The Van Buren press., 1859-12-23

RAGGED JEN, A JuDGE-"O dear -
sighed half-starve,l, ragged little boy. one
cold, chilly night In the fall of 1896 as hs
sat or rather llals reclined ON his elbow. OF
the cold, damp steps of one of the large fins
houses IN New York city SO how 1 wish
had only one OF them nice cakes in that
window
And as he half mu.tersd 10 himself, hi.
dark fearful eyes watched the well filled
window of a large baker shop
There he sat, hour after hour, with nc
friend to comfort him. and no warm bed to
sleep in. The only friend he had, as he
theaSht, was his heavenly Father, for his
mother had died the day before from starva-
tion, and now he was left an orphan to
wander all alone through that large and
wicked city.
troubles left him for time. He slept long
and soundiy. At last he was awakened
from his sleep by the sound of a large clock
striking five. The streets were very still,
and there was not the same noise and COM
motion that there is or other mornings, for
it was Sunday There he sat, rubbing his
eyes, as though hc were taking his morning
bath
Presently some one pulled him by the
coat Tor what might have been once called
a coat and said '' Come, Jcm, wake up,
it is :onS past daylight, and i am getting
hungry If you will come with me, l will
tell you where we can get plenty to eat, for
! saw shopman shut his blinds without
once locking them.
Jem looked up in real as,onishment.-
Will he give Us something ?''
No; we can hook it, you know and
lie won't miss it, / know"
Jeh looked up slowly, and said, firmly
g shan't steal, and you can't make me
any more, for promised my mother just as
she diei l wouldn't. You may so, but L
shan't''
Jack hung his head and said nothing
Soon, however, he muttcreI to himself
'' \ ou niay staTve 10 death, but | shan't, >"
then, raising his voice, he cried, g HUrrah,
I'm going, anyhow to get something to
cat"
.Iem walkel of in the opposite direction,
whistling 10 hiIuSef, - Home, sweet home. F"
The bells were Tingin" fer Sunday school
at nine o'clock Jcm happened to be pas
sing ST Pard's chapel, and as he saw the
boys and girls going in, he thought he
would like to see the church 50 hc enter
ci, but not without first taking of his cap,
and wipns his bare feet before Le touched
the step
One of the teachers saw him, and askel
him if he came to school lie was so much
frightened he did not answer but lie put
him into Il class with some younger boys.
After the session was over, the teacher
came and closely questioned him, and find
ing him so honest and upright, he took
him home and gave him his breakfast, and
then learned from his whole history.
The teachers father, a celebrated lawyer
of that city, happened to be in want of an
office boy Jem accepted the offer Of the
vacant place, and kept his employers office
neat and clean, and was soon sent to school
for instruction. He made the very best use
OF his time, improved very fast, and was
soon admitted into the office as a clerk. He
studied, lecame a proficient in law, kept up
his habits Of strict integrity and honor, was
finally made partner in the business Ct
his employer. and in this year of grace,
1889, Is one 9f the most popular judges in
Western New York.
Jack was detected in his wickedness, and
sent to place of confinement to learn that
the way OF ,ransgressors is hard