The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-05-27
were wiped away, and as I looked at

|
"Well, then" said l, why not try
to get the children into some homo OF
refuge, while you are taken to the
hospital and properly treated?"
"Ah, yes, sir!" replied she eagerly,
that's what l would like; but then
l don't know how to set about It,"
Then, to my surprise, she added in
the simplest, most matter-of-fact tone
imaginable, "I have been prayin' to
the Lord all the time have been mere
to take care of the children, and to
keep our Bess from the streets"
Here in this wretched room, de-
prived of everything, depending alb
solutely upon a child of nine years of
age for food and fuel-here lay this
decent, Industrious creature with a
firm trust in the God of prayer, and
in her breast there still burned the
flame of faith and hope.
"Yes, indeed, God has His own in
every nook of the great city! Poor
Mrs. Rider was Christian woman,
strong in prayer, and drawing in SIM
pie trust upon all the powers of the
Omnipotent
Look here, SIR" continued the
woman. She put her hand under the
pillow, and pulled out a leaf of
we'll known religious weekly journal.
Look here, sir, read that" And
under my very eyes she placed a short
narrative of one of my own rescues,
which had been reprinted in its col
umns! How the page had drifted to
her l know not; but the last lines
of the story contained the statement
of mine which has been so often re-
peated, and which all my readers
| know so well: Never during all
these years have I refused a single
destitute child who has made appli-
cation at our doors" There, SIR"
said the poor creature, not knowing
In the least to whom she spoke, II
have been hopin' and prayin' that
God would let Billy and our Bess get
in there. know they'd be safe, and
they'd both be together, and then
I'd go in cheerful to the 'ospital."
l thought for few moments be-
fore l answered. At length l said
slowly: II did not tell you who
am; but now l must let you know"
The poor woman looked up with
something like alarm written on her
| face. l continued: MY name is
Barnardo, and l have a great many
poor girls and boys in my keeping.
And really that is why l asked your
little lad to bring me here to-day.
Now, if I can help you by keeping
the children for while, will"
1t is impossible to describe the
emotions of wonder and amazement
which passed over that poor suffer-
ir mothers face! The tears poured
down her cheeks.
Billy" she called, and the boy
ran quickly to his mothers side.
''Bess, DEAR" she added; and then,
holding the two children in her tiem-
bling hands, she said: This IS the
gentleman that has all the little boys
and girls. told yer God would hear
me, and now He's just sent him here
to take and keep you both until am
well again"
AS for me, felt at once humbled,
encouraged and thankful: humbled
to think that in any hour of dark
ness and difficulty had ever doubted
that God heard and answered prayer;
encouraged by this fresh proof of our
Fathers guiding hand; and thankful
| IN " b,z off a-la
of stretching out a helping hand to
one of our Lords own children.
There and then l entered fully into
the mothers story, aud made notes
of the various names and addresses
with which she supplied me, so that
we could verify the facts and assure
ourselves that there was genuine
need and friendlessness in the case.
l left with a promise that, if all
proved right, 1 would admit the chill
dren to the homes for time while
the mother entered the hospital. Of
course, l saw to the immediate needs
of the family, but not until l mad e
Billy tell me once again the story Of
the'"nice gemman."
Now, Billy, what shall I do to be
like the nice gentleman? Shall l
give you shilling now, or shall l
take you both into my home, and
send your mother to the hospital?"
Billy hesitated; but there was no
feeling of doubt in Bessie's mind.
The words were hardly out when she
sidled over to me, and placed her
little hand trustingly in mine. Billy
said more slowly "If mother wor
well, think it would be nicer to have
the shillin'; but I'll so with you, sir,
all right"
Ere long one of my good woman
helpers was in the room supplying
the wants of the patient, bringing
food and fuel and sew needed gar
ments to the children, while 1 OBJ
tanned an order giving admission to
the hospital to this poor member of
1.-The household of faith
And that was how Billy and Bess
came to be counted among the great
est family in the world, $3.50 strong!