Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-04-07
The Orphans.

Are YOU asleep, Susieln whispered half
sobbing voice, coming from sorrowful
looking little boy, as he bent over his Sis
ter's bed.
'sNo, Benny; what's the matter. Does
it hurt you yet where he whipped your
s.Yes, awfully; and I'm SO hungry. He
wouldn't give me any supper. ltell you
| won't stand it; I'm going to run away. J"
s'And leave me, Benny: i should die in
this old poor-house alone;" and Susie raised
herself in the bed, and looked mournfully
out of the large window.
''Let's run away together. Wouldn't it
be nice if it was SUMMER Then We could
go away of in the woods, where nobody
could find us, and pick berries and nuts to
eat and have a splendid time"
''Hush, Benny; talk low, or you will
wake up some of the others. You know IT
ISN'T summer, and we should freeze and
starve TO death if we left here nOw,'
I'D rather freeze 10 death than be treat
ed as | am; and am about starved now"
replied Benny, half-crying.
''I'li tell you, Benny. Ny teacher told
us last Sunday that everything belonged to
God;' and she told us once, if we prayed
IN earnest he would answer our prayers.
Don't you think, SUSIE" interrupted
Benny, looking Bistfully out at the clear
blue sky, lighted by myriads of bright stars,
that that big star up there Is where God
keeps all his good things, like nice cakes
and pies?'
-'Oh. no, OF course he don't: but | think
he keeps his money in Il; and perhaps if
we pray TO hlm very hard he will just drop
us some down. Then we could do just as
we wanted to, and have everything we
want. o Benny, let's kneel down and pray
this minute.n
Down went four little knees, clasped were
four little hands, closed were four little
eyes, and earnestly moved four little lips.
God listened 10 theiT petition, and answered
It in his own wise way.
After their prayer was said they crept
softly 10 the window and looked anxiously
up at the great star in the sky. Suddenly
thew claspcd each others hands, and Susie
whispered joyfully, ''lIe did hear US. He
did hear usl He did hear US! saw some
thing bright fall right on that big house
over there
IL suppose he didn't drop it 'zackly
straight, or else the wind blew il away q
little" said Benny. ''How shall We ever
get 2"
Wen have TO wait TIL morning, and
then get off some way and tell the folks that
live there all about it. and ask them to let
us go up and get it. We must go to bed
now, though, SO we can get up early; and
I'll tell YOU, Benny, maybe we won't ever
sleep In this old poor-house again, said
Susie, as she kissed him good night.
Mr.. Herman Rock, the owner of the ''big
stone house." was a soured, delsolate old
man. Once he had been different, when
his sweet wife and child were alive, but
since their death lie had grown crusty and
misery. So people were rather afraid of
him, and let HIM mostly to himself and his
maiden sister, whs kept house for HIM and
was his only friend and companion. On
the morning following the beginning of this
story, as Mr. Rock and his sister Celia were
taking their morning meal in their great
clean kitchen. there came a timid knock at
the door, and on opening ii who should
appear before them but little Susie and
Benny from the poOr-house. The children
both seemed very much frightened at first,
but soon Susie summoned up courage and
related her story, about her lonely condi-
tion-how they were abused, their prayer
and the bright thing they saw fall on the
house. and then asked permission TO take
ladder and climb up to get their treasure.
She told her story so simple and innocently
that the two listeners faces first wore an
amused expression, which soon softened
into one of pity, and icy fetters that had
long bound Celia Rocks heart soon melted
away in a food of tears as she took the lit
tie ones in her arms and lavished on them
many kind words and fond caresses.
.'Give them some breakfast, then come
into the sitting -room." commanded Mr..
Rock in hoarse voice as he left the room.
Celia Rock knew by the changed look
and excited appearance of her brother that
something uncommon was about to occuri
but she was not prepared for what happen
ed when she came before him.
Cecilia Rock, said he, walking hurriedly
across the room, ''you and | have shut out
the sunlight from our lives long enough;
we have locked up our talents long enough;
we have hid away our gold long enough.
Let us now undo the shutters and let in the
sunlight: unfasten the rusty bolts that bar
in our talents and improve them; dig up
our gold and make use of it, that we may
be as stars IN Gods hands to drop blessings
and comforts to his little children
So Susie and Benny did find the gift God
sent them-no; in bundle of gold on the
top of Mr. Rocks house, as they had ex-
pected, bu, in a pleasant home inside.
And when in after years they prayed for
blessings which seemed so bright, they
added trus;ingly-rememberin the past
answer, Father in thine own way.