God's Answers: A Record of Miss Annie Macpherson's Work at the Home of Industry, Spitalfields, London, and in CanadaLowe, Clara M. S.
Religion
God's Answers: A Record of Miss Annie Macpherson's Work at the Home of Industry, Spitalfields, London, and in Canada
Lowe, Clara M. S.
Canada -- Emigration and immigration; Church work with children; Home missions; Macpherson, Annie
"Peace and plenty smiled on every hand. Tears came as a relief when
fondling little Annie Parker took my hand, saying, 'Tome and see my
father's new house!' The memory came back of Mr. Morgan, Mr. Holland,
and a few friends meeting with me in John Street to form a 'Little
Girls' Home.' Two years have now passed since Annie and her whole
family were carried to the Fever Hospital. Both the parents died; the
four girls took a room, and lived by matchbox-making. Annie and
Maggie were the youngest, starved and ragged beyond description.
Since that time they have both been cared for, have learnt their
letters, and can now read and write. Surely the most inveterate
opponents to emigration could not but approve of and seek a blessing
on such a change. Where in all England could we have found, in a few
weeks, hearts and homes for forty adoptions? These families are
thrifty and homely--spinning, weaving, knitting, knowing what small
means with a blessing can do, and are the very people to train up our
children for a common-sense battle with the difficulties of life."
"We were interested in observing the forethought displayed in laying
up stores for the winter; apple being peeled, quartered, strung upon
strings, and dried either in the sun, or over the kitchen stove;
pumpkins cut into parings and dried, &c."
"All that remained at this late season (October) in the fields was
the buckwheat. When this is cut and placed in stacks, its red roots
are exposed, affording a pleasant contrast to the dark green of the
up-springing fall-wheat. More immediately around the houses, lay the
immense yellow pumpkins, still attached to their dying stems."
The time for Miss Macpherson's return to England now drew near, and
with a heart filled with thankfulness for the mercies they had
already experienced Miss Bilbrough offered to remain at Marchmont, to
brave alone the first Canadian winter, and with Mr. Thom's help to
watch over any case of difficulty that might arise among those who
had come out; for as yet the work was an experiment.
A CANADIAN PASTOR'S STORY.
"Annie and Maggie, the children before mentioned, were taken out to
Canada by Miss Macpherson, and were at first unavoidably placed in
families residing at some distance from each other. The younger one
was brought back to the Marchmont Home on account of a peculiar lisp,
which her master's children were acquiring from her. Almost
immediately another farmer called for a girl to assist his wife in
the care of her little ones. He saw little Maggie, cared nothing for
her lisp, and would have her away with him. On taking down his
address, it was found that he lived on the farm next to that where
the elder, sister was placed. It was near the end of the week, and on
the next Sabbath morning an unexpected meeting occurred, feelingly
described in the following verses. The incident was related to Miss
Macpherson by the pastor himself."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account