Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-04-04

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hands and feet small; and despite her
attire ore could see with glance. that
she did not belong to the inmates OF
the farm house. They were strangers
| in the place, now. she was an orphan.
friendless, houseless, unprotected save
by Him who guards US all. She feels
the soft touch of dear hand On her
forehead. A sweet low voice says.
''God protect my orphan child" Ma
rion gently stopped and kissed her
mother. and the weary spirit was at
rest. God shield the motherless! Poor
little Marion had a dim confused recol-
lection of a burial, afterwards dis
pute as to her future home, ending in
a long journey. They were neat little
pallets. One could find no fault with
them. with their snowy sheets and
patchwork quilts. In each was a lit
tie homeless orphan, taken in for shell
ter. Miss Hannah had been the rounds
and seen each little head duly deposited
on its pillow. She had heard them all
say their prayers. She listened at the
rules, that forbade their speaking.
Then she went down to a comfortable
cup of tea and mullins, satisfied that
she had ministered to their every want.
A little head was cautiously raised
from its pillow. The eyes that look
around are large and sorrowful. Hot
tears fall thick and fast. ..Mother!
Motherris wrung from little heart too
young to bear its load of grief un-
shared; the little head falls back in
hopeless misery on its pillow. She
feels the soft touch of a dear hand on
her forehead; a sweet low voice fingers
ever in her ear: ..God protect my or
phan chlldr' But let us pass from this
scene for little while Heaven had
not blessed the elegant widow. Mrs.
Seldom with children. One day she
said, II am tired OF life. If 1 could
find one, would adopt little child.
But it must be little, fragile, spiritual.
delicate blossom. Where is my bonnet'
l am going to to the-Asylum." ..This
is our schoolroom. Mrs. Seldom" said
Miss Hannah. 1.-The children are all
very comfortable and happy, as you
see. l shall say it is for the best If you
find one to your mind" Mrs. Seldom
glanced up and down the long rows of
benches. but she was not favorably i'm
pressed with the little cropped heads.
She was about to return disappointed.
when her eye caught sight of '.Mari-
on" A bright flush came to her cheek,
and her eye kindled as she stood before
her. '.Will you go with this lady?"
said the prim Miss Hannah. The star
tied child brushed her hand across her
eyes, as if bewildered with the sweet
face before her, and not sure she was
not dreaming. "My mother smiled at
me so," said she as she slid her little
hand into Mrs. Seldon's. Days. months.
and years glided by. and Marion grows
more beautiful every day, in the sun
shine of love, unspoiled by prosperity
The gay world has lost its power to
charm the mother; she looks shudder-
ing back upon long wasted years of
frivolity, and blesses God "that little
child" hath ..led her." But Marion's
mission now is over. The bright hec-
tic glows on that marble cheek Moth
er and child! how shall they part now?
Sweet Marion closes heraeyes on earth
ly things. to open them again in a
fairer land.
The churchyard hath an added stone,
And Heaven one spirit more.