“What is an asylum, and what is a uniform?” was asked wonderingly.
“Come to the school-room and I will show you,” and leading the way, she opened the door into a large room where a number of children were studying their lessons for the next day.
“Now you see the way the girls dress here, and you will dress the same if you stay.”
“But I will not dress that way, and I will wear my pretty dresses or I will not stay.”
“We will see first whether you can stay,” commented the matron coldly. “In the meantime you will remain in this room and listen to the children during the half hour they study, then you can go with them to the playground,” and she signalled to one of the teachers to give the newcomer a place.
That place was beside Diana Strong, an orphan a few years older than Jerusha, and tall for her age. She had flaxen hair, pale blue eyes, a sallow complexion and a long upper lip, which, however, did not conceal the large front teeth. But withal, there was an expression in her plain face of such genuine kindness and sympathy for everybody and everything that all felt comfortable in her presence.
The matron had in the meantime returned to the reception-room and conducted Horace to the boys’ department of the institution where, in a short time, he was as much at home as if he had known no other.
Investigations made the next day by the managers gave, after strict research, confirmation that Jerusha Flint and her brother were really objects of charity. The mother had died a few days after the little family of four had taken possession of a miserable home, the children had been taken away by someone, and the place was tenantless. That was all the neighbors knew of the matter, so nothing was left to do, even if otherwise desired, but to keep them in the asylum.
A few evenings after this conclusion was reached, the matron, in her quiet, comfortable room, was about to enjoy her evening meal after the labors of the day.
The children of all ages and sizes were in their white-robed beds after their simple supper of bread and milk, and were sleeping perhaps more sweetly than if in more luxurious homes.