The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-06-18
A May Story.

4 little story was told to us lately which
seems to be worth repeating. Some time
ago a child i'll with hip disease was brought
into a certain asylum in New Y Ork-a little
girl of five years old, who, from fright or
weakness, cried bitterly on her admission.
Another girl, little Swede of about nine.
head her. "Is she crying because she
has lefther mOther?" she asked the matrOn.
mo. She has no mother: she is an
orphan" Her friends. then, may beE'
" She mas no friends. She has nobody in
the world to take care of her, unless she
finds one here" Jennie, the little Swede,
stood for minute or two sOberly looking
at the stranger. She was not a pretty
child, nor attractive in any way, being
homely, diseased and ill-tempered. 81
think | will take care of her." said Jennie,
gravely. "Ill be friend TO her," and she
went over to the stranger then and there
and began to soothe and humOr her. The
matron, thinking it only passing childish
outburSt. paid no attention to it, even when
she found that Jennie had secured seat
at the table next to the child, and had
managed TO have her placed in the bed
next her own in the dOrmitory. But
when the story was told to us year after
wards, the little girl had never failed once
in her self-imposed trust. As far as was
practicable she took the place OF mother or
elder sister to the child who, still lame and
suffering, needed a constant attention and
care which the matron and nurses could not
give. She cut and prepared her food at
meals, humOred her peevish fancies during
the day, and at night was in the habit OF
! lying down half-dressed, to be ready 10
! spring up at a moments warning, and she
passed many a night, it was discovered,
! holding the child's head in her arms or
! soothing her. On any holiday or when
! visitors came, Jennie's first anxiety was to
make her little charge preSentable, just as
a fond mother would do; and when the
children were once given an excursion, or
an afternoons romp on the grounds, Jen-
ME had an excuse to account for hel not
going. and actually, although her tears
chOked her, she being but a child, would
have stayed. patient and cheerful, beside
the lame child, who could not go. if her de-
ception had not been found out. The sim
gular part of the story was, too, that the
child was not a lovable nor grateful one
but peevish. jealous and tyrannical towards
her poor little nurse, who apologiZed for
and made the best of her to Others, after
the habit of mothers. There were many
other children in the asylum prettier and
more winning; but Jennie was true TO the
one whose only recommendation was that
''she had no friends
When We pass through the streets Of ten
ement houses which alternate with sonle
OF the most luxurious in the city, and
catch glimpses of the thousands of puny,
helpless little wretcheS shut up in their
foul garrets and cellars, who have such
sure grounds for fear of the coming sum-
mer months. which are almost certain TO
bring a death warrant TO most of them,
we wish that Jennie was not poor little
pauper in an asylum. but one of the wo-
men with me ms and influence and energy
who live just over the way from these
houses. If she were, the fict that these
wan-faced little beggars have no friends
would place them first in her care.-N.
Y. Tribune.