Summary of mary ellen's story by howard markel

The story was based on a girl named Mary Ellen who left a very remarkable presence on the history. Mary Ellen’s father died when she was young. Her mother could not afford to take care of her baby therefore she was sent to the orphanage from where she was adopted by a couple. But het adopted father died after the adoption and her adopted mother’s neglection and abuse toward her begins. She could not tell anyone because she was afraid she was going to get into more trouble. Finally one of the neighbors notices her and reports to Department of Public Charities. From that point Mary Ellen’s case became very famous. It was published in New York Time; the case even went to the Supreme Court. In the end her adopted mother was guilty of what she had done to her. Mary Ellen went to a temporary placement in home for delinquent teenagers from there. But later on Etta Wheeler, her mother and her sister in New York, raised her. Her story ended well. She was married and had two children. She adopted one girl and she raised her well.