The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-10-18
Those Ranly Children.
BY MISS E. E. NEWMAN.

10 VI
81 don't think we had better trouble our
selves to dress up those Ranly children
again, said the President Of our Benevo-
lent Society, as We talked over our work.
ave have done it regularly every spring
and fall for years, and what good does it do?"
& can't see that it does any, said one of
the busy workers. "They never go to Sun
day School more than three or four Sundays
after they are dressed, and they beg just the
same as before, and they always lie and steal
when they have a chance l don't think
Sunday School does them any good.
"There isno interestin working for them, "
added another; "we have done it 50 long
without any result, that I'm discouraged l
would rather work for some one who seems
to profit by the teaching,
There was a murnUr Of assent 20 what
had been said, and the unhappy children
we're in danger of being excluded from the
charities of the society, when one voice was
raised in their favor. A large-eyed, golden
haired girl, who had been sewing very dill
gently through the whole conversation, said
gently, q wish we could have patience with
those children little longer, know they
are provoking and bad, but only think what
a home they have; their father and mother
both drink, and the mother is in Jail half the
time. 1 don't think we ought to expect
those little girls to gain much now from the
teaching at Sunday School, but they are
very bright, and hope they viii remember
something that viii do them good.
I'm afraid that the harvest will take a
long time to grow, answered one. "But
you know more about them than We do; if
you think there is any hope there, perhaps
we had better try again.
"They don't seem to me hopeless at all, .
replied Mary. "Tm sure they're no worse
than should be in their place, and we ought
to expect it to take time for the teaching Of
one hour to couuteract all the rest of the
week.
"Wel, if they're never any worse than
you would be in their place, we will clothe
them for some time to come, said the pres
ident, and the matter was settled.
Mary was the only one who cared much
for those disagreeable, unpromising children.
We worked for them as a matter of duty,
but no one liked them. She taught them
patiently, followed them when they strayed
away from Sunday School, always had char
ity for their repeated offences, audimpersOn-
atei Christianity for them. They liked the
treatment in a general way, and thought
Miss Mary very good and kind; but they did
lie and steal most perseveringly, not to men
ton their minor heathenisms, and the rest Of
us would sometimes protest against any more
effort for them. Mary always could see hope
and encouragement in the case, and We
yielded because she was the only one who
really understood it.
Years after, went back to the town of
which I have spoken. The gOlden-haired
girl with large eyes, whose charity never
failed, had gone home to heaven. asked
abou. the Ranly children, and was told that
one was a good Christian woman, useful
member Of society; the other had died. l
thought of our friend gone to her rest, and
Of that added thrill of JOY, which must reach
her even in the heavenly mansions, because
God worked through her to save that soul.
Any of US impatient ones, who would
have dropped the poor hayward outcasts
from our care, would be glad Of her reward;
butve we're not ready for her work. l think
we al learned something from our failure.
Sunday School Times.