The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-02-09
RUE'S HEATHEN.

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, and so she
found seat near the middle of the
chapel, where, swinging the small feet,
that could not touch the floor, she
looked Iistlessly 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 fine broad
cloth and gold speetacles 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 rs .aa~s5 @
| 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 a row and always wear a
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 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 treasure; and, of course, Mary
Jane Sullivan would never miss them,
if she only pulled out one here and
there.
Forward erept 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 switched,
and the result was sudden explosive
"Ow!' 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:
g am sorry this has happened; sorry
that any one should miss what am go
ing to say; for hoped to interest all
these dear children in the work of send
i ing the Gospel to the heather"
1t was kind of him to call them all
dear children, after that dreadful 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, vet
trying to stand sufficiently upright to
answer the requirements of the pen
anee, Rue did sincerely wish that she
had been agood girl and remained
/ quietly in the chapel, partly because of
1iok1< Al l.. G.
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 thatp
and then I'd have 1istened!' she
thought, rather resentfully. For ack
among Rue's few shadowy memories of
the past, of love, and mother, and
home that was not the Home, was a dim
recollection 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 lar away on mission field
$50 it would have been most like 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. I didn't mean to,
anyway" a
She tried to find out about it, after
ward, by inquiring of one of the other
girls.
/ "Oh! he wanted the children to
try and save up something, so they
could help send Bibles to the heather.
Guess, if he lived here long, he'd find
we hadn't anything to save" was the
hurried reply.
Bibles! That was where Rue was
rich She actually had two that had
been brought from that faintly-remem-
bered home
Il don't s'pose I'll read one of 'em
to pieces; not if l used it till Pm a big
woman" she said to herself. "I might
give the other one ought to help,
count of being relation, somehow,
and want to be good. just do.''
Later in the day she ventured anoth-
or inquiry:
elbow will he get those Bibles to the
heathenq''
81 don't know. Why. yes, he'll send
'em through the post-office, of course.
What do you care so much about it
for?'' @
That was what Rue did not mean to
tell She chose her prettiest Bible,
spent the play-hours of two days in
writing an epistle on the fy-leaves, and
tied it up in a piece of brown paper
| Her knowledge of the post-office and its
requirements was exceedingly limited;
but she supposed it would be necessary
to put something on the outside of the
packet, to tell for whom it was intend
ed. She wanted it to 90 where it was
needed the most, and, of course, the
post Office people would know where
| that was, she reflected; so she carefully
/ printed, in very uneven letters: For
the greatest heathen,'' and then laid
the precious package away, to await
future opportunity. She would trust
! her secret to no one, lest some unfore-
seen interference might result, and she
cautiously sought information.
Chow do you do when you put any
thing into the post-ofice?' she de-
manded of Mary Jane Sullivan.
"Why, you just put EN- in. You 60
in the door, and there's an open place
where you drop EN- 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
trifiing errand for the matron.
Thus it happened that one bright
morning the clerks in the post-office
were surprised by little packet tossed
in upon the floor, and a glimpse of
blue check apron vanishing hurriedly
through the door. spUnstamped and
with its odd address, it created ripple
! of amusement.
For the greatest heathen.' 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.
"What is itP' asked his wife, pres
emily, as she saw him silent and abb
sorbed; and, looking over his shoulder,
she read the little letter with him.
Original in spelling and peculiar in
| Chiroo-rarhv II ooY.t in1v was hut thew