The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-02-10
RUE'S HEATHER.

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 a signal,
every apron and Jacket slipped into its
appointed place and the large room was
still. Little Rue s apron had been about
midway in the procession, ard so she
found 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 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 line 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 50
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
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 wasl And then a bright thought oc-
Cured to Rue. A few of those hairs,
twisted together, would make beauti-
full chain for the neck of her china doll,
her one Treasures; and, of course Mary
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 Gwitched,
and the result was a sudden explosive
GOVT from Mary Jane. the turning of
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:
- am sorry this has happened; sorry
that any one should miss what am 60
ing to say; for l hoped to interest all
these dear children in the work of send
ing the Gospel to the'heathen.
1t was kind of him 10 call them all
| dear children, after that dread ul event,
Rue reflected, as, with burning cheeks
and fearful eyes, she stood with num-
| Der of other little culprits in one OF the
wide halls, for even punishment was in
rows at the Home. Shifting her weight
from one restless foot to the other yet
trying to stand sufficiently upright to
answer the requirements of the pen
! lV 81 hot ho
had been good girl and remained
quietly in the chapel, partly because of
the humiliation that had befallen her,
! but also because she wanted to hear what
he had to say on the particular subject
he had named.
"Why didn't he begin with that
and then I'd have listenedn she
thought, rather resentlully. Tor hack
among Rue's few shadowy memories OF
the past, of love, and mother, and g
home that was not The Home. was dim
recollection of some curious articles
which her baby hands had only beer
allowed to touch carefully, because
they were mementos of an uncle who
had died Tar away on mission field
$50 it would have been most ] Ike hear
ing about my relations; only | haven
got any," unused Rue. oh, dear!
wish I'd staid good and hadn't pulled
Mary James hair. / didn't mean to-
anyway"
She tried to find out about it, after
ward, by inquiring OF one of the othel
girls.
"Oh! he wanted the children t.
try and save up something, so they
could help send Bibles to the heather
Guess, if he lived here long, he d fine
we hadn't anything to save" was the
hurried reply.
Bibles That was where Rue wa.
rich. She actually had two that haC
! cen 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 4 IN Dis
woman" she said to herself. 81 Nigh
give the other one. l ought to help
count of being a relation, somehow
and / want to be good. just do
Later in the day she ventured anoth
er inquiry:
"How will he get those Bibles to tn,
heathenp"
~ don't know. Why. yes, he'll SEM
'em through the post-office, of course
What do you care so much about
forP"
That was what Rue did not mean L
tell She chose her prettiest Bible
spent the play-hours of two days il
writing an epistle on the fly-leaves, ant
tied it up in piece OF brown paper
Her knowledge of the post-ofiice and it
requirements was exceedingly limited
but she supposed it would be necessar.