Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-10
A Visit to the Orphans Home at q
BY MRS. ". Il. FELTON,.


Ny friend. Rev. Howard crumley. ths
conference agent Of the Methodist Or
phan's home, at Decatur, wrote to me
several days ago, asking me IL would
not make the home visit. Most gladly
1 responded at once. With four of my
own dear children over in the heavenly
land, there Is perhaps nothing In this
world which touches my heart so closely
as the happiness OF little children. When
I looked in the facGs OF $50 orphans on
the day of my VISIT, felt like singing a
song Of praise to the Almighty Father
who had put II into the hearts of gener-
Gus Christian people to provide a place
for these little ones who were obliged to
live on the charity of the world in their
infancy and youth. And heartier, hap
pier and more contented household / never
saw in my life No one can question their
contentment, for children, especially
small children, are absolutely frank and
honest in their likes and dislizes. The
home has just emerged from an epidemic
Of whooping cough and measles. and six
little ones passed over to join those who
had preceded them to the better land.
Rev. Mr.. Crumley said the mortality pre-
vailed among the feeble and formerly liz
cared for children, who came into this
lovely home with depressed vitality and
were unable to withstand disease
thing to encounter. During the clvil war
they broke out" in cur own family, while
we were refugees. and we buried seven
children, black and white. within the
space of two weeks, my own little six-year
old son, the last Of the victims. With
this painful remembrance in my mind, ]
was able to congratulate the Orphans
home managers. because they had escaped
so lightly with such a multitude of chill
49,, ownnsa1 70 the enid amir COLLECTED In
one place.
AS I looked at these little ones Gods
little ones, for the master says: "Of such
is the kingdom OF heaven: NJ eyes
swan In tears of thankfulness, because
the orphan children had found capable
friends in a time Of serious illness and
afhiction.
. know, II anybody knows. how moth
er's heart aches, when her little ones lie
before her on sick couch. perhaps a
deathbed. know how the little ones
hunger for affection and petting, and these
little tots are joyfully. fond Of their
teachers and caretakers. Mr.. Crumley
told me Of their exuberant delight on
Sundays when Mr.. Shedden goes TO the
home and gives them his care and atten-
tion during every Sunday afternoon. Rev.
Mr.. Stone and his lovely wife (for I have
known Mrs Stone since her baby days,
have also known and loved her own dear
parents for third. Of a century, told me
also Of the fond devotion OF these or
.phans to Mr., Sheldon. i said to myself,
ssCsod will bless this dear young man
thousand fold in his own heart and life.
because of this tender attention to the
hapless little ones, who crave love and
petting Just as do our own little ones, our
children and grandchildren" s&
L went from cottage to cottage into
their sleeping rooms; saw the splendid
equipment of them all with iron bedsteads
and mattresses, baths, ETC. j ate dinner
with the little orphans and enjoyed every
mouthful OF the good plain food set be-
fore me. They, are hearty little folks and
after they had sung two OF three sacred
hymns / went around to the baby table
to find a half dozen or more Of babies
sleeping in sweet content, as have seen
my own babies faH asleep at table in the
years gone by. s-E.t : =
1 do wish the readers of the journal
could make the visit just as did without
giving them any warning or time to pre-
pare for inspection and thus understand
the magnitude of the work the good pco-
pie. Of the church and of our section have
done at this point The founders and
managers of this organization Will be
blessed in mind and heart for their gen.
erous appreciation of the opportunity. II
there is any charity in this world which
exceeds this sheltering care of little or
phan children I know nothing about IT.
What Is donated in this direction cannot
be discounted, for 1t Is applied exactly
where IT must do good and only good to.
the recipients.
And. how busy those little ones are in
work hours, as well as school hours. The
boys DO farm work Of AL kinds. learn to