The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher | Page 8

in the poorhouse.

"Go and wash yourself and get ready for supper," he heard his mother
say; but he had not been taught that this was necessary, and because he
did not understand and so failed to obey, he was scolded and abused.
"You worthless thing!" his mother said. "I'm sorry I didn't leave you at
the poorhouse now and let you grow up with the cattle if you don't
know enough to wash before you eat."
When supper was ready, she ordered Edwin to get around behind the
table in a corner where he would be the farthest from her, and added,
"Any place in my home is too good for the like of you, and you shall
stand while you eat. Do you hear?"
Evidently Edwin understood this command, for he had been used to
eating his meals under just such trying circumstances, and he went at
once to the place assigned him. The good food upon the table was very
tempting, and when he had eaten all that was on his plate, he watched
the other children to see what they would do when more was wanted,
and when he saw them passing plates, he did the same.
He did not repeat this, however, for he found that he was not expected
to share with the rest or to eat until his hunger was satisfied. Without a
murmur he did without the dainties that were given freely to the other
children, and with a dry crust he finished his meal in silence.
When bedtime came, Edwin was given a place to sleep in an unused
part of the house, and there alone in the darkness he could repeat the
words that the kind old lady at the poorhouse had taught him. Then
while the rats and mice played hide-and-seek in the room about him,
his eyelids closed in peaceful slumber.
We have heard that "there is nothing so bad that it could not have been
worse." For Edwin life seemed to be constantly growing more serious
and dark, but "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord
looketh upon the heart" (I Sam. 16:7).

CHAPTER IV
FINDING FRIENDS
Oh! ask not, hope thou not too much Of sympathy below; Few are the
hearts whence one same touch Bids the sweet fountains flow.
--Mrs. Hemans.
The first morning for Edwin in his mother's home dawned clear and
bright, and as the soft gleams of brilliant sunlight shone in upon the
coverlet of his bed, he, who had been a poorhouse waif, opened his
eyes and in bewilderment gazed about the place. Suddenly he
remembered some of the events of the previous day, and especially the
form of the "big man" and that of the "woman," who, he had been told,
was his mother. He remembered, too, his decision to do all in his power
to please both.
His heavenly Father understood his heart if his earthly parent did not,
and this all-wise guardian, knowing how very hard it was going to be
for the child in this new home, enabled him to find friendship that was
really warm and true.
Slipping noiselessly from beneath the covers--for the night had been
cold--Edwin went to the window through which the morning sun was
streaming, and there he saw a scene that thrilled him with delight.
Lying asleep upon the walk in the warmest spot that could be found
was a large Newfoundland dog. Clad in his heavy coat of shaggy fur
and surrounded by a bed of green, he was indeed a pleasing picture.
There had been several dogs at the poorhouse of which Edwin had been
especially fond, but there had been none so beautiful as the one upon
the walk below. The bees, too, were busy gathering among the flowers
the honey for their winter's supply, and hopping about here and there
over the lawn were the little "jumper-men."
As Edwin from his elevation beheld the part of God's creation that he
had already chosen for his friends, his loneliness was quite forgotten.
He was still gazing down upon the scene when his mother appeared in

the doorway and with cruel words ordered him to hasten below to the
kitchen. Little did she know that her child was finding in the animal
kingdom the friendship that she had denied him, and she would not
have cared had she known.
During the day and those that followed, Edwin endeavored in every
possible way to help his mother, but his understanding so little about
her ways and the names and uses of the simplest articles about the
house seemed only to increase his troubles and hardships. And as slaps
and bruises such as the dog had not known were his portion, the
unfortunate child endeavored, whenever it was possible to do so,