoir own account, tolls me that at those centres, different parts of London, tho Army supplies an average of a thousand farthing breakfasts every morning ; and tho captain to whom I am by-aud-by introduced, adds that last week, for instance, she could account for 1047 in this ono modest establishment. It is curious to note how, during tho second half of tho breakfast hour, tho children improve in appearance. They are from the families of the respectable —often the most deserving — poor, and are really on their way to school. Thid is why tho breakfast must end every morning at half-past oight. How much these meals holp a family of this description I gather from ono group of four children from <he same household who obtain a comfortablo breakfast every day for ono penny total. Their father at present can only work two days a week, and, but for this provision those children would go to school on empty stomachs. Tho Salvation Army, us I think very rightly, in this branch of their work, impose their small charge on principal, but each breakfast really costs a penny. Human nature, of course, is not so bad as somo suppose, else this mho of a girl aged five would not hold up half her currant broad and ask : ' Please may I tako this homo to baby V This nnxiety to share tho farthing's worth with little brothors and sisters <it homo in tho oold is j\ very common occurrence, and verily it is something for a hungry child to do. What is done with tho farthings ? Tho captain laughs as she rooilla the difficulty she somo im.es experiences iv planting her bags of this small coin ; but the big dr.ipora and provision dealers in the poor neighborh jods come to the rescue, for Iho moJorn farthing, which probably thousands of our renders of to-day's Daily Nows Invo never oven seen, is quite the current coin amongst slum populations. —Daily News.