Fifteen Years with the Outcast | Page 7

of
little Rosa. Immediately after my rehearsal the man and woman were
arrested.
Previous to going to live with these people Rosa had made her home
with a young married sister. The sister had a family of little children
and was poor: so when an opportunity presented itself for an apparently
good home for Rosa in exchange for light services, she quickly, gladly
availed herself of it, without making the very necessary inquiry as to
who this man and woman (strangers in Redding) were or whence they
had come. Thus thoughtlessly did she relieve herself of a solemn
responsibility, the dying request of their mother, who had passed away
when Rosa was much younger.

A physical examination proved, beyond a doubt, the unfortunate child's
condition, and the law proceeded to take its course. The sister was
(temporarily) made responsible as Rosa's legal guardian. Here I quote
from "The Morning Searchlight" the article headed:
A SENSATIONAL CASE.
A little Girl Held Captive by G---- E----.
A petition for a writ of habeas corpus was filed in the Superior Court
Saturday by Mrs. M---- S----. This is the process by which she hopes to
obtain possession and care of her sister, Rosa L----. The girl is but
twelve years of age, her mother is dead, and she has been deserted by
her father.
Somehow, she has become acquainted with G---- E----, the street
candy-vender, and has, of late, been living in his tent in the
southeastern part of the city.
The petition further states: "That as your petitioner is informed and
believes, and therefore alleges the fact to be, that said restraint of said
minor by said E---- is for immoral purposes"
The hearing of the petition will take place before Judge Sweeney
Monday morning. If the points alleged in the petition are true, E----
should be dealt with severely.
The trial was held behind closed doors. Poor little Rosa was too
nervous and frightened to give her testimony with sufficient
intelligence so that the law could deal with the couple as they deserved.
Through some technicality they escaped legal punishment, and
hurriedly stole out of Redding for parts unknown, fearing the
vengeance of an insulted, righteously indignant community.
The child was soon under the kindly care of a consecrated Christian
couple, and the last time we saw her she wore a smiling and happier
countenance. This dreadful experience, however, permanently wrecked
her health, so that she could be of but slight service to her new
guardians; but they, through wise and loving treatment, through
portrayal of Jesus in word as well as in deed, were doing all they could
do for this little shorn lamb, doing their best to aid in helping to
eliminate her awful past--a task by no means easy. Poor unfortunate,
sinned-against little Rosa! Her life forever blighted through the shifting
and shirking of responsibility on the part of the older sister, who had
promised the dying mother to carefully guard and guide the little

helpless girl. Poor ruined child! Shunned, whispered about and pointed
at by her schoolmates, she, sensitive girl that she was, suffered so
intensely from such treatment that it was deemed advisable to have her
study, as best she could, at home. There she need not be subjected to
the thoughtless torture of children, who, as children will, had
undoubtedly listened to, and learned from, the conversations carelessly
carried on in their presence by parents and other older people, this
unfortunate little girl's cruel, heart-rending fate.
Did this experience affect my future career? It certainly did. Let me tell
you. I firmly resolved, God helping, to live closer to the Master; to aid
in rescuing the outcast at any cost; to see and love their souls,
forgetting the sinning exterior; to help win them to Christ, then
encourage and further their advancement; constantly to sit so low at the
Savior's feet as to be ever able to discern and obey his still, small voice;
to be sufficiently strong in body, soul, and spirit, as gladly to respond to
his call at any and all times, whether that call should be in the highways
or hedges, streets or lanes, among rich or poor, the prison boys or the
outcast girls.
Earnestly I prayed, still I pray, for courage to address and warn parents
and guardians of the pitfalls concerning which I have, in answer to
prayer, increased knowledge, having been granted much practical
experience, sharing many a sorrow with others, mingling my tears and
sighs with many a parent, many a wanderer, and many an outcast, who
have poured their troubles into my listening ears.
The one cry, ever and always, from both parent and child, has been,
"_If I had only known_, I should have been less heedless, but now it's
too late, too late! O