Case 512

P. whose case is earnestly recommended to the notice of the Secretary has been living, since his father's death two years ago, with his sisters under the care of their mother, who is a woman of very bad character & has been in the habit of leaving her children at intervals totally unprovided for, & dependent upon the care of relations, besides otherwise neglecting them. The eldest boy works for his living, the oldest girl has been adopted by an aunt, & the youngest child placed in a Home. The boy himself is well disposed but unless removed from the bad influence of his mother, has no chance of being respectably brought up. The relations for various reasons are unable to assist in maintaining him, several having large families of their own to provide for. The mother has no settled home, &is constantly moving from one place to another, being unable from her habit of drinking to obtain regular employment.