Blade-O'-Grass. Golden Grain. and Bread and Cheese and Kisses.Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold)
General
Blade-O'-Grass. Golden Grain. and Bread and Cheese and Kisses.
Farjeon, B. L. (Benjamin Leopold)
Christmas stories; Fiction
'Still I have not found it difficult to decide. When I first received
Mr. Fairhaven's letter an inspiration fell upon me, and my resolution
was formed. But I did not dare to consult you upon it, for I feared
that the means of carrying it out would slip from me. Now I am free to
speak. Listen to me in silence, and when I have unfolded my plan, tell
me what you think of it. The inspiration that fell on me on the first
disclosure of this good fortune came, my dearest friend, from you, and
from the history and influence of your happy home. During the interval
that has passed since that eventful day I have thought deeply over my
scheme, and have matured it to some extent in my mind. I have not been
so wrapt up in it as to be regardless of other modes of expending the
money in a good and useful way; but, in the continual contemplation of
it, I have become more and more strengthened in my belief that my
first thoughts are the happiest and the best. I know the solemnity of
the trust reposed in me, and from this moment I consecrate my life to
it, convinced that I shall find true happiness in it. I propose to
establish on a large scale a Home for the poorest orphaned and
friendless children, whom we shall adopt while they are very young,
and educate and rear in such a manner as shall make them good and
useful members of society. We will take them from the gutters, and
rescue them from ignorance and crime; and as they grow up we will
draft them into the ranks of honest bread-winners, either in this or
in other countries, and fill their places with other poor children.
There shall be no distinctive mark of charity upon them; they shall be
so brought up as to be proud of the Home in which they are armed for
the battle of life. There are numerous matters of detail which need
not be discussed and decided upon at present; such as establishing
schools of trade in our Home, so that the children may be usefully
employed until they take their places in the ranks of out-door
workers. I have seen a large building, with ground attached, which
will suit our purpose admirably; the rental is three hundred pounds a
year. I requires a great deal of alteration, which the proprietor is
willing to make if he can let it on a long lease. There is sufficient
available land round the building for playgrounds and gardens. The
children themselves shall learn to be the gardeners. This, in brief,
is my scheme, of which I ask your approval. I see many beautiful
pictures in the future in connection with it, the contemplation of
which makes me supremely happy. I see men and women in whom have been
implanted the seeds of cleanliness, industry, virtue, and religion,
living their useful lives, and some among them rising even to eminence
in this and other lands--men and women who, without this Home, would
be lurking about in rags and want, and filling the public houses and
prisons. I see them marrying, and bringing up _their_ children in the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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