The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-16
REFoRMAToRY BOYS
 AT CLUB MEETING.

The Highland Book club met with Mrs. R. D. Johnston Wednesday morning.
 For eight years Mrs. Johnston has held the office of president Her unfailing tact, courtesy and genuine kindliness has held the membership of the Highland Book club so closely united, so harmone- ously bound together that the very name is a synonwmn for good fellowship.
 Only one member was absent and sever al visitors lent the charm of their pres ence to the occasion.
 The subject of the meeting was New England.
 ''rhe pilgrims spirit has not fled,
 It walks in noon's broad light, And it watches the bed of the glorious
 dead
 With the holy stars by night" ! As Mrs. T. O. Smith was in attendance on the Bankers association in New Or leans, her paper entitled Plymouth Rock Our Gibraltar" was read by her sister, Miss Hubbert.
 Great Writers-Great Universities" was the subject of a paper by Mrs. A. w. ], Nelson.
 l Mrs. Tomlinson presented a paper on ] Current Events"
 | Suddenly the trample of little feet caused the eyes of every one to turn to the window, surprised to see fourteen small boys following MT. Griffin of the Boys Industrial farm. Fourteen small boys with shoes well shirts, clean collars, clean faces, and withal happy, smiling faces All the way from East Lake they had come to see Mrs. Johnston at home.
 Mrs Johnston had telephoned for the clubs boy, little Jimmie and MT. Grif- fin, on the impulse of the moment brought his choir, fourteen in number
 Have you heard the story of little Jim mic. a We'll there is no time to tell it here, but every mother in Birmingham ougt to have it written on her heart and then, perhaps, even the best mothers might try to be better mothers
 Did you ever think what it must be like to a baby to come into the world un- wanted and to be unloved and uncher- ished.
 Before he judge harshly these young ersewhile criminals, we must imagine what such an environment must be. We must remember how hard 1t Is for our own dear children to be good when we are with them struggling to teach them the right, praying for them always.
 Not a woman but had tears in her eyes, as she listened to those worse than fatherless little ones singing bravely away, tuneless often. but cheerily al- ways. of the Star Spangled Banner, and Home, Sweet home. It would melt heart of stone to hear them sing Sleep My Little One. Sleep My Pretty One" especially when we remember that not one of them had ever been hushed to sleep by a mothers soft lullaby Ave ct, ,-a1- licking boys of her own at home gave a generous check for the boys ThanlSsgiv- ing. because she said Ito think they l have no family circle" We all know that boys care nothing | for croquettes, stuffed peppers and a | mayonnaise, so while the club members ate their refreshments the boys played games in the yard and after a while cook had them a wonderful dinner of chicken, | sausages and discuits and ice cream.
 Not a rude word was spoken nor a cross look exchanged among those four teen boys all the long day through.
 They behaved like little gentlemen and sang their way into all our hearts. l A lady asked one little fellow what Mrsl | Johnston seemed like to him. With a twinkle In his eye. he answered: She seems like Santa Cluas'
 May Our Father in Heaven watch over | them all. s. c. L.