Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-04-26

They're all done, said Willie, respectfully
4 did them
'Ah, you did them did your Well then vel
have tea
Mrs. Gray had placed an extra plate by tb,
side of the schoOl.ma'am, and now motiOnet
Willie to sit there.
i can wait, always do, said he, hanging
back
Nobody waits at my table, when there'
room, said the Deacon. Sit down, boy, ant
remember that is your place hereafter
1t seemed TO Willie that he had suddenly step
into another world, everybody so kind every
thing so free.
Sunday morning came
Willie was up before sunrise, doing the neees'
sary chores, and then Mrs. Gray hung up an
old blanket in one corner Of the wood shed
and gave him pail of warm water, and some
soap, sponge and towel and told him TO strip
himself to the skin, and wash himself thor
oughly, and then, just when the boy was hold
ing the dirty, ragged shirt in his hand, and
hesItating to put it on, 4 sweet voice said
kindly, you viii find your clothes just outside
the blanket, Willie and then light footsteps
ran away.
He peePed out. Sure enough, there was a
bran new shirt, the gift of Miss Merton, which
she had made evenings; the DeacOn's pants,
the needed jacket, pair OF neatly darned
socks, some of the Deacon's that had shrunk,
and pair of good, stout shoes, the last pres
ont from the deacon, who had told Miss Merton
and his wife, 'he wouldn't do things by halves,
he'd test the boy thorous bly,
There were many hspoy little faces in the
church that Sabbath morning, but none bright
er or more cheerful than WiiamHendIickson'
o,,1 ~, bc,t oil hinnsaIf battar in u,aatino,
either, than did be, reading out of the same
book Miss Merton did, kneeling by her side, ,and
reading the beautiful words Of the hymns, as her
voice Joined with the chorus of the choir.
Weeks passed on. The summer time was
gone, and with it the dear school ma'am.
g l may never see you again, Willie, 'she said
tenderly, as she held his hand at parting, " but
hope always to hear good report of YOU -
The Deacon has promised to write to me Oc.
casitnaly, and l shall expect to hear from you
in every letter. / shall never forget you. l
shall remember you in my prayers night and
morning. Willie, you Will not disappoint me"
Through his tears the boy sobbed out, no,
no, no o, if you conld always be with me-"
- leave You with a friend who never for
sakes, Willie, God is with you"
She was gone, and it seemed to the poor boy
that heaven had shut its door on him forever -
But he manfully struggled with himself, and
though it was not near so easy 10 be good under
the new teacher that came, he 10as good, re-
numbering ever his promise.
would like to follow his career, step by
step, but my story is growing long, and l can
only tell you the results of his continued eff
forts after knowledge and goodness. He be
came so near and dear to Deacon Gray, that
when be vas sixteen years old he adopted him,
his own little blue-eyed son being called to the
''Other side of the river" He went first to the
academy, then to the college, then to theo-
logical school, and then into the pulpit. Yes
he whom the country people all said was bound
to 60 to the penitentiary, now breaches the
gospel of Christ on every Sabbath day. And
the dear teacher, now an aged matron with
silvery hair, listens to him and learns of him.
The pupil has become the pastor; the worst
boy in the school is now one of the most clos
quent preachers, aud what is better far, one of
the best of men. Verify, d" as ye sow, so shall
ye reap"