The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-17

where you drop 'em right down." ex-
claimed Mary Jane, lucidly.
How good Rue was for days after
that How she washed dishes in the
kitchen, under the care of Miss Doro-
| thy, and made beds in the dormitories,
under the supervision OF Mrs. Mehita-
BILE, and so. at last, earned the privilege
of being the one sent to town on some
| tritiiing errand for the matron.
Thus it happened that one bright
morning the clerks in the post-oftice
were surprised by little packet tossed
in upon the floor, and q glimpse of a
blue check apron vanishing hurriedly
through the door. Unstamped and
with its odd address, it created ripple
of amusement. wig l.. .-.. b.. .E.
"tFor the greatest heather. That
must be you, Captain" declared one;
and the postmaster, laughingly, took
charge of it, and then forgot it until.
at home that evening, he found it in
his pocket.
p "What is ftp" asked his wife, pres
emily, as she saw him silent and alb
sorbed; and, looking over his shoulder,
she read the little letter with him.
Original in spelling and peculiar in
chirography it certainly was, but they
slowly deciphered it.
81 haven't any money to give cause Pm
one of the little girls at the Home Some of
them have relations TO send them things some
times; but haven't. have two Bibles; but
| wouldn't give this TO any one but the
heather, cause my own mamma gave it to
me- It's nice to have mamma to cuddle you
up and lore you just by your own self, and
tuck you into bed at night, and not have to be
put in q row all the time. IL makes lump all
swell up i'll my throat when tn. nix about It,
and my eyes get so hot and wet can hardly
see. l wish God did have homes enough, so
He could gve'every little boy and girl a real
one, and we needn't be all crowded up in one
big place, that's just called SO. Sometimes,
when see all the houses, it most seems as if
there must be enough to go round; but |
s'pose there isn't. Iguess it Il be the real kind
we'll have up in Heaven, and want to go
there a d that's why send you this Bible so
you can learn about t. You must read it and
be good. Oh! dearl It's dreadfully hard to be
good when you haven't any mamma. l hope
you've got one, if she is q heather. for I'm.
most sure that's better than no kind. Good
bye. RUE LINDSEY
Poor little thingi" exclaimed the
lady, half laughing, but with a sudden
moisture in her brown eyes.
Captain Grey looked around'the beau
tiful room. .H =
"Pm inclined to believe that letter
was properly directed and has reached
its rightful destination" he said
thoughtfully.i 'Think OF it, Mary-all
these cosy, pretty rooms, and no one to
occupy them but you and me, while
there are so many such little homes ok
souls in the world! You have spoken
of it before but [ was. too selfishly con-
tented to care about it. If Pm not the
greatest heathcn,' have certainly'been
far enough from the sort of Christianity
this book requires" r......
"WellP' questioned Mrs. Grey, with
shining eyes, waiting for the conclusion
of the matter. rE. lF h
"Shall go to morrow and bring this
little midget home with me-for visit,
say-and see what will come of it!''
1t did not occur to little Rue that the
stranger she met in the hall the next
i day, and who had q nginterview with
the matron, could be OF any possible in
terest to her small self, until she was
summoned downstairs. to see m.
"Would you like to 60 home with
this gentleman, for visit of a week or
two. Rue? He has come TO ask you,"
said the matron.
.Me?' questioned Rue, oblivious of
grammar lessons an I with dozen ex-
clamation points in her voice. There
was no danger of her declining. The
prospect of is anywhere. was de-
lighttul, and the possibility of such
thing almost as won erfJl as fairy
tale. So it was very bright little face
that aptain Grey found bes de him in
the carriage, an Rue 10 ,ked up at him
shyly, thro oh her rings q sunny hair,
t ask, as the only imaginable solution
of the happy problem: !" Are you one of
my relatiOnsp I'. ....... u. .....,
Eyes; but didn' remember it until
last night" he answered. gravely.
The weeks that followed were br mful
of Joy to Rue, and she won her wav
straight into the home and hearts that
had opene to receive her. .-.,.. .
".And so yoi think | may tell the
matron that you do not care to 60 back,
but are willing to stay herep ques-
toned the aptaiu, when .the allotted
time had expired. .l.,. .l...
81 guess, replied Rue, looking down
at her da rty, ru l ell attire and suddenly
fling NJ her arms around Mrs. 'Grey's
neck. " that you didn't ever live there,
and eat soup, and wear check aprons.
and have nobody like this to love, r else
you'd know" .'''' .' '' ~
But she has not learned yet shat it
was her own. missionary effort that
brought. so great reward. hate w.
Hamilton, IN N. Y. Independent.
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