Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-05-25

w ltIt.
TO my left" And he motioned. ]
thought toward me.
'lIow lovely! How perfectly love-
lyv was the answer In bated breath.
Ny heart sank then, for l knew it
could not be Of me they spoke. No
one had ever called me anything but
naughty Edna ST. Clair"
Come here. child" said the lady.
after conversing eagerly with her hus-
band. in hurried tones. thought she
spoke to me, and yet l doubted the
fact of my being singled out from the
hundreds there. Not until Sister
Ligouri had echoed the words aud
called me by name did / venture for
ward. Two soft lips touched mine.
in the first embrace 1 had ever
know.
GLOW would you like to live with me.
and be my little girP
could not speak; emotion choked
me. Had the good God sent a mother
to me at last? A mother? Blessed
II anne that natures self mplants in the
hearts of lisping babes; name that
grows dcarer with each added wear.
The first to leave the lips; the last to
be found written upon the heart when
death calls hence.
"You know where / live?" continued
the same sweet voice.
in heaven?" falteringly repli-
ed.
20. dear, no. what made you think
that?" she answered. laughingly U
noticed that your husband, and sister,
smiled too)"You are so beautiful-not
like anyone here in the asylum. And
and YOU asked me to be your little
girl thought perhaps YOU were NV
dear mother. That--that- God felt
sorry for me and had sent you back"
mo, dear, have no claim like this;
but l will be your second mother and
love you as my own child. Will you
come, little Edna?"
Yes! yes! Take me with YOU" |
cried. convulsively. take me far away
from here, where there are no long
sermons no seedlings. no cross, hate
full"
| stopped abruptly. for the nuns
eyes were opened wide in amazement at
my audacity; and there was warning
Light in them that filled my soul with
terror. grew afraid lest she would
keen me in the asylum for punishment.
But later on in life. | found how
groundless were my fears; that orphans
were but drug in the market and bid
ders rare. II was settled then, that on
the following morning the good lady
was 10 come for me. She would bring
she said, fit apparel. for mine would
not do at all. What heroine of ro-
nance | seemed to my companions for
the rest OF the evening rs they crowded
around me. | did not need TO be told
to thank God for having brought me
such kind friends rs Mr. and Mrs.
Leroy. for did thank Him again and
again.
Need contrast nv new life with the
old one9 Am equal to the task?' Go
ask the pardoned convict to speak the
ecstasy he feels when the prison gates
fly open and once more he breathes
the blessed air of freedom. Go ask the
mend cant whom some freak of fortune
transports from penurv TO wealth. ask
him, | say. if mere words can adequate
~ express his rapture. Let these give
voice to their joy; then, and not til
then, can |.
True, | was only a child mt the time;
but what life mine had been. shut up
in those gloomy walls. with every nat
ural impulse of childhood stiiled by set
rules against which there was no APP
peal. Housed. 1t is true. fed. clothed.
But housed by strangers fed by chart
", clothed in uniform like the wicked
convicts, and our orphan badges pro-
claiming us TO all; outcasts whom the
world were better without
The years rolled on. learned to
love my foster-parents with a love
akin TO that the Brahmin lavishes on
his gods. And | was all in all 10 them.
Nv luxurious surroundings were in ac-
cord with the wealth of my patrons,
who were acknowledged leaders in the
select coterie TO which they introduced
me as their daughter Edna LEROY.
was courted and caressed by all. for
the opulence OF my putative father shed
4 halo of worth upon me. Suitors there
were in numbers. who poured forth
impassioned VOWS OF fidelity. and wept
that they sued in vain. At first such
scenes were painful to me; but they
soon grew monotOnous. And when |
learned what an elastic affair mans
heart is, at best, / wasted no more
time in regret. 1t was as well. for each
disconsoate swain consoled himself
elsewhere.
After long years of waiting, there
came at length, TO bless my kind
friends home, windsome baby boy;
and as saw the tiny little one nest
ling on his mothers breast and read
the fond look of pride in her lustrous
eyes, knew her brightest hopes were
fulfilled. In vain | looked for some
token of welcome in her fathers face;
there was, but as they always had
been. a shadow as of some nameless
grief, he groaned aloud. and his face
became ashen pale.
"Earnestw cried his wife. in re-
proachful tones "is it thus you greet
our babep You do not love me, know
it now. You have been for years sad
and absent. l thought it because Of
our childless lot You know that our
son has come. you turn away from
him. Oh. Ernest, Ernest, how can /
live, bereft of your lover
Hush. my darling Inez, do not
wrong me thus. Would to God / loved
you less. then my heart would not be