Just a Bad Kid

"The Bad Kid" was an orphan, and was cared for by a sloppy old woman, who made her work and constantly ill-treated her. The woman beat the child, a kindhearted neighbor interfered, and a tenement brawl followed. The upshot of it was that the woman was sent to do penance on "The Island," and the child was committed to an institution. There she found other children to tease. Inquiry developed that the child had a relative, an uncle, a farmer out west who, although only a distant cousin, was the only kin the girl had. It was a happy day in the institution when he was located, and agreed to take "the Bad Kid" off their hands. In her new home the child, having never been taught, kept up her troublesome ways. Her newfound relatives, with the knowledge of her reputation, were not disposed to make allowances, and finally decided that it was a hopeless task to try and reform her, she never would amount to anything. The child overheard their conversation, and vowed to be good, for really she was hungry for someone to love her, the only trouble was she did not know how to go about it, and was too shy to ask. Her pitiful awkward little efforts to "be a comfort" were a failure, and she ran away, first leaving a letter for the old couple, in which she confessed how she had tried, but knew she had not succeeded. The farmer and his wife were devout church members, and interested in foreign missions. The child's note brought home to them a realization that there were other heathens, right at home, who needed to be cared for, so the farmer decided to bring her back. He found a little wanderer some distance from the farm. He tenderly carried her home, but when she revived she wept anew, fearing them. They gently convinced her of their love and assured the weeping child that sometimes, many times, a "Bad Kid" will grow up to be a good girl if she has the proper care and the proper love, and assured her that they would give her both. And she never tried to run away again. - IMDb