Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-03-02
" Somebody Loves Me-"
BY MRS. NJ. o. JOHNSTON.

Two or three years ago, the super
intendent of the Little Wanderers
Home in Boston, received one morn
ing, a request from the judge that he
would come up to the court ROOM
He complied directly, and found there
a group Of seven little girls. ragged,
dirty, 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 all ?"
'1ll 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 one? ?"
"lll make a woman of her." Mr..
T--repeated, firmly and hopeful
ly. He took them all home. They
were washed and dressed and pro-
vided with a good supper and beds.
The next morning they went into the
school room with the rest of the chill
dren. Mary was the name of the lit
tie girl whose chance for better things
the judge thought was so small. Dur
ing the forenoon, the (eacher said to
Mr.. T, in reference to her, Il
never saw a child like that | have
tried for an hour to get single smile
and failed"
Mr.. T--said afterwards, him
self that her face was the saddest he
had ever seen-sorrowful beyond ex-
preston; yet she was a very 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 a
little girl here that would wait upon
me and sit On my knee, and | loved
her very much. A kind gentleman
and ladF adopted her, and she went
to live with them. | miss her and |
should like you to take her place and
be my little pet now will YOU? ?"
A CLEAN of light fitted over the
poor chiid's face, as she began to un-'
derstand him. He gave her ten cents
and told her she might 90 to the store
near by, and get her some candy
While she was out, he took two or
three newspapers, tore them in pieces
and scattered them about the room.
When she returned, in a few minutes,
he said to hfr, Mary will you clear
up my office for me; pick up these
papers and make it look real nice ?"
She went to work with a will. A
little more of this sort of manage
ment-in fact, treating her just as a
father wOnid wrought the desired
result. She went into the school room
after dinner, with so changed a look
and bearing, that the teacher was as
tonished. The child's face was abso-
lutely radiant; ana half fearful of
some menta. wandering. she went up
to her, and said, MARY what is it ?
What makes YOU look so happy ?"
ooh, I've got somebody to lore me
somebody to love me-" the child an
Swered earnestly, as if it were heaven
come down to earth.
This was all the secret. For want
of love that little ones life had been
so cold and desoate 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 that some one low,
ed her and desired her affection, that
lighted the child's soul and glorifed
her face
Mary has since been adopted by
wealthy people, and lives in a beauti-
full home in New England; but more
than all It's comfort and beauty, run
ming like 4 golden thread through it
all, she finds the love of her father
and mother.
Shall we who have many to love
and to love US, refuse to be comfort
ed, to see any value and use in life
any work for our hands to do, be
cause one of our treasures may be
removed from our sight-from oul
home and care to better?
And oh !! shall we let any of these
little ones go hungering for affection
go up even T. Gods throne, before
they find ''onc even to love them ?"