STORRS SCHOOL, ATLANTA, GA.
BY MISS ELLA E. ROPER.
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[pg 166] 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.