d.“Today you truly begin life. You will find me waiting for you when it's time to leave.“

I took a few steps， then stopped and looked but saw nothing. Then the faces of boys and girls came into view. I did not know a single one of them， and none of them knew me. I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way. But glances of curiosity were directed toward me， and one boy approached and asked，“Who brought you?“

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“My father，“ I whispered.

“My father's dead，“ he said quite simply.

I did not know what to say. The gate was closed， letting out a pitiable screech. Some of the children burst into tears. The bell rang. A lady came along， followed by a group of men. The men began sorting us into ranks. We were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard surrounded on three sides by high buildings of several floors; from each floor we were overlooked by a long balcony roofed in wood.

“This is your new home，“ said the woman.“Here too there are mothers and fathers. Here there is everything that is enjoyable and beneficial to knowledge and religion. Dry your tears and face life joyfully.“

We submitted to the facts， and this submission brought a sort of contentment Living beings were drawn to other living beings， and from the first moments my heart made friends with such boys as were to be my friends and fell in love with such girls， as I was to be in love with， so that it seemed my

misgivings had had no basis. I had never