Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-05-19

] Fleetwood. Il is hard, when years lay upon
ne their long accommodating burdens, to ind
earthly props suddenly removed. Poor mani
Il seems az if be ought to have been spared.
Whathe haa to give be had given freely and !
thank him with grateful feelings. Yes, have
a father IN heaven, and I viii look up % him
in these days Of darkness. He vii, show as
the way. Who knows but the path Is opent for
us?''
any " thought, mother. There are more
than forty children in this town who are grow
ing up 10 as much Ignorance as Henry Aud
and bis sister. Their parents viii not, or can
not, send them to school. These children have
immortal souls, and almost Infinite capacities
that will be developed for good or evil. They
are Gods children. Let as care for them, and
/ God will care for us. Let us take the loaf Of
bread and pitcher Of milk as the sign Of Gods
providence toward us. / feel, dear mother,
that such truth viii not be in vain. Mr.. Fleet
woods letter has turned the channel OF my
thoughts in a new direction. May God reward
hin for all be has said to US in this our time Of
need, and said so kindly and so wisely"
The daughters hope and faith flowed into
tie mothers heart. They were not indolent,
self-indulgent women. All they asked was to
be shown their work; and now, in their eyes,
il seemed 10 be living around them.
On the next day Henry Aud cam over with
his sister Katy, and received the promised les
sons.
do you know any other boys and girls who
wish TO know bow to learn TO read ?D asked
Mrs. Maynard, as the children were about 60
Ing away.
"Oh, yes, I know a good many" replied
Henry, and then stood waiting to hear what
would come next.
"Bring them along when you come to-mor-
row. said Mrs. Maynard. at will be as easy
to teach half a dozen as two"
"Won't Tom Jones be glad, though she
heard Henry say to his sister as they went out
through the gate.
Three months went BY, and yet Mr.. Fleet
wood received no response to the answer
which be had given to Mrs. Msynsrd's i'm
pioring letter. He did not remember distinctly
what be bad written. He only knew that be
had sent her mere words wien she asked for
deeds. He never thought OF her without a
troubled feeling.
Glow cold and h~sartless that letter must
have seemed" be would say to himself some
times. "Ah, il she really knew how il was
With me; il she could only see into nv breast,
poor wJmani But she is in the hands Of God,
md be lie a friend that sticketh closer than a
brother.D
At last there came a reply to bis words Of
encouragement and hope, which, though flow
ing warm from bis heart, seemed to grow 90
cold in the utterance. Mrs. Maynard wrote :
MY DEAA Sir: More than four months ago
you wrote to ne: "Yoa have a father il
heaven, dear madam, and a father who has not
forgotten you. Look to Him and hope in
Him" And you said also ale has some
thing for allhis children to DO; and something
for you to do, and your hands viii find the
work. It may DOW be lying, all unseen,
around you" Ny heart blessed you, sir, for
those hopeful, suggestive words. Yes, God
bad work for ne 70 do-and It was lying, even
when 7 wrote 70 yen in my fear and despair,
all around ne, though unseen BY my Gull eyes.
Like apples Of gold in pictures OF silver, were
your ftly spoken words. had taught a child
his letters, and his poor but grateful mother
sent ne in return a loaf Of bread and a pitch
er Of milk for my children. Your letter and
this offering, in Gods providence, came to-
gether. had the text and illustration side by
side. There were many ignorant children in
our town, said Alice and I, one to the other,
and they are Gods children. Let Us teach
more Of them, as we taught this child, taking
that loaf Of bread and Offering Of milk as a sign
that God will provide for US in the work. We
did not hesitate, but acted on the suggestion
at once. And now we have over thirty poor
little children under our care and VS. have not
wanted for bread. Some Of the parents pay
Us in money, some in provisions, and some do
uuLAluE Al return. but we take dl cullQren
who come. Yesterday We had notice from the
town council that an appropriation Of one
hundred dollars a year had been made out OF
the public funds for the support Of our school
Does not the land OF a wise and good provi-
dence appear in all this? Oh, sir, I cannot
too warmly thank YOU for the wise words OF
that timely letter. God bless you for having
theml Gratefully yours,
ALICE MAYNARD.
"Only words,o said Mr.. fleetwood, as be
folded the letter with moist eyes. "Orlr
words! They seemed such a cold and heart
return for good deeds, asked pleadingly
and in tears, that I had to compel myself to
write them. Yet, see their good Fruit If we
do, let us speak kindly and hopefully