North Carolina Newspapers

ii mi The Orphans’ Friend. W’EI)S:ESDAY, FEBRUAKY 7,- - 1883. COURTESY. J5Y MRS. L. C. WHITTEN. Summer said to the Spring, ‘‘What a wonderful thing It is to 'oring in so much sweetness {i,nd grace ; I am sure that to you ray blossoms are due. And I feel I am takin ; your place. “I never can blush, but I think of your flush; And the eyes of the liowers at eve ning are wet; There was something so fair in your in*, nocent air That your going we can but regret.” ‘‘You l)eaatirul comer,” said the Si)ring to the Hununer, “1 lived out my life but to brighten your way ; I heanl the buds swelling, and could not liclp telling, Foi I knew yon would see them some day. ‘‘It was only my duty to bring you the beauty. And to help one anotlier is a lesson for- all: And pcr'iaps you'll be willing, your mission fnlfilling, To leave something to brighten the Fall. —Wide-Awake. LI. TLE SUT. Up in Tompkins County, N. Y., Hvos :i well'to*do farmer natnod Firkins, with his wifeand two (laugliiors. Having no sons he is. dependent on hired help, llie s^up[)ly of which is regulated according to the season, a num ber of farm hands being neces sary during planting and harvest ing of corps, while one being usually the only assistant needed in the winter. Realizing the need of a boy on the place to do the chores for whic.h it did not justify to hire a man, Pitkins talked the matter over with his wife, and they decided to select a waif from the poor house and raise him up as one of the tamily, which ot course meant food and clothing until he was of age, and three months schooling in the winter. With Farmer Pitkins ter decide was to act; so the n^xt day he and Mrs. Pitkins drove over in the buggy to the County Poor House and made application for an orphan. The Superintendent, always willing to dispose of his charges to farmers, ordered out the boys in a line for review, and Pitkins and his wife eyed the boys closely and talked with thorn. He, with an eye to ser vice, selected a large, strong boy; but she, with a motherly in-* stinct more akip to sympathy, picked out little Sat, the subject of the sketch. “Why, Mary,” exclaimed Pit kins, “he’s too small!” "But he’ll grow, John, and ' tlien 1 like his looks better.’’ “Looks! ’L\it, tut! What have looks got to do with it?” “A great deal. If we are to adopt him and raise him up as a son, and oven if he is only to be a farm hand, we do not want a boy to grow up dishonest and vicimirt I don't like the big boy’s face.” So Farmov Pitkins grumbled a little over her choice, as he lif ted Sat into the buggy between them and drove homo. The boy was, small for service on a farm, but he seemed grateful for the home, and was willing to do all the busy tasks his hands were put to do, and would put his little hands on li's tired back without a inurumr, after a long time saviiiig wood. Mrs. Pitkins seemed to draw towards him by his very diminutive size and strength, while Pitkins seemed almost to dislike him, and was always grumbling about the boy's being too small, although the farmer’s wife would very sensibly remark that she believ ed the willingness of a small boy would accomplish more than the unwillingness of one twice his size. As little Sut wasn’t large enough to wait on the girls, the}’’ rather sided with their father,and made the poor boy’s life rather unpleasant by teasing him. Thus matters went on for a season or so, while one farm hand after another came and went; and, although colts and calves and pigs and chickens all grew and fattened on the place, little Sut seemed at a standstill and failed to come up to Mrs. Pit- kins’ assertion that he would grow. “It’s no use, Mary, waiting for this boy to grow. 1 must take him back to the Poor House and get a larger boy. You cau go with me and select the boy, but he must be larger.” Mrs. Pitkins, with a feeling o tenderness toward the little home^ less waif she bad selected, hadn’t the heart to go and pick out a boy to supplant him in the home that now seemed as dear to him as if he had been born in it, so Mr. Pitkins drove over alone, while the farm hand took the wagon and drove to the mill for lumber, leaving Mrs. Pitkinp,the two girls and little Sut on the farm alone, except a little dog which Sut had been allowed to adopt from the roadside, the cat tle on the farm scarcely being counted as company by lone wo men who had not looked to them for the protection which even a boy or a small dog can attempt. Tramps, miserable, dangerous out-casts, seem to be the con stant menace of unprotected far-- mers, especially the women who are so often left alone. Little Sut was in the barn, with his dog, sorting potatoes, when his attention was called by hearing one ol the girls scream, and look ing out, to his surprise and hor ror, he saw a man rush out at the kitchen door in pursuit of one of the girls. With a boyish im pulse Sut ran out with a small basket of potatoes in his hand, followed by the dog, which he urged to a fierce attack on the man. The little dog went gals lantly into the fight and set his teeth so vigorously into the legs of the tramp that the girl was en** abled to escape from him and run to a neighbor’s for assistance. Little Sut realized that there was work for him to do. The screams that came from the house plainly indicated that one man was not the only enemy on the place,and with a shout little Sut rushed in to find another tramp on the point of overcoming Mrs. Pit- kins and the other daughter in a fierce struggle, in which he had almost torn their clothing off. The noise that little Sut made and the vigorous fusilade ot po tatoes that he hurled at the tramp so disconcerted him that it al lowed the two women a chance to escape and lock themselves in a room upstairs. Poor little Sut and-liis Jog were left alone to contend with the two enraged tramps. The fight was uneven, and short, the dog was driven from the field, and little Sut stood alone at hay. Suddenly one of the tramps, who had been keeping an eye open for danger, saw approaching the farmer to whose house the other the alarm, the two desperadoes rapidly made their escape to the thick woods near by. They had done their work cru* elly and well. Little Sut lay in one corner motionless, where he fell, and the neighbors laid him on the bed, while Mrs. Pitkins and her daughters bent over him and frantically called his name. There was a gurgling sound in his throat, and a little stream of blood trickled down the side of his mouth and stained the white, ruffled slip of the pillow. Just then Sut opened his eyes as Mr. Pitkins returned from selecting another boy to fill his place. A little cut on Sut’s breast showed where the knife had penetrated his lungs, and the gurgling sound was the blood that was forcing its life tide inside. “Did I drive ’em offf* That was all that little Sut ev'* er said, but, with a smile on his face, and blood streaming from his u outh, he died in the arms of farmer Pitkins, who had gone to swap him ofi because he was too small to do anyt’.iing. A little grave down at the vil lage churchyard, kept green by three grateful women, and fra- giant with perfumes of flowers is all now left on earth of little Sut, but somewhere we know he has gone, where they do not think him too small. NED, THE CHILDREN’S DOG. daughter had fled, and giving Everybody in Midway, Ky., knows old “Ned,” the children’s dog. He formerly belonged to the late Mrs. Margaret Buford, but as there were no children at her house he came to town* He goes to school with the children every morning and remains there all day. When they go out to play he goes too, aud is quite expert at catching a ball; indeed, in a game he takes the place of a child. When the bell rings he is the first to go into the school** house, and when the classes are ’called up to recite he take.s his place in line at the foot. After the child next above him has re cited, he answers the next ques tion by an intelligent bark and bow of the head. Should a ques tion be missed by the child at the foot of the class and passed to the next by the teacher, “Ned” will answer it in his peculiar way. Spelling seems to be his favorite branch of study, his answer in that being exceedingly quick and vigorous. Although he turns the children down after his fashion he never goes above them He will fight tor any of the pupils as well.as the teachers, and could not be Wuced to stay where there are no children-- Midway Clipper. The politest man in Boston has been discovered. He was hur ryinga long the street the other night, when another man also in violent haste, rushed out of an al ley way,and the two collided with great force. The second man looked mad while the polite man taking off his hat, said, “My dear sir I don’t linow which is to blame for this violent encounter, bnt I am in too great a hurry to invest tigate. If I ran into you I beg your pardon; if you ran into me, Jou’t mention it.” And he tore away at a redoubled speed. To win confidence we must be trustful ourselves. Suspicion breeds the evil it fears. Let your wit be your friend, your mind your companion, and your tongue your servant. THE ORPHAN ASYLUM IS JiOCATED AT OXFORD, the County-seat ofO-ram-ille, forty-five miles North of Raleigh; twelve miles from Hen derson on the R. & G. R. R. The Orphan Asylum belongs to (and, of course, is conducted according to the regu lations adopted by) the Grand Lodge of Ma sons. Its benefits are extended to the most needy orphans,without, ever asking whether their fathers were masons or not. Children are received between the ages of eigBt and twelve, and discharged between the ages of fourteen and sixteen. The average cash expenses for each orj phan is five dollars a month, but the sum required varies according to the seasons, and does not include what is spent for re pairs, furniture and improvement of the premises. The Grand Lodge gives the building and grounds, and $2000 a year. The State gives $5000 a year. For the re mainder of its support, and for enlargement, tlie Orphan Asylum is dependent on vol» untary contributions from subordinate Lodges, churches of all denominations, be nevolent societies, and charitable individ uals ; and their co-operation is earnestly so licited. EXTRACTS PROM THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE GRAND LODGE OF MASONS: The design of the Orphan Asylum shall be to protect, train and educate indigent and promising orphan children, to be received between the ages of 8 and 12 years, who have no parents, nor property, nor near re lations able to assist them. They shall not be received for a shorter time than two yeai's. In extraordinary cases the Superin tendent may receive children outside the ages specified. The larger g^ls siiall assist in the ordi nary house work, and In making and mend ing the bed clothes, their own clothes and the clothes of the boys. The larger boys shall assist in the preparation of fuel, the care ol the stock, and the cultivation of the soil. At least four religious denominations shall be represented among the officers ol the Asylum, and the representatives ol all i«li- ^ous creeds and of all political parties shall be treated alike. The Institution shall be conducted on the cash system, and its operations enlarged or curtailed according to the funds received. Orphan children in the said Asylum shall be led and clothed, and shall receive such preparatory training and education as will prepare them for useful occupations and for the usual business tiansactions of life. Resolved, That the sincere thanks of this Grand Lodge are hereby tendered to many benevolent ladies and gentlemen, to the ministers of the Gospel, to churches of va rious denominations. Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias,Good Templars, Friends of Tem perance and otherbenevoient societies whose heartv co-operation and liberal contribu tions have rendered timely and valuable as sistance in the great work of ameliorating the condition of the orphan children of the State. Resolved, That all benevolent societies and individuals are hereby cordially invited and requested to co-operate with us in pro viding funds and supplies for feeding, cloth ing and educating indigent and promising orphan children at the Asylum in Oxford. Resolved, That the Master of each subordi nate Lodge appoint a Standing Committee upon raising funds for the Orphan Asylum, and require said commitiee to report in wri ting each month, and that said reports and the funds received be forwarded monthly to the Superintendent of the Asylum, and that the support of the Orphan Asylum be a regular order of business in each subordi nate Lodge at each Communication. ‘Should decerted children be admitted?’ was decided In thenegrtive. ‘Should children havi^ig step-fathers be comitted?’ was also decided in the negative. ‘Should deformed children be admitted?’ This was left to the dit,ox*eticn of the Super intend ent. Vi^en the deformity is of such a character as to require extra attention, it was thought un»d\l8ab’e to admit the par ties in the present conditio i of the Asylum. ‘Should boys learn trade:^ ac the Asylum?’ Decided in the negative it being impracti cable at this time to employ skilled me chanics in the various trades, erect suitable work-shops and purchase necessary tools. ‘Should collecting agents be appointed in different parts of the State; and if so, what wages should they receive ?’ This was left to the discretion of the Superintendent: but the meeting advised against employing and paying agents. THE ADOPTION OF ORPHANS. We are always glad to accommodate child less couples who wish to adopt children as their own; but greatly prefer that they should come and make their own selections. APPLICATION FOR CHILDREN. Correspondents are requested to read (and regulate applications for children by) the following resolutions of the Grand I^odge of Masons: Resolved,!. The Superintendent of the Orphan Asylum shall not consider any ap plication for an orphan until the same has been approved and endorsed by the Orphan Asylum Committee of the Lodge in whose jurisdiction the applicant resides. 2. It shall be the duty of the said commit tee to make due inquiry into the desirable ness of the situation offered before endorsing an application; and also to inquire into the oircumstauces and treatment of children al ready discharged, and living in their juris dtotion, and nae their beat raorta to aeouie good treatment, or the return of the chil dren. 3. It shall be the duty of e very secretary of a Lodge to send the names of the Com mittee of the Orphan Asylum to the Ob- p:rANS’ Pr.iEND fo • publication, in order that persons wishing to employ orphans may know the steps to be taken. HOW CHILDREN ARE ADMITTED. Very often the Superintendent hunts up poor and promising orphans, and informs them of the advantages offered at the Or phan House, and induces them [^to return with him. Generally it is best that he should see them before they start. When this is imjvraeticable, a formal application should be made by a friend. Here is one in propeT form: ..N.C.. This is to certify that .....is an orphan, without estate, sound in body and walnH, and years of age. H father died in 18 ; h mother in 78....... I being h hereby make application for h admission into the Asylum at Ox ford. I also relinquish and convey to ttie officers of tlie Asvliim tlie management and control of the said orplian till 16 years ef age, in ordV tha; may be trained and educated according to the regulatioris prescribed by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. I aliio promise not to annoy the Orphan Asylum, and not to encourage ffie said orphan to leave without the approval of the Superintendent. Approved by W. M. of The application should be sent to the Su perintendent, and he will either go for the children or provide for their trangportatloa. In no case should a community take ,up ^ collection to send a man with the chil^n^ nor send the children before the Suptei^- tendent has been consulted. ACTION OF EPISCOPAL CONVEN TION. Resolution adopted by the last annual Convention of the Protestant Eplsoopal Church, at Winston, May 13, 1880: “Resolveii, That this Conventton does heartily approve the efforts of thi Ozfo^ Asylum to alleviate the suffering and to provide for the welfare of the helpless or phans of North Carolina; and that ire com- mend to the imitation of all, the examine of this spirit of active charity and beusfloeiioe on the part of the Masonic fraternityir thus fulfilling the Apostolic injunction te roiaeB* her the poor.” ACTION OF THE N, C. CONPERENCB, On motion of Rev. J. R. Brooks, ^ fe^, lowing resoluti“ s were adopted at tihf nual Conference held at Durham^ in 18M V “The Committee to waom was ^forred the communication of his Excelleff^, Gov. Jarvis, bringing to our notice and coinn end ing to our favor, the Oxford Oryhah ' Asy lum, recommend the adoption of th i fal lowing resolutions: 1. That we reiterate our oft-repeated ex pression of sympathy with this nobls cbar* ity, and heartily commend it to the libera)* support of all our people. 2. That our pastors are hereby requested to take a collection in all their congrogf one at such time during the ensuing ConfeNmo# ' year as they may think most appropi late and best, and to forward the same to the Superintendent of the Asylum. 3. That the Reooi ding Stewards of our several pastoral charges are requested t( te-* port to our Anuual conference the axio? nts collected under the head ol “For the Or phan Asylum.’ Jno R. Brooks, \ E. A. Yates, ’ f Committee, ACTION OP PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD.' Resolutions adopted by the Syc '^.l'of North Carolina in session at Roleitfh. N. C.j Novembei "iSO: “Wheieaa' the Oxford Orpbai Asylum of North Ca rolina ig a purely benevolent institnUen,- ^nd is doing great good for the needy Di- pbaus of our State, therefore, Resolved, That we approve of its pur poses and suggest that the congregaUof^' within our hounds take up at their ,o>wii convenience an annual collection in he^tf of that institution, and forward the 'saiilfe' collected, in connection with any of food and raiment which may he contribii. ted, to the Superintendent. ACTION OF BAPTIST STATE CON VENTION. ’ At the Baptist State Convention, held In Goldsboro, November 17th, 1880, thefo lo^. ing resolution was adopted: Whereas, We feel a deep interest iatisse work of the Oxford Orphan Asylum, and believe it is doing an inestimable aniount (rf good; and Whereas, We believe that tlie Bapiigt people of the State will feel it to be not only a duty, but a privilege, to contribute regh- ‘ larly to its support; therefore Resolved, That all our pastors are her» by earnestly requested to take up a collection at each of their churches at least once a year in behalf of this great and Irapc.'tant work. Elder F. H. Ivey submitted the following resolution, which was adopted at the Con vention held in Winston in 1881: “Resolved, That this Convention feels an undimlnished interest in the work of tbp Orphan Asylum: and that we repeat, with earnestness and emph: sis, the roeom uen- datlon to all our pastors to take up al least one collection during the year in aid ol Oxicvd OriduB Asylum.