The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-03-26
A PLEA FOR THE ORPHANS.

A PLEA FOR THE ORPHANS.
DEAR AUNT JENNIE Will you
please admit a stranger into your
circle this morning? [ am not at
all entertaining, but if you will al
low me I will come in long enough to
say a few words in regard to the lit
tie orphans. I hope you will pardon
me for bringing SO sad a subject into
your CHEEKY corner, but I have a
deep sympathy for orphans and think
they should have a share OF u
thoughts as we'll as attention.
| wish to relate an incident that
took place not long since between
two little orphans that I know.
Their mother, a sweet and good wo-
man, was called to her eternal home
during the spring of last year. She
left three little ones, a boy of ten,
and two little girls, ages six and four
years. 1 will give their names here
as Kennie, Maud and Eula.
After the death of their mother,
their father, finding it impossible to
give his little girls the attention
ton they should have, "a obliged
to put them in the care of their aunts.
Eula, the youngest, was taken by an.
aunt living near her father, while
Maud went to live with an aunt resid-
ing some twenty miles away. Kennie
remained with his father.
It was just after our last Christ
mas holidays that Maud, with her
uncle and aunt, returned to their
neighborhood to visit her grand
mother. Her father and brother
were sent for and when Kennie heard
that his sister was near he went has
tily to see her for the first time
since she left her home. He reached
his grandmother's at the usual hour
for supper and found Maud at the
table eating. He went to her in a
slow but manly way, kissed her, and
with trembling lips passed a few
words that seemed difficult to utter.
He took a sea- by his sister, and was
urged to eat something, but ex-
cused himself by saying he was not
hungry. Both sat for some time in
sad and reminiscent mood. During
their stiffness they frequently looked
at each other with a deep expression
of love that seemed to almost join
their very little hearts, and Maud,
in a soothing way rubbled~her hand
over her brothers head and stroked
him gently on the shoulders as if
press her love more firmly upon
him.
AS it is natural for children to
think Of their toys on all occasions,
Maud at last broke the silence by
telling her brother about her new
toys and pretty big doll that Santa
Claus brought her. She asked him
what Santa brought him, and when
he had seen Eula. But Kennels
heart being too full for ~utterance, he
made no reply, but left the table and
took a seat by the fire. Maud imme-
diately followed and, taking a seat
on his lap. laid her arms around
his neck. They could no longer sup
press their emotion, but burst into
tears. They sobbed bitterly for
awhile, but neither one spoke of
their troubles. It was a mingling of
joy and sorrow-joy at seeing each
other again, but their presence had
brought afresh to their memory the
time when they played together at
home and Eula was with them, and
mama with her sweet face was
there ready to sOOthe all their little
troubles and kiss every little bruise
as they were carried in to her. It
was sad indeed to see them clasped
in each others arms, weeping out
that flood of tears they had tried in
vain to conceal.
How little we realize the pangs of
the orphans heart! They can't ex-
press themselves, but could we know
their little wounded hearts doubtless
we would find in each of them a
lonely fOrsaken feeling and a yearn-