THE STARVING RUSSIAN CHILDREN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18513, 25 March 1922, Page 14

THE STARVING RUSSIAN CHILDREN

“Whither, ,0 my little mite. In howling wind, in stormy night? Hark and lonely is the street, Fierce the cold, (he frost, and sleet. "Unkempt, unwashed, naked, bare, Bootless, shiftless, stiff, and blue, Motherless, friendless —none to care For brother, sister, or for you. “it's late. Your neighbours arc abed, Whilst you stray from place to place. Where will yon rest your weary bead? (Jan no one line! a tiny space?” With blinding tears, the waif replies: “I have no one, lam alone. . . . Father is dead and mother lies ’Neath that heavy, crushing stone. . . . ‘T have not eaten many days. 0 give me, please, a slice of bread. . . . It’s hard to tramp from place to place. 1 wish, like mother, I were dead.” ”() lonely vagrant, suffering brother, How keen thy pain, how deep tliy sorrow*. Forsaken, neglected, bereft of mother. . . . 0 gloomy present, cheerless morrow. "Don’t w T eep, my darling, do not cry; . Dry your tears. Como, wipe your face. ... Good people will not let you die. . . . You II live, your life, „ you’ll run your race. . ... "Poor orphan of unhappy land. Despair not, grieve not, hope and pray. . • • God is merciful, strong His hand. . Our Father in Heav’n will not delay.” M. Diamond. March 23.