The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher

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happenings about him, it was not strange that the mysteries of nature were hidden as well. Shunned and abused as he was, even curiosity was almost of no avail. But although he

times able to improve little opportunities to assist either his mother or his uncle, and in this way he sometimes evaded punishments that he would have otherwise received. His always being on the alert made it

pened. He often wondered about the blue arch above his head, and, supposing it to be an upper story to the earth, believed it to be inhabited by a famil

of throwing or rolling heavy or combustible articles of furniture as he had so repeatedly known his mother and un

air, and sometimes when the stones went too high to be followed by the nake

his mother he had come to the conclusion that all must die and be buried in the same manner. What became of them after death he could not fathom, but he concluded that t

oon became greatly interested in the child Edwin. Many times they listened with deepest sympathy to his cries of agony and terror, knowing that his cries were caused by cruel blows or kicks. Then when the little fellow, all bleeding

rs. Hahn one day to her husband

m to hustle around and find her a picket, for she wanted to fix the fence. I saw right away that he didn't know what a picket was, but I wanted to see what he would do. He didn't ask. Instead he ran around the house looking in every direction and came back to tell her that he couldn't find any. Then, in a tone that she would

r he can come, just as though he were coming to help us, you know, and then we could tell him about many of these things that he

d time of it. Do what you think is best, but be careful not to let Mrs. Fischer think you want to help her son, or all your plans will be upset. She doesn't care wha

rs. Hahn, and with a relieved expression she hastened t

d couple now and then, "but," she added, "you'll soon find that he

n answered, and from that day a great

gnorance. Instead of reproaching him for what he did not know or understand, they took extra pains to explain their meaning in the simplest language possible. To Edwin the explanation of the most trifling every-day occurrences seemed wond

nd how he had been wronged; for many questions concerning the earth, the sk

ll. It was your uncle, who had, with the consent of your mother, dressed himself in the hideous clothing

in Blue Mountain?" Edwin

e the toys up there, wh

e to his children. The stories that he told you about the elves visiting the homes to discover who were bad are untrue. I know it seems very strange to

e home of St. Nick, what is it?"

d that they were only high parts of the earth. "Blue Mountain," he said, "is only one part of the range, and those dark places that you see on its sides are just trees and bushes such as grow right here in our yard. Then there are large rocks, some of them the size of this house, and springs of water where many animals

a great and supreme Being over all, one who had created all the wonders that they had been describing, for they were not Christian people and were not acquainted with the love of God. They were greatly interested in the things that pertain to this life, but se

that her son could understand more about the work, she became more particular and increased his tasks accordingly until it seemed that he could do nothing to suit her. Poor nervous child!