Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-14
4" For the Greatest Heathen."

Il happened one bright morning that the
clerks in the post-office were surprised by q
little packet tossed in upon the floor, and
a glimpse Of blue check apron vanishing
hurriedly through door. Unstamped and
with its odd address, 1t created ripple OF
amusement.
For the greatest heathen.' That must
be you captain" declared one and the
postmaster laughingly took charge Of 1t,
and then forgot it until, at home that even.
ing, he found II in bis pocket.
"What is it 2" asked his wife, presently,
as she saw him silent and absorbed: and,
looking over his shoulder, che read the let
ter with him. SOriginal in spelling and Pc
culiar in chirography it certainly was, but
they slowly deciphered 1t;
"I haven't any money 20 give, cause I'm one
OF the little girls at the Home. Some OF them
have relations to send them things sometimes;
but haven't. | have two Bibles; but wouldn't
give this to any one but the heather, cause my
own mamma gave 1t to me. IT'S nice to have
mamma TO cuddle you mp and love you Just by
your own self, and tuck you into bed at night,
and not have to be In row all the time IL
makes lump all swell up in my throat when !
think about It, and my eyes get go hot and wet
can hardly see. | wish God did have homes
enough, so he could give every little boy and girl
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, 1t most seems as II
there must be enough to go round; but pt Sc
there isn't. guess it'll be the real kind well
have up In heaven, and want to go there; and
that's why ! send you this Bible, so you can
learn about It, You must read 1t and be good
On dear. It's dreadfuy hard to be good when
you haven't any mamma. hope you've got one
II she IL a heather, for I'm most sure that's bet
ter than no kind. Good-by. RUE LINDSEY"
"Poor little thing |" exclaimed the lady,
half laughing, but with sudden moisture
in her brown eyes.
Captain Gray looked around the beauti-
full room.
"I'm inclined to believe that letter was
properly directed, and has reached rightful
destination" he said, thoughtfully. "Think
of it, Mary" all these cosy, pretty rooms
and no one to occupy them but you and me,
while there are so many little homesick souls
in the world You have spoken Of it be
fore; but | was too selfshly contented TO
care about it. If I'm not the greatest hea-
them / have certainly been far enough
from the sort of Christianity this book re.
quires."
"Well2" questioned Mrs. Gray, with
shining eyes, waiting for the conclusion Of
the matter.
"Sball 60 tomorrow and bring this lit,
tie midget home with me-for visit, say
and see what will come of it ,"
| did not occur to little Rue that the
stranger she met in the hall the next day
and who had a long interview with the
matron, could be Of any possible interest to
her small self, until she was summoned
down stairs to see him.
"Would you like to go home with this
gentleman for visit OF week or two
Rue He has come to ask YOU" said the
matron.
"Me ?" questioned Rue, oblivious Of
grammar lessons and with dozen exclama.
ton points in her voice. There was nc
danger of her declining The prospect of a
visit anywhere was delightful, and the pos.
sibility of such a thing almost as wonderful
as fairy tale. So it was very bright
little face that Captain Gray found beside
him in the carriage, and Rue looked up al
him shyly, through her ring, of sunny hair
to ask. as the only imaginable solution Of
the happy problem Are you one OF my
relations 7"
Eyes; but l didn't remember it until
last night" he answered, gravely.
The weeks that followed we're brimful Of
Joy to Rue, and she won her way straight
into the home and hearts that had opened
to receive her.
| Anu so you tnihk may 1eli inc inaIiol
that you do not care to go back, but are
you willing to stay here p questioned the
captain, when the allotted time had ex
PRED.
al guess" replied Rue, looking down at
her dainty, rufiisd attire and suddenly fling
ing her arms around Mrs. Grays neck
"that you didn't ever live there, aud cal
soup, and wear check aprons, and have no
body like this to love, or else you'd know
But she has not learned yet that it was
her own missionary effort that brought sc
great rewsrd.-Chrisiian at Work.