, 1874-09-13
before putting her in jail This Home WEE in
stltnted for Just such girls will take her and

t.
brought her back
She persisted in saying that she would Meth er
stay there 80 to the IrldoWcll, declaring that
It they took her to Jail she would Ind some way
OF getting out Those two men reasoned with
that girl for nearly an hour. and, being assured
By me that she would find nothing but kind
treatment there. she finally consented, though
very unsraciously, to try it for awhile.
Let honor be given where honor is due, Our
policemen are not all bad. Those two at least
we're good men, and probably have sayed that
girl from entering upon q life OF shame and
degradation. for which every true Womanly heart
will thank them
/ led her toa chair. in which she sat down.
and took 4 seat beside her. - girl as old aud
IS intelligent looking as you arc cannot be 80
very bad" said.
She looked al me with look Of defiance.
and said, II en- bad. II
II do not think you a. bad as you are repro
eented," said to her.
II am bad, tell you" sho replied in :he
same defiant manner.
Iou must have been very unaindly treated,
then. if you are bad You will r,l:e. With none
but friends here. Every one will Le kind to You:
aud you may, If you will try, learn to be good.
I said to her.
sho then laid her hcad on the table and in
dulged in q long fit Of crying, which l took to be
HI encouraging sign. and en- evidence that she
Was but little used to kindness. The next day
Nre. Leonard, the President cano to the Shell
ter, and learning how the girl came there; qnes-
toned her Of her former lie. She learned t:!at
Norwegian brought this gsrl from Norway Two
years since aud consigned her to the care OF her
aunt in Chicago, and although she had been
hero brt two shurt years she had learned to
speak the English language.
What was your fathor:" asked Mrs. Leon
ard
II never had father" replied the girl
"But you must have had father, )" said Mrs.
Leonard"
II never had 1nthes tell sou" she per-
sisted in saying.
After some further questioning, she said, :" Hy
mother married when WAS years old, she had
other ehildrcn-bofys and girls; they had
father, but never had one"
What sad history is contained in those few
words, "They had father. bnt I never had
one" Poor forsaken dowu-trodden child. No
wonder she was, as she called hetsolf, ''bad-"
Ono can imagine the difference in treatment che
received from her more-favored brothers and
sis1era; how unkindly she WIS used. and hnally
sent to L foreign country, under the care of =
stranger to au aunt who was willing to conslGn
her to the tonder mcrcies of tho BrideWell
This girl has now been in the Home for more
than two weeks. She has in that short time,
become very much attached to the Aatzon. has
shown By un1n;stakable signs that she possesses
au adect1onate nature, and Is not u1Gratetul
for auy kiudpess shown to her. The Matron has
thought it best not to give her steady work just
at present but to allow her to follow her own
inclination, either to work or play, as pleases
her. Shs has, however. on seyeyeral occasions,
shown an aptuess for work, and whatever she
does undertake she does ii with all her might.
She is bright, quick. aud Intelligent. notices
everything that transpi1e5, frequently makes
pertinent remarks, and gives quick. apt repl!ee
to Questlons. She has already begun to ASK
the Matron about her future life, and the posi-
bili1y Of Intending school and gaming IN educa-
ton.
Had this home for the homeless not been es-
tabl!eted and those policemen felt constrained
TO take this young irl to the BrideNell how long
would il have boen before she would hare fallen
where she could never more have been raised 10
the standard OF purity and responsibility, and
ne are glad that it has shown thus early II ft5
career that it lB not only intended as shelter
for fallen women who desire 70 reform. but thar
it intends to keep women from failing, which -
more to the purpose. While II Is noble work
to reform fallen woman, it is much more noble
to protect young Toucn and place them where
they will not be liable to fall.
I noticed particularly one of the inmates, a
pretty young woman, whose lace "as very paie,
and as she walked ACROSS the room I could see
that she WAS very feeble learned that she
Was taken there while under the influence of
laudanuun. which she had swallowed with the ill.,
tention Of committing suicide Why she had
taken it and what was her HISTORY, the Matron
had not learned. She forbora to trouble her
with questions while she was yet feeble. and
would wait until she had recovered her strength,
when she might perhal1 volunteer 10 give the
desired information.
The divine injunction, When ye pray, say, Our
Father who art in heaven, ETC., is strictly carried
out, although latitude Is given to those who
would prefer to make moro lengthy prayers. The
Matron iB one OF those practical women Who
deem prayer OF little account unlee5 it IS accom-
panied by suitable acts, and she rrefers TINT her
prayers stall consist i'll following her aayiors
example, doing good to all those around her.
She has formed the opinion that: while there are
plenty Of people ready to pray for these women.
there are but few to wnrk, and, as she rcco1-
nizeB the necessity and benefit OF prayer. she
will leave it to those who are III the habit of
praying, while she will do her full share OF the
work.
In speaking upon this subject she said, When
that young woman was recovering from tile
effects of the laudanum she had taken she was
extremely nervous. lay down by her on tho
bed. put my arms ground her, told her Of the
good hon1e.she was in, the Kindness she would re-
cciye. and the friends she would find, and At
tempted to impress upon her mind that would
Re to her true friend who would not f:ii her.
/ succeeded in soothing her IN some small degree,
aud oslieting tho extreme restIeasness Of her
neryoas system. Now, WAS not that better than
prayer? Whas effect do you suppose a long
prayer would have had upon her in that state
Of course I could uos tell, I conld only fancy
the physician Of the Home, would have prescribed
it but if that Matrons true motherly kindness
to that poor girl was not q sublime prayer w!lich
would reach tie ears Of our Heavenly Father, /
doubt the efficiency Of al prayer.
''Or," continued the Matron. just fancy
the elect Oh that rude girl surprising that ! had
knels down and prayed with her the first thing.
imagine she would r1n away, and should have
lost her II that girl Inns any chance at all. she
will make an unusually bright, Intelligent woman.
aud no one eau tell what she may do for others
in tho future"
The organization has been very fortunate in
it's selection Of 8 Natron she is clear-headcd,
sensible, practical woman, who will know as we'll
as auy one woman could how to deal With the
different phases Of fenlinity that como under her
charge.
While wss there several basketfuls Of pro-
visions wero brought in, Sl1 sent by gentlemen
Many things arc needed, such as beds and bed
ding. and changes Of rain1ent for the inmates.
ANY cast-ofT clothing which LADIES' deem too old
to wear will be welcomed by the inmates of the
Home.
Il is to bo hoped that the ladies will take hold
Of this institution IN good earnest. It would be
= disgrace to our sex to ueGlec. it, and allow the
gentlemen to prove by their deeds, that they are
far more ready than to enter into anything
that promises to elevate women and give tL2m
chance to keep within the pale Of resrectabllity.
We should, perforce, be compelled to drop tho
,k,,kn %jor