Year: 1869

BY MRS. o. NJ. JOHNSON.


Two or three years ago, the superiuteu-
dent Of the Little Wanderers Home in
Boston received, one morning, request
from the Judge that he would come up to
the court room. He complied directly,
and found there group of seven little
girls, ragged, dirty, and forlorn, beyond
even what he was accustomed to see The
Judge pointed to them (utterly homeless
and friendless), and said" Mr.. T,
can you take any of these ?"


Certainly I'll take them ALL" was
his prompt reply.


All! What in the world can you do
with them all ?"


I'll make women of them"


Inc Judge singled out one, even worse
In appearance than the rest, and asked
again:


What can you do with that one ?"
"I1l make woman of her." Mr.. r
repeated, firmly and hopefully. He took
them all home. They were washed and
dressed, and provided with good supper
and beds. The next morning, they went
into the school room with the rest Of the
children. Mary was the name of the little
girl whose chance for better things the
Judge thought was small. During the
forenoon, the teacher said to Mr. r,
in reference to her," never saw child
like that; have tried for an hour to get
single smile and failed"
| Mr. r said afterwards, himself, that
her face was the saddest he had ever seen,
sorrowful beyond expression yet she was
very little girl only FIVE or six years old.
After school he called her into his office
and said pleasantly" Mary, I've lost my
little pet. l used to have little girl here
that waited on me and sat on my knee, and
loved her very much. A kind lady and
gentleman adopted her, and she went to
hive with them. | miss her and I should
like you to take her place, and be my little
pet now will you ?"


A gleam of light fitted over the poor
child's face, as she began to understand
him. He gave her ten cents, and told her
that she might go to store near by, and
get some candy. While she was, out he
took two or three newspapers, tore them in
pieces, and scattered them about the room.
When she returned, in few minutes, he
said to her, Mary, will you clear up my
office little for me; pick up these papers
and make it look real nice"


She went to work with will. A little
more of this sort of management-in fact.
treating her just as kind father would
wrought the desired result She went into
the school room after dinner, so changed
changed in look and bearing, that the teach
er was astonished The child's face was
absolutely radient and half fearful of some
mental wandering, she went up to her, and
said, =" Mary, what is it? What makes
you look so happy?"


Oh I've got somebody to lore me I
somebody to love me-" the child answered
earnestly, as if it were heaven come down
to earth.


That was all the secret. For want of
IoUe that little ones life had been so cold
and desolate that she had lost childhood's
beautiful faith and hope. She could not
at first believe in the reality of kindness or
joy for her. 1t was this certainty that
some one loved her, and desired her affec-
ton, that lighted the child's soul and glori-
fed her face


Mary has since been adopted by wealthy
people, and lives in beautiful home in
New England; but more than all its com
fort and beauty, running like golden
thread through it all, she still finds the love
of her father and mother.


Shall we who have many to love, and'to'
love US, refuse to be comforted, to see any
value and use in life, any work for our
hands to do, because one of our treasures
may be removed from our sight-from' our
home and care to better?


And oh shall we let any of these little
ones go hungering for affection-go up
even to Gods throne before they fnd " one
to love them?