Chapter 4:

Sunday after Church there is a Town meeting to discuss the possibility of re-opening the orphanage and some of the Town folk are saying, "No it won't work, we don't have enough manpower to re-open it. The place is a mess and needs alot of work done to it."

Mr. Kagan replies, "I believe we can fix it up."

Mr. Peterson the storekeeper says, "What's the use? These children are no good and always causing trouble. I think we should send them all to the workhouse."

Joe Kagan disagrees has he motions for little Johnny, Sam and Kenny to come up and stand next to him and continues to say to the congregation, "You see these three children, little Johnny is only 6 years old and lost his father and mother to a sickness and was left out in the on the street 6 months ago. Sam also lost his parents a year ago to a tragic accident. Kenny's Pa abandoned him and his mother when he was only 4 years old and his Ma passed two years later. Kenny is now a young teenager and yes he is a little rough to handle. I know he will come around if someone just loves him. These kids need love."

Hester Sue has a tear in her eye but is also smiling at Joe Kagan.

Mr. Peterson says, "Do what you want with them but I think it is a waste of time. These kids are bad apples!"

Joe replies, "Mr. Peterson, I have always believed there is no such thing as a bad child just one that needs loving."

The Town does agree to re-open the orphanage and they all go except (Mr. Peterson) to work on cleaning the building up. Little Johnny and Sam do what they can to help. Kenny doesn't want to it first but comes around when he begins to see that Joe loves and wants to help him.

As Mr. Peterson is walking back to his store he is thinking to himself, "A Town orphanage, no way! These kids need to go to the workhouse. I don't want them around here. I have to do something."

About 2 months later the Town orphanage building is cleaned up and it's on his way to being used again. The Town of Sleepy Eye has another meeting and it's decided that Joe Kagan will manage and operate the orphanage. They are a couple of volunteers who come forward in the meeting to be teachers and workers. Hester Sue being one of them says, "I would love to be a teacher again. I miss working with the blind children in Walnut Grove. It's in my blood to work with children."

The three children, little Johnny, Sam and Kenny along with Joe Kagan Hester Sue and the rest of the volunteers move and get settled in the orphanage. As Joe Kagan is getting his office setup Hester Sue says to him, "You are doing a great thing here for these children."

Joe smiles at her and says, These children need a chance on life."

Hester Sue smiles and takes Joe's hand and looks into his eyes saying, "We are all here to help give them that chance."

Joe Kagan is a little shocked by Hester Sue taking his hand because he always thought that Hester Sue was a little apprehensive toward him and a possible future together and didn't want to get serious about their relationship. Joe thinks, "...Hmmm... Could it be?"

Meanwhile some of the other men are bringing in some new furniture. Mr. Peterson is asking some of them, "Do you know if these people are State qualified to run an orphanage?"

The man just ignore Mr. Peterson for they know he doesn't want the orphanage to open and he's trying to stop it from doing so. With the men not answering him Mr. Peterson goes back to his store and says to himself, "...hmmm... I think I will call the State office."

Will the orphanage be a success or will Mr. Peterson's phone call stop things?

To Be Continued