We are so sure of your sympathy in our spiritual prosperity that I write
you informally in relation to it.
Sunday, February 10, was a peculiarly happy one for us. In the morning we
had studied together how the Saviour had set the little child in the
midst. At the communion service following there was a large group of
candidates for admission to the church, and then again were the children
"in the midst." Eight were our present pupils; another, a last year’s
graduate. Still another was a young man who came to renew his allegiance
to the church of Christ. We wished that all interested in their welfare in
years gone by could look upon them. Several of the younger people admitted
became interested under the preaching of Mr. Moore over a year ago, and
have stood to their post manfully ever since. The present severe weather
causes much acute distress. A recent case had its humorous, as well as
pathetic side. In the bitter zero weather of Friday’s blizzard a
microscopic male beggar unfolded a doleful tale, as he basked in the
warmth of the kitchen fire. He gave very unsatisfactory directions to his
home, and we were unsuccessful that night in locating it. Early next
morning he appeared again, and we made immediate preparations for running
him to cover. As we started into the street he said hesitatingly,
"Mother’s better now." "That’s good; run along." Presently, "She’s up and
dressed now." "Run along," we admonished, and took care to keep our eyes
upon him lest he vanish, since he was evidently trying to patch up a peace
with his conscience. He presently darted within a cabin, and there we
found a state of things to which he had hardly done justice,
notwithstanding his remorse that his mother wasn’t exactly as he had
represented her. A single stick of wood was wasting in the fireplace. Four
children, smaller than the mite, were as near it as possible without being
on it, eagerly scraping a tin dish with a spoon. A fifth, who had recently
made the acquaintance of this world and its woes, was vigorously
proclaiming his unfavorable opinion of it from the bed. "I cannot take him
up in this cold," the mother explained.
I left them to see what could be done. On my return the last spark of fire
had died upon the hearth. It was zero without and within. Our family of
teachers had made up a sum sufficient for the present needs, however, and
the family were soon made comfortable. At our last visit that day the room
was warm, the baby was up, and evidently had changed his mind. As we were
endeavoring to sort out and fit some garments, the mite (ten years of age,
but apparently about eight) came to me, and, looking up with great
solemnity, said, "If you want any work done, I’ll do it for you for
nothin’." So you see there will be a man of business in that house as long
as the mite lives.
We have our usual experience of pleasant classes in Storrs this year. The
same families continuing with us, year after year, seem like our own. Our
Junior Christian Endeavor Society, already quite large, received nine new
members at the last business meeting, and is reaching out for more. Our
industrial department is slowly working in the direction of a modest
exhibit at the coming Atlanta Exposition, and doing considerable toward
clothing the needy with plain garments.