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This case relates to two brothers, H. and G. Their father had died in 1891, but their mother was still living. The person making the application to the Waifs and Strays' Society stated that the boys' father had been "too weak in character to remain teetotal, though he would keep from drinking for 2 or 3 months at a time". He had been a "nightsoilman" [this unpleasant work involved emptying cesspits] and as the work was so nauseating there was always a great deal of drink around to help the men cope. This obviously meant that temptation was placed before him regularly. The mother had occasionally drunk too much but at the time of the application had been a teetotaller for two years. It was hoped the boys would be helped by the Society so that their mother might take a situation and "earn herself a good name, for she had just had an illegitimate child". She might later be able to make a home for her children or at least contribute to their support. The children's grandmother was interested in their welfare; she had brought up the eldest girl and had recently taken in the eldest boy. She hoped to be able to help with H. and G. later. Two other girls were in a Home run by the sister of the lady making the application. The NSPCC were involved in the case and in 1893 both H. and G. were in their Liverpool Home. The Society agreed to take on this case and the brothers were kept together all the time they were in its care. They were initially boarded out with foster parents in Cheshire. In October 1900 it was reported that H. was working as an errand boy after school and giving his foster mother 3/- 6d a week. The Society felt that in these circumstances the foster mother should be content with a lower rate of payment than she currently received for the maintenance of the boys; then they decided that it would be best if the children were transferred to a Training Home. It was decided to remove both the boys from the foster mother's care because, in addition to H. giving her the money he earned, it was believed that she did not treat them very well. On 29 November 1900 H. and G. were transferred to St Deniol's Home, Arthog, Dolgellau, Wales. In March 1901 it was felt that the boys were growing too old to continue to be maintained by the Society and enquiries were made about the possibility of them being returned to the care of their mother and stepfather. Their mother had married again and had a new young family. Her husband was a good workman, he was a "brick setter" by trade, but he had abused alcohol in the past and although he claimed to have become a teetotaller, it was not certain that he would be able to keep from drinking. When drunk he was like a "wild thing" and it was feared that he might turn on his stepchildren. The family were also very poor. There was a suggestion that the boys might be apprenticed to their stepfather, but it was hoped to leave them in the Home for a little while to see how things worked out for the family. At the end of March the boys' family decided that they should return home as soon as possible. As their mother was just about to have another baby the children were discharged initially to the care of their grandmother who was to look after them for 6 or 8 weeks until their mother was in a better position to receive them. |
