Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1888 — A TENDER SCENE. [ARTICLE]

A TENDER SCENE.

The Little Orphan Had No- Mother to Confirm Her With a Blessing. Bt. Liuis Post Dispatch. Never has there been a tenderer scene witnessed in a church than that which reddened the eyes of the congregation of Sliaare Emeth, yesterday, during the Shabuoth confirmation of children. It was not from’the sensitive hearts of women only that tears welled up. In the pews were stern merchants and callous lawyers whose eyes hadn’t been wet for many a year, but they all paid the tribute of tears to the pathos of the occasion. To the Jew there is nothing more sacred than the home, and to him, as to Dickens, children are the “idols of hearts and of households.” So the confirmation of the young is always full of interest.

The old custom in the temple lias been for the rabbi to spread his hands above the childrens’ heads, and thus bestow his" blessing. Yesterday Rabbi Sale made a touching change. When, the time came for the blessing he spoke to Yhe- ehildrcn of the value of parents’ love, and the beauty of filial affection. He then told them to go to their parents in their pews and get their blessing. The little ones were nearly all in tears and as they brushed them from their faces some of the drops fell like dew upon the flowers and ferns which nearly hid them from sight. All the class went toward their parents. All? All but one. She was a little orphan and she had no place to go. So, when all the others had gone, she stood there alone and motherless, her little eyes looking about for some one to give her a blessing. The rabbi realized the situation in a moment, and took the child in his arms. In a few eloquent words lie called the congre--gaHotFaattention to hor lonely condltß?ll7 and how she rested upon the fatherhood of God. The child had a face like an angel, as if chiseled for such a scene. Above her golden hair the rabbi raised his hands, and in silence let them rest in benediction. Then he dismissed her,and as she passed down the broad aisle to a seat she walked as through an avenue of tear-stained handkerchiefs that fluttered on everv side.