The boys are kept until a good home is found for them, or they are appren-
ticed to some kind employer. St. Mary's, however, aims as far as it is possible,
to fill its function as a "home" in the true sense of the word, and therefore, un-
like secular institutions, which seem to be only too anxious to get their charges
off their hands, no children are sent away unless there is assurance that they
will be made happy in their newly found homes, and that their spiritual as well as
their material welfare, is looked after.
GET SOME STATE AID.
Up to 1902 St. Mary's was supported wholly by subscriptions from the chari- tably inclined, but in that year the legislature passed a measure whereby an orphan receives approximately $4.20 per month. Small as the amount is, it helps much. It is required, however, that the child be either an orphan or a half- orphan, and that never at any time has anything been paid for his support. Often a relative or friend will place a child in St. Mary's, promise to pay for his sup- port, pay a few dollars and fail in subsequent payments. That money paid will then debar the institution from receiving a cent from the state for the child's support. There are many in the home now for whom never a cent is received.
But this sketch would not be complete without the mention of Grandma Theisen. Many and many a little one has "grandma" as she is generally known, proven a mother to. Mrs. K. Theisen has been with the home since its infancy and during that time she has taken care of all the "babies," as their older com- panions term them, and there she has "mothered" with unsurpassed affection and success. By the hundreds of people who have .rjiet this genial and kind old lady she will not soon be forgotten. -':-*-..•'
THE HOME OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
The Portland Home of the Good Shepherd was established in the fall of 1902, by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, who came from the province of St. Paul, Minnesota. An institution of similar character had been conducted here by the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge, who became afifiliated with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. When the sisters first arrived from St. Paul their home was at Park Place, but on account of the distance from the city was found unsuitable. Archbishop Christie procured for the sisters the present location at East Twentieth and Irving streets, which had been occupied formerly by the Sisters of Refuge. The building was remodeled and enlarged in 1906 on account of the growing needs of the home.
ITS OBJECT.
The object of the home is principally to care for and reclaim wayward girls. To accomplish this object the sisters try to instill into the minds of their charges habits of industry and regularity for "sloth is the mother of much evil" they think. The girls are taught housework, cooking and laundry work in which all that may be termed laborious is done by steam power. The children as they are called by the sisters, take turns in serving in the dining room. They are taught to make their own clothes, to do fine sewing and embroidery and for those who are de- ficient in the primary branches of study there are classes 9 in the morning until 12 each day. For good conduct those who desire it are given music lessons and an hour to practice daily.
MANY CARED FOR.
Since 1902 the home has received 427 girls of which number there are 79 in the institution at present. Of these many are remaining because they prefer the safety from temptation and the quiet happiness found in the Hfe in the home. The
