Chapter 4

May 1861

Charlotte POV (age 19)

A few months after Hannah arrived home, the opportunity came for a new adventure here at the orphanage. We had just arrived home from Sunday services, all fifteen of us. We never missed a Sunday. Mrs. Sheffield felt it was important to bring us up right. So, every Sunday, Mrs. Sheffield, Mary, the orphans, Hannah, and I would walk to the church. The church was large and held so many people that it was hard to hear much of the preaching, unless you were sitting in the front.

That’s why we always sat on the front row. Well, actually it was because the little ones knew they were being watched and they were compelled to be good. I remember feeling the same way when I was younger, I wanted to repay Mrs. Sheffield for all of the love she had shown to me, and so I tried very hard to be good and to sit still during services. The little ones at the orphanage today were no different.

But the sermon that day had caught my attention. The reverend had talked abou