The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-17
RUE's MISSIONARY EFFORT.

RUE'S MISSIONARY EFFORT.
The long line of blue check aprons
followed the other long line of small
blue jackets through the wide hall, up
the bare, polished Stairs, and into the
clean, airy chapel. Then, at signal,
every apron and Jacket slipped into it's
appointed place and the large room was
still. Little Rue apron had been about
midway in the procession, ard so she
found q seat near the middle of the
chapel, where. swinging the small feet,
| that could not touch the floor, she
looked listessly out through the window
opposite, over a beautiful view of grove
and meadow, and then up at the white
ceiling, where great fly buzzed at his
pleasure, without having to walk in line.
On the platform a man in tine broad
cloth and gold spectacles was beginning
to talk; but Rue.only listened dreamily.
"My dear children, am delighted to
visit this grand institution-to see so
many of you in this beautiful Home. so
well cared for, so well Instructed and so
happy
Rue wondered why all the men who
talked there said that. She wondered
if he really would like to eat and sleep
and walk in row and always wear q
blue check apron. Then she forgot all
about him, in watching the sunlight
play on the small head Immediately in
front of her. What brilliant red head
it was and then bright thought oc-
Cured to Rue. A few of those hairs,
twisted together, would make beauti-
f,,1 H., I. II 4
her one treasure; and, of course N airy
Jane Sullivan would never miss them,
if she only pulled out one here and
there. .........
Forward crept Rue's eager little fin
gers; but they were too nervous in their
haste to be sure that they held but a
single coarse hair before they twitcheG,
and the result was sudden explosive
SOW! from Mary Jane, the turning of
a battery of eyes in that direction, and
an immediate investigation by the au-
thorities into the cause Of the disturb
ance. Poor little Rue was marched off
/ in disgrace; but, as she reached the door,
she heard the speaker say: H .stF ..
Il am sorry this has happened; sorry
that any one shou miss what ] am 90
ing to say; for hoped to interest all
these dear children in the work of send
ing the Gospel to the heather"
1t was kind of him to call them all
! dear children, a ter hat dread ul event,
1 Rue re ected as, with burning cheeks
/ and fearful eyes, she stood with num-
Der o" other little culprits in one OF the
wide halls, for even punishment was in
rows at the H me. Shifting her weight
from one restless foot to the other, vet
! trying to stand s1ffic emily upright TO
answer the requirements of the pen
ance, Rue,did sincerely wish that she
had been q good girl and remained
/ quietly in the chapel, partly because OF
the humiliation hat had befallen her,
but also beca Sc she wanted to hearwhat
he had to say on the particular subject
4 he had named.
"Why didn't he begin with that?
and then I'd have lstenedr' she
thought, rather resent ully or ack
among Rue's few shadow memories of
the past, of love, and mother. and a
home that was not the Home was a dim
recolle ;tion OF some curious articles
which her baby hands had only been
allowed to touch carefully, because
they were mementos of an uncle who
had died ar away on a mission field.
$50 it would have been most Ike hear
ing about my relations; only haven't
got any," unused Rue. ''Oh, dear!
wish I'd staid good and hadn't pulled
Mary James hair. / didn't mean to,
anyway" ,e4i e,'ar
= She tried to find out about it., after
ward, by inquir ng OF one of the other
girls. BID
"Oh! he wanted the children to
try and save up something, so they
could help send hi les to the heather.
Guess, il, he lived here long, he'd find
we hadn't anything to save" was the
hurried reply. RI 9''F' 'H
Bibles! That was where Rue was
rich. She actually had two that had
leen brought from that faintly-remem.
bered home. ,., -.
II don't s'pose I'll read one of en-
to pieces; not if used it till f'm ig
woman, she said to herself 81 might
! give the other one. ought to help.
/ count of eng a relation, somehow
and want to G good. just do"
Later in the day she ventured anoth
er inquiry, soi na lU at'p aFsH
j Chow will he get those Bibles to the
, heathenP' ,s..e, ,srirs ~
IL don't know. Why. yes, he'll sent
| 'em through the post-olfice, of course
J What do you care so much about il
! forP'', I'd ..tt t.H3aIa aaf amt. ..
49, That was what Rue did not mean t.
, tell. She chose her prettiest Bible
spent the pla hours of two days il
writing an episte on the fly leaves, aht
tied itup n piece % brown paper
Her knowledge OF the post Office and t.
re ,uiremens was exceedingly linn ted
. but she supp sed it would be necessary
to put someth ng on the outside Of the
packet, 10 tell for whom it was intend
ed, She wanted 1t TO go where it was
needed the most, and, of course. thu
| post office people would know wher,
, that was. she re ected; so she carefully
printed, in very uneven letters; " Fo
the greatest heathen," and then lait
/ the precious pac age away, to await |
, future opportunity. She would trus
her secret to no one, lest some unrore
, seen in'e ference mi hit result, and sh,
cautiously sought in ormation.
/ .iHow do you do when you put any
thing into the post-otliceP" she de
manded OF Mary Jane sullivan.
ssWhT, YOU lust put 'em in. You q