Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-06-04
"S0,ssebOdU LOves Me-"

Two vi tHrcc years hSo Tue Supt. Oh tne
Little Wanderers Home in Boston receiv-
ed one morning request from the judge
that he would come up to the court room.
He complied directly and found there n
group ofseven little girls, ragged and dir.
ty, and forlorn, beyond what even he was
accustomed to see. The Judge pointed
to them (utterly homeless and friendless,) }
and said: "Mr. T, can you take
any of these ?"
Certainly I'll take them all" was his
prompt reply.
"All! What in the world can you do
with them?"
"rll make women Of them"
The Judge singled out one, even worse
in appearance than the rest and asked
again: What can you do with that one9'
"Ill make q woman of her." Mr.. 7. re-
peated firmly and hopefully. He took
them all home. They were washed and
dressed and provided with good supper
and beds. The next morning they went
into the school-room with the rest of the
children. Mary was the name of the little
girl whose chance for better things the
Judge thought so small. During the fore
noon the teacher said 10 Mr.. I. in refer
ence TO her, II never saw child like that
have tried for IN hour to get a single
smile and failed"
Mr.. T. said afterwards himself that her
face was the saddest he had ever seem
sorrowful beyond expression yet she was
q rery little girl only five or six years old.
After school he called her into his office
and said pleasantly: Mary, I've lost my
little pet. used to have little girl he re
that would wait on me, and sit on my
knee, and loved her very much. A kind
gentleman and lady adopted her and she
went to live with them. miss her, and
should like you TO take her place, and
be my pet now. viii you P'
A gleam of light fitted over the poor
child's face as she began to undcrstand d
him He gave her ten cents and told her
that she might 60 TO store near by an d
get some candy. While she was out he
took up two or three newspapers, tore
them in pieces and scattered them about
the room. When she returned in few
minutes, he said to her. Mary, will you
clear up my office little for me' Pick
up these papers and make it look real ntce?
She went to work with will. A little
more of this sort Of management-in fact
treating her just as kind father would,
wrought the desired result. She went in p
to the school-room after dinner with So
changed a look and bearing that the teach
er was astonished. The child'1 fac wa.
absolutely radiant; and half ferHl o.
some mental wandering she wsHt +" h.-
and said; MARY what /. it2 Wnai maize.
you look SO happy
"Oh I've got somebody to lore me =
SOMEBODY To LOVE Me-" the child answer
ed earnestly, as if it were heaven come
down to earth.
That was all the secret. For want of
lore that little tne's life had been so cold
and desolate that she had lost childhood's
beautiful faith and hope. She could not
at first believe in the reality of kindness
or Joy for her. 1t was this certainty thgt
some one loved her and desired her affec.
ton, that lighted the child's soul, and
glorified her face.
Mary has since been adopted by wealthy
people, and lives in beautiful home in
New England; but more than all its COM
fort and beauty, running like n golden
thread through it all, she finds the love
of her father and mother.
Shall we who have many to love, and
love us, refuse to be comforted, TO see
any value and use in life, any work for us
to do, because, one OF our treasures may
be removed from our sight, our home aud
care. to better
And oh shall we let any of these little
ones 90 hungering for affection, go up ey-
en- to Gods throne before they find lone
to love themP" Arthur's Home Mag
azine.