Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-06-11

nltAS stairs. My guide hooked his
small hand firmly into mine. and
without delay we began to climb up
and up, until at last we reached a
pack room on the top floor. The boy
ran in first, while | waited outside
Only minute elapsed, when the
door was opened, and in response to a
muffied Come in, SIR 1 entered.
The room was literally devoid of
furniture. There was no chair to sit
down; no table to fill up the bare
floor space. Yet there was mar
velous air OF peace, and even of COM
fort, in that empty garret! All, for
instance, was wonderously clean. And
one felt that there was a decent and
gracious air about the place which
spoke we'll for it's human occupants.
1t was sometime before my eyes
could take in my surroundings. But
presently I saw figure lying near
the window, On the floor. on heap
OF rags. 1t was that of a poor, decent
looking woman. A few words of SYM
pathy and explanation, and I learned
her simple story. The woman was a
widow of about forty-five. She had
injured her leg, and the wound, in
stead OF healing, apparently had fes-
tered. A large, unwholesome ulcer
was exposed to view as I examined it.
She had gone twice as an out patient
to the nearest hospital, but she. could
walk no longer. Her work as a char
woman had had perforce to be given
up; so there she lay, helpless to move
hand or foot on her own behalf! By
her side stood little girl of about
six years of age-"our Bess," she
called her-a bright-eyed, winsome
little lassie.
But Billy was the bread winner!
He it was who kept the wolf from the
door. 1t was he who had boldly gone
into trade in the endeavor to supply
mother, sister and himself with
bread. Deeply affected, I listened to
the simple, homely, heroic story. Men
are inclined to the belief that heroes
are made only on special occasions.
Yet in truth the finest heroes are
homespun, and often hidden in OBJ
scurity. Billy was of the true stuff,
and his modest struggle might have
made an epic.
Why, 1 asked of the woman, did
she not go to hospital? The ques-
ton was hardly asked when felt re-
buked. What would become of the
col fhn
Billy might do for bit by himself;
he is brave lad! But our Bess-,' -
And then the poor soul fairly broke
down. Yet in a minute the tears
were wiped away, and as looked at
the calm, resolute face, I discovered
wtere Bill got his bravery from.
well, then,' said I, why not try
to get the children into some home or
refuge, while you are taken to the
hospital and properly treated?"
'Ah, yes, sir!" replied she eagerly,
that's what would like; but then
don't know how to set about it,
Then, to my surprise, she added, in
the simplest, most matter-of-fact tone
imaginable, 81 have been prayin' to
the Lord all the time I have been here
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 a 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 leaf of a
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 it's col
umns! How the page had drifted to
her 1 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 refused a single
destitute child who has made app1i-
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 wauld let Billy and our Bess get
in there. I know they'd be safe, and
they'd both be together, and then
I'd go in cheerful to the 'ospital."
I thought for few nom ents be-
fore l answered. At length 1 said
slowly: Il did not tell you who I