St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1896-11-28

affection for her was plainly visible
The little boy of is months was in he1
arms as she walked around with us and
called up the turkeys and chickens. Il
don't believe can ever give up this one, =
| she said. 'These orphans are coming
and going all the time. AS fast as they
get old enough the Lord seems to find
places for them,and italways grieves me
TO see them go, but am going to keep
this one and adopt it as my own. We
have no children, and this one will be a
comfort to me when get old and have
TO leave the home" He was pretty
boy-the youngest of four that came
there from one family. Their mother
was dead, and the father was the same
as dead; but they are better off now,
and all of them seemed contented and
happy. Everyone there has sad his
tory, but they do not realize it now.
Several hundred have come and gone
within rs years, and nearly all of them
have done we'll. Many revisit the spot
in after years; man y.wIeite affectionate,
grateful letters, and some send tokens
OF their kind remembrance. One young
man who has prospered and receives
good wages sends SIS monthly out of his
earnings to help maintain some other
orphan. That is about what it takes
$3.50 to $500 month for the so who are
there. Atstwilight there was a curfew
bell and the children gathered in the
parlor and we had music. The girls and
boys sang some sweet songs to the lead
of the piano. a gift from Mr. NJ r. Berry,
and then the supper bell rang The
elder persons and the visitors were
seated at one table and the children at
three Others, and at a signal from Mrs
Taylor there was silence, and there was
reverence, too, for she made one of the
sweetest and most motherly prayers
ever heard. Tt was brief, but it was
beautiful. Then came the feast--not
display of good things, but good bread,
good butter, good coffee, and at our
table a good fat, well-roasted turkey,
that the girls had cooked for Mr.. Hemp
hill. and he let me have some-yes, got
plenty. That was the second turkey.
Mrs. Taylor said, and she had many
more that she had raised-about one
apiece for each child. Good gracious!
Feeding orphans on turkey! Well. why
not, once or twice in awhile? I never
saw an orphan who didn't like turkey.
There are lots of good things about
there. While down in the field found
some ripe maypops, and l have not
passed liking them yet, and black haws
and red haws were in sight, and these
boys knew every tree and where the
ehestnuts and chinquapins grew.
But the home needs money, and it's
wants must be kept before the public.
1t is a blessed charity to give to it,
charity that is full of promises in the
Scriptures. It should be enlarged and
more orphans sent there, for believe
that it is the best training school In
the state, and its inmates will all make
good citizens. Old Father Jesse Boring
founded it, and If there is a Heaven he
is in it. He was a pioneer in good
works. That's the kind Of paternalisn
believe in--being a father to the
fatherless. My good mother lost her
parents when she was little child
The pestilence swept them into one
grave and she was sent to an orphan
age in Savannah. They were very
good to her there, and she used to iell
rs the sad story, and we would stand by
her side and listen, and our hearts get
full and our eyes overflow. But one
day a lady came and chose her from
among the children and took her away. !
t is the same way at this orphanage
now. They come and they go. and are
scattered from Georgia to Texas.
Good people, this is the noblest and
sweetest kind of charity. Let us help
lt.--Bill Arp, in Atlanta Constitution.