M Bringing Tliem. Into tlie FolcP The Story of the Kentucky Mountain Mission Children’s Home
A s to ld to Betty Bruechert
story of the Kentucky Mountain Mission Children’s Home is really the story of Gertrude, and Bobby Ray, and Alfred, and dozens of other precious little ones like them. In the spring of 1949, word came by the mountain “ grape vine” to Rev. and Mrs. Jack Brown, of Beattyville, Kentucky, missionaries of the Kentucky Mountain Mission, that seven motherless youngsters were barely existing in a tumble-down shack on remote Spencer Ridge. Their mother, unattended by any doctor, had died of pneumonia and complications follow ing childbirth, and their father was a hopeless drunkard. To reach them, Mr. Brown rowed across the Kentucky River and made a precarious way up a precipitous mountain trail for one and one-half miles. What a sight met his eyes! A Christian family had taken the week-old baby, but the other six were being “ cared for” by eleven-year-old Gertrude. The heavy washing, cooking, and cleaning (such as they were with no electricity and no running water) had already made a bent, little old woman out of the tiny girl. From carrying the younger children on her hip, she had developed a decided limp. Although the Browns had several children of their own, and tremendous responsibilities in their regular mission work, they agreed that something must be done about these little ones. Securing the aid of several friends, a sled (for snow was still on the ground) and a mule, Mr. Brown again made his way up the steep trail. The children’s pitiful garments, the old sewing machine (the sole possession of the deceased mother) and the baby crib, together with the human freight
of seven little children, were loaded into the sled, and hauled to the river bank. One of the children was obliged to stand on a runner to prevent the sled from turning over. But they reached the shore without mishap, and rowed the children and “things” across the river in two leaky boats. Having had only a few months’ schooling, none of these children were able to read or write; they were unfamiilar with the commonest appliances and utilities such as electricity, running water, washing machine and refrigerator; they were full of stupid superstitions such as its being “bad luck” to sweep after dark, and that putting one’s shoes under the bed caused backache. They had received no instruction at all in the things of God. In addition, they were all suffering from malnutrition. But within a few months what a change good food and care made! Rosy-cheeked and bright-eyed, they plunged into school and play with the zest of the very young. Their past troubles soon forgotten, they filled the halls with their merry laughter. Gertrude, grown straight and attractive, completed the fourth grade in eighteen months! Yes, May 4, 1949, was indeed a red-letter day in the history of the Kentucky Mountain Mission when Gertrude and her brothers and sisters came to live with the Browns. For that was actually the beginning of the Children’s Home, and from that time it has become one of the vital enterprises of this worthy mountain Work. However, at that time the Browns had no inkling that their own home would become a Children’s Home, and that instead of being the parents of four, they would soon be mother and father to twenty-one boys and girls! Bobby Ray and Alfred Bobby Ray was the next to enter their hearts and home. When the Browns were informed that this three-year-old youngster and his little brothers were “ starving to death,” they thought it was just the imagination of the hill people. But they were shocked to find the report was not exaggerated. The nineteen-year-old mother greeted them indifferently with the question, “Are you the ones come to see about the kids? You can get the baby in the bed there.” This youngest baby boy was suffering so from malnutrition they took him straight to the hospital, returning the next day for the others. Sixteen- months-old Rawleigh was so weak he couldn’t hold his bottle; and Bobby Ray with the sparkling brown eyes also gave indi cations of extreme undernourishment. He had often slept in a ditch at night. Sometimes he was locked up alone in the shack as long as sixteen hours at a stretch. Loving care, medical aid and good food have altered these children almost beyond recognition, but Bobby Ray is still somewhat stunted in growth. The first time shoes were put on his feet he cried so hard moccasins had to be substi tuted. He didn’t know what butter was! But these three little brothers are rapidly overcoming the effects of early neglect by unloving parents, and are very contented and bright. Next on the scene was Alfred, twelve years old, and his five brothers and sisters. They too found a loving haven in the Children’s Home. But their family background was a bit different, although just as tragic. A good-for-nothing mother had forsaken the father and six children and the court gave him full custody. He had struggled hard for a long time to keep the little ones together. But they fell ill and he could get no dependable help from relatives. Added to these troubles was extreme poverty. So the poor fellow had to admit defeat and begged the Browns to help. On the dreary, rainy night the Browns came for the chil dren, the unfortunate man nearly cried his eyes out. But he knew it was for their best interests to let them go. He sin cerely wanted them to have a better life and particularly to T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
Favorite Time of Day: Junior “ chow line.”
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