The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-11-05
ADOPTED OUT OF CHARITY.

was 0uIU0 OAuV Ohe~S s0AOh pAO
Girl in, but from what kind Of charity
let people judge.
Martha Harris was a small trades
mans daughter who had gone wrong,
and going wrong had led her to pris.
on. She had been caught wandering
suspiciously near the parapet of
Waterloo bridge one night and a mag
;strate had committed her to prison
for a week, not as q punishment, but
that she might be demonstrated with
by the chaplain on the sinfulness of
wishing to get rid of life which had
become 8 burden to her. The case vas
reported in the newspapers, and in
the courss OF the week MI.
Bannerman wrote from q semi-de-
tached villa in the outskirts of Lon
don to say that he would gladly take
the outcast to his home and do his
humble best to create in her a new
spirit. Prison chaplains have often
to deal with girls who are weary Of
life, and they always find it difficult to
provide for such cases; SO the chaplain
thought we'll of Mr.. Bannerman's
communication, and went to Martha's
cell to inform her that q Christian
family had offered to take her in.
"You see Providence hadnot desert
ed you, Harris" he remarked, with
the proper solemnity of q priest ad-
dressing q sinner. "Will you promise
me that, if / recommend you to these
kind people, you will endeavor to be-
have YOURSELF"
eyes, sir, replied M tina, meekly,
with downcast eyes.
"By your own confession you have
been very wicked" continued the rev.
erend gentleman. "You must feel like
q brand plucked from the burning. /
hope that really is what you feel?"
Eyes, sir"
"And that you repent? 1t will be
very ~grieyous to me if / hear by.and-
by from these kind Christian people
that you have disappointed their ex-
pectations."
Martha Harris made no answer, but
quietly cried. She felt not only very
wicked, but abandoned; and in her
forlorn condition it did really seem a
mercy that anybody should take her
by the hand and induct her into q
Christian home. A couple of days
afterwards, having received a few
. parting words in season from the
chaplain, she appeared once more be-
fore the Magistrate, who administered
another lecture to her and handed her
ever to a red-faced gentleman with
black whiskers, who was the Christian
owning the home where she was to be
taken in. Mr.. Bannerman was COM
plimented on his Christianity from
the bench, and pocketed the compli-
ments as SO much wages due on ac-
count OF his faithful service towards
his Maker. He said he looked for his
reward in heaven; but it was evident
that he considered himself entitled to
an anticipatory bonus In the shape of
commendation here on earth. So
having made his bow to the Magis-
trate, he beckoned to Martha to fol-
low him, and took her off with him to
the suburbs in an omnibus.
Martha Harris was q well-looking
girl OF some education and refinement,
who might easily have obtained a sit
uation as a shop assistant or bar.
maid or even as nursery governess
had she gone the right way to work,
but having made a slip at the outset
OF her life she had been stunned by
her tall and saw all things in aconfus-
ed way. She was as much ashamed OF
herself as any gaol chaplain would
have desired, and though the week
she had spent in her prison cell, had
Gained her spirit SO that she no long
er had any purpose of making away
with herself, yet she saw in life no
Joyous prospect whatever, but only q
long purse of expiation to be COM
menced and carried through with what
strength heaven might send her.
These consience-strlcken sentiments
Mr. Bannerman by no means sought
TO repress. Nor did his wife. They
were very careful to let Martha know
That for sins like hers there can lever
De any forgiveness here below; but
tnat by dint of hard labor and un-
varying humility she might SO far
reinstate herself in the good opinion
OF ner employers that at some future
Time they might consider what could
De done for her. Meanwhile they Of
Tered her food and shelter, but no
wages. money is the root OF all evil"
observed Mr.. Bannerman, Tand you
must try to feel that you are working
Tor heavenly wages
Martha did try. She had hoped for
KIND word in coming among these
Onristian people, but she could not
expect it; and the views which they ex-
pressed as to her sinful state only con-
nrmed her in the opinion that the
World at large-which was imbued, no
aoubt. with less Christian charity