Telegram-herald., 1891-11-08
THEIR TRUSTING Faith
A Remarkable Educational Insti-
tuition at Dutton.
LAURA Z. MAINS NISPAH ACADEMY
The Old village Tavern Turned Into .
seheo, and sappested BY the DosA-
usns Sent by Loving
Providence

just across from the Michigan Gen.
trail railway station at Dutton is a
large wooden building that looks like
a village tavern. So liz was-in DAYS
gone By, and pretty rough place il
muse have been- There are bullet holes
IA the doors yet that tell stories OF
rioting and crime, and the very name
o. the street, Marder street, Is sugges-
tive Of the terrible nature OF the place
In former days But wonderful
change has taken place Boisterous
laughter, rude Jest and drunken ribald-
ry have given place 10 the hum OF
happy childish voices; the rafters ring
TO the good Old gospel hymns, and the
very bar room has been changed into
a school room where the spirit OF
Christ pervades all that Is said or
GcEe.
Mlspah Academy-for such is Its
naine--ls = school conducted on a diff
fegent principle from that OF any other
institution in the state. Six years ago
the superintendent. Miss Lura Il.
Mains, then an ordained minister. do
ing evangei lstic work ut Coldwater,
experienced a divine call TO open a
home and school for children who
could not get Christian education
in any other way At that time Miss
Mains was in possession OF five dollars
aud few cents, but feeling the call
strong within her she determined to
open a home and trust TO the Lord TO
keep Ii supplied. There were children
waiting for Just such home, and
gathering some oil them about her she
rented n house at Coldwater, and
laid out most OF the five dollars for
rert in advance. With the rest she
brought crackers aud expected to make
them constitute their first meal. But
that very rvcning a warm supper was
sent tn to the little family, and this
settled Miss Mains In her con
vietton that God intended to look out
ior them. From thatday 20 this they
have never asked humanity for
sirgIe cent. bat all their wants have
been supplied. and every desire more
than realized Although many time
they have been absolutely pennlless
and have not known where the next
meal was coming from, sill they have
never gone hungry, supplies coming
from an unlooked-for quarter In mir
acfious manner.
when the home had been in opera
tion sbont year the odd tavern at
Dutt0n was offered To Niss Mains for
81 GOO. " hich was considered a very
ereat bargain. Although she had but
$500 she immediately accepted the
offer paying he 5000 down and trust
hig 10 tue Lord TO pay the rest The
fact that after five years the Lord has
paid All bst $500 OF the debt would
make It appear that lie intended 20
do Ills part even, K tie il little slow
about IL.
The visitor enters 4 small hall from
which opens the parior, also used as
the sewing rools. the little children's
school room. aud the large weii-iixhted
srfasnx room OF the dining room IL
Miss Mains own room and the kitehen.
while blssk OF the Kitchen are two
other beStrooms. The furniture Of the
parIor Il Of the simplest kind. but the
rag carpet on the floor the organ and
a cabinet OF specimens In the corner
give 1t very houie-like look The
furniture 81 the little ehildren's school
ruem - very ruste- snd the wooden
chairs are altogefher too high for the
little ones 70 be eoufortabte- A
present Of three or four little arm
chairs from some eharitably Disposed
person would ease many poor tired
little hack aud pair 81 legs
The dininz room Il une arpeted and i
heated By an immense range % which
= Is necessary 20 10 much o. the cook
inx IN the cold months There are
three long. homemade tables IN the
rom. ard everythiug IS spotleSsy
ciean.
Upstairs the entire roor i used as a
rfri's dormifsry, the forfaer dance hais
hs~tpe been partftiened OF in bed
rooms IN the bail r. a sove. ~ the
warmtR ~ whirh tbr girls are expect
Ell - aress as,l nnfreSs- Eaea bed
rocm s. HsrTfsh - with good pes
ea whiea there seeass 20 - pirntv OF
he,ssIfa0. a raa carpet or large FBg-
. heaar made eufnmoffe, hsrvss Or
ehesf - ffs*R~e. a isspkiHx glass Ard
= ftrher ard hasa. ETprrthisz - -
rserkshiv rpat. sna te~ -snss al -
Some persnties evrFv raous- som
after the wsou4 hsase vas ESTABLISH 3
sa a. patton Me- Mains and one or