The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher: A True StoryByrum, Isabel C. (Isabel Coston)
Religion
The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher: A True Story
Byrum, Isabel C. (Isabel Coston)
Christian life -- Fiction; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
In a room where several other children were playing Edwin was found, but he
was taking no part in the games. In fact, many things were done by the
children in the poorhouse day after day that he did not enjoy and in which
he would take no part. If questioned he could not have explained why he
felt as he did about their actions, but he preferred turning to the window,
where he could look out upon God's creation. The little birds that had
charmed him in his rambles had long been his friends, and as he gazed
through an open window, he could see a nest full of small fuzzy heads
waiting for the parent birds to bring them a meal of worms. Many times the
bills had been raised and the mouths opened wide because of the rustling of
the leaves above or below them, and the boy was glad when they could
realize that their expected meal was there.
In answer to Mr. Engler's order to come at once to the office, Edwin
followed, but before he entered the room, Mrs. Engler saw to it that his
clothing was changed, so that he would be a little more respectable to
appear in public.
It was evident that, when Edwin, clad in a pair of faded blue overalls and
shirt, entered the presence of his uncle, the latter was greatly surprized
at the slight figure before him, but he sought to conceal his thoughts and
said, "Edwin, I'm your uncle and have come to take you home to your
mother."
Very pleasantly these words fell upon Edwin's ears, but he associated them
with his rambles; for he knew nothing at all about his father or mother,
not even that any such relation was necessary in life. He therefore was
glad, but said nothing, for he knew not what to say. Mistaking the meaning
of his silence for timidity, the uncle spoke again.
"Come on now, boy; I am here with a horse and buggy to take you to your
mother's home. Will you be glad to see your mother?"
But again Edwin was at a loss to know what to say, but his thoughts were
that the man before him was very large. It was not until his uncle said
impatiently, "Come along!" that he understood, and this command he
instantly obeyed.
A moment later the two were standing beside a large noble-looking brown
horse that was hitched to an open buggy. Next he felt a pair of strong
hands placed upon his shoulders, and then he was lifted high in the air to
a seat that was so different from the bed of the old ox-wagon that he had
to examine and rub his hand over the soft cushion. When his uncle took the
seat beside him, everything about him began to move, and he thought of the
few times when the children had been taken for rides behind the large team
of oxen. But he had never been away from the poorhouse farm, and when they
passed from the driveway on to the public highway, he remembered that the
children had been forbidden to leave the place, and he wondered what it all
meant. He was not troubled, however, for Mr. Engler knew of his going, and
he reasoned that since he was not going of his own accord, it must be all
right.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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