the intelligence their elders have. What a joy it would be to their par ents, could they know of their chil dren’s successes! And what a credit to the mothering and fathering, the care and direction of the Marshes and their co-workers! When Eusabio wandered into the orphanage one night, he said he wanted to work so he could eat. He was seven or eight years old, but did not know his last name, or where his parents lived. “ The only thing I remember about mama,” he said, “ is one time when I took something from the table to eat and she said, ‘Get away from there, you dog!’ ” Eusabio had been carrying wood and running errands for a woman liv ing at Iguala until suddenly one day she had told him to leave. She had no use for him any longer. He’s a bright, happy youngster now. The Marshes let him choose his last name. He thereupon called him self Eusabio Sanchez Morino. So far, no orphan has left “ The Happy Home” without expressing his deep appreciation to the Marshes. One boy, Gilberto, said on a return visit, “ I don’t know why I was so ornery when I was here. I realize now how bad I was and I get ashamed.” Papa Marsh has his own way of keeping his boys in tow. Instead of using work to punish his youngsters, he takes their chores away from them when they need correction. Finding themselves ostracized from the field and bam work, the boys become lone ly and pead for forgiveness so they can be restored into the fellowship of their buddies. A lad named Ezekiel was so incorrigible, however, that P a p a Marsh’s usual discipline was useless.
saw coming down the lane a woman with seven children trotting alongside. Their Christian parents had been brutally murdered over a land claim by hate-filled neighbors. To remain in the village meant death for the children, or the inciting of revenge on their parents’ killers. The woman was the sister of Gen eral Narcissus Medina Estrada of the Mexican Army. She had taken com passion on the kiddies and hurried them away from the gruesome death scene and now appealed to the Marshes to take them in. They looked at the children: pretty little Jobita, the eldest girl, who had marked intelligence; Manuel, a quiet, impassive teen-ager with big, black eyes; Federico, wounded in the hand by one of the fatal blasts from the gun as he tried to hold the door shut
He told the boy that if he wanted to stay, he would get a whipping, but that he could leave the home and escape the whipping. Ezekiel thought it over, then said, “Papa, Marsh, I want you to whip me.” After enduring the stinging punish ment, Ezekiel hugged Papa Marsh and thanked him. Mama Alicia usually conducts her punishing by withholding privileges or allowance pesos. Although these sometimes seem dif ficult, the orphans recognize their
Schoolteacher Margaret Klassen teaches 150. Mexican youth at a school on the ranch. necessity. One wrote after leaving, “You helped me form the best ideals. I’m not living up to them now, but maybe someday I can.” The evidence of changed lives among those who have believed, the evening hymn fests after mealtime, the prayers in the dorms, the little chapel services and Sunday school classes — all this and more sums up the reason why neighbors passing by nod their heads and murmur, “ The Happy Home.”
Miss Bernice Albers, R. N., patches up a little wound. She is orphanage secretary. against the intruders; Esther, Ar- temio; Havi.er; and little Ruth. Robbed of their parents, the little fam ily had come seeking love and care from the Marshes. How could they refuse? Hastily, Papa Marsh cleaned out a woodhouse for sleeping quarters that night. In the days ahead, the Godinez family all became Christians and proved themselves worthy of the wel come. Jobita finished secondary school and married at the orphanage a fine young man who is now a minister. Manuel finished secondary school at the orphanage with honors and now teaches the third and fourth grades there. Federico followed up his schooling with two years at the State Agricultural School in Mexico City and plans to complete high school soon. He is in charge of mechanical operations of the farm and serves as counselor in charge of the boys’ dorm. The young Godinez children all ex hibit the seriousness, the purpose and
Sports on the Marshes’ 425-acre ranch burn up the surplus energy of these Mexican orphans boys after their ranch chores are finished for the day
17
DECEMBER, 1959
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