Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1857-10-29
For the Bellevue Gazette.
The Orphan.


grief and sorrow, with which earth is fill
ed, what can appeal more directly to our
sympa,hies than the desolate situation Of
the orphanl The loving, trusting heart
of childhood, throwing out its tendrils of
affection, not to meet n parents warm re-
turn, bu, so often TO be crushed by careless
feet, while all its beautiful sympathies and
~insticts, are SO often entirely disregurded.
Then come hooking memories of the dis
tant pust,-of a fathers pride and love, a
mothers tenderness, and the joyous music
of brothers and sisters, who gathered
around the happy ireside of home, in sad
contrast with the harsh rebuke, the stern
command, the little unshared griefs and
sorrows, which 50 often fill the heart of
the orphan child, with bitterness, as well
as sorrow. / will mention one incident of
the passage of the year, in the life of an
orphan, to which my heart often recurs.
One cold winters morning, about three
weeks after the of my
winters school, a boy about Is years of
age, entered, with his books, and took his
seat among my scholars. He gave me
his name, and remarked that he was to
spend the winter with his uncle, two miles
distant, and should attend school, regular
ly, during the winter.
Before night, l had heard his brief his
tory. He was an orphan, early thrown
upon the cold charities of the world, and
had game from place to place, seeking a
home but had universally been called a
hayward, obstinate, and bad boy and
one that it was perfectly impossible to
manage, until his uncle, plying his DESC
late situation, had offered him a home for
the winter, with an opportunity of attend
ing school. For one week, he had at
tended the village school, but after being
repeatedly punished, he was at the close
of the week, excluded from the school,
and then sent 10 me.
He had a fine, manly ~countenance, and
expressive eye, and knowing his friend
less situation, my whole heart w2s enlist
ed in earnest efforts for his improvement;
and with much interest | watched the dali
ly development of his character. | de-
teCted an uncommon love of independence,
and constant fear of tyranny on the part of
those who had control of him. Two days
passed before | had any direct conversa-
lion with him, although during that time
he had frequently evaded my request, and
twice had promptly said l wont to some
simple requirement, although l had each
time been able to quietly secure obedience.
But at the close of the second day, l told
him | wished a little conversation with
him as | thought it necessary we should
, understand each other better-that j
: would be far more pleasant for me if j
were never necessary TO exercise any au'
thority in school. | wished to come in thu
school room as the friend of my scholars
AS a true friend to aid them all in my
power, and as a friend | asked their con
Fl lence. should request them to do wha
/ thought best, and hoped they would new
err make it necessary for me to demanC
obedience, as | never should unless
thought it necessary, and the good of tn
school demanded it. All the time | wa
speaking, his full expressive eye neve
turned from mine, and when had finished
he said promptly before the whole schooI
"if that is so Mrs. N. | shall never max
l. you any more trouble" All! there was
soul looking fourth from those eyes, ths
needed but instruction and guidance; a
immortal spirit TO be plumed for its etel
nal flight, and r~ererentiy l asked "our Fla
Their" for wisdom for the important worl
He was true TO his promise, for frol
that night, there never was an act of d
rect disobedience, nor the least attempt
evade the necessary requirements {
school. But he was far from faultless-
in his intercourse with the scholars ther
were often rough expressions, profau
: words, sometimes even direct falsehoo'
and ~overbearing spirit, and for the mo
trivial causes, often the hot blood of angt
t. would flush cheek and brow-faults whic
a mothers watchful eye could have readi
controlled, but which had so strengthens
d. by the many years indulgence, that the