PATHETIC LETTER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 751, 26 August 1929, Page 13

PATHETIC LETTER

♦ MOTHER WRITES TO BABY “IT MEANS PRISON FOR ME” A birthday picture postcard and a pathetic letter have been sent by a mother to her three-months-old babv boy, who was found abandoned in a doorway in Croydon on May 13. The baby, who has been named Robert Estell. is in one of the Croy don Guardians’ homes. London The letter and the postcard werp posted in a north-west district, of London and were addressed "To Robert d’Estell, the unknown Crovdon foundling. Mayday Road Hospital, Croydon.” The letter read: “My darling j baby.—l don't know how you are or | ever w ill be. I shan’t ever seen you | again, but I love you as I have never ! loved anyone before. You will never ! know your mother, my darling, helpless mite, but I don't think anyone could harm you. “My darling, if I ever claim you, my baby, I know it means prison for me, although when I left you it was out of love. "Your baby eyes haunt me night and day. You would be such a big I : boy bv now if I bad the means to : j keep you. but. my baby, it was all j for the best. | "I am leaving London for ever. ' although my heart is well-nigh broken. My baby, it is hard to think I shall live and live and still know : I have got an innocent baby left, in this cruel world, but being a bov you may be more fortunate. "I hope someone will take a liking to you. but I suppose you will be sent to a workhouse, where you will belong to nobody. "From your broken-hearted, unfortunate mother. Lil.” The letter has been handed to the police by the guardians, who are offering a reward of £5 for information which will enable them to trace the mother. It is understood that the authorities are inclined to adopt a sympa- | thetic attitude toward the mother j and are anxious that she should rej turn at once to take charge of the j child. It is suggested that people ] whose sympathy has been aroused ‘ may help the mother in her distress.