The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-04-13
Ragged Jem, a Judge.

ooh, dear p sighed a half-starved,
ragged little boy, one cold, chilly night
in the fall of 1926, as he sat, OF rather
half reclined on his elbow, on the cold,
damp step of one of the large fine
houses in New York city; how | wish
| had only one of them nice cakes in
that window.
And as he half muttered to himself,
his dark fearful eyes watched the well
filled window of large bakers shop.
There he sat, hour after hour, with
no friend to comfort him, and no warm
bed to sleep in. The only friend he
had, as he thought, was his heavily
Father, for his mother had died the
day before from starvation, and now
he was left an orphan to wander ali
alone through that large city.
Soon, however, he fell asleep, and
troubles left him for time. He slept
long and soundly. At last he was
awakened from his sleep by the sound
of large clock striking five. The
streets We're very still, and there was
not the same noise and connection
that there is on other mornings, for it
was Sunday.
There he sat rubbing his eyes as
though he were taking his morning
bath.
Presently some one pulled him by
the coat or what might have once
been called coat, and said
"Come Jem, wake up, 1t is long past
daylight, and | am getting hungry.
Ii you will come with me, will tell
you where you can get plenty to eat,
for / saw shopman shut his blinds
without once locking them.
Jem looked up III real astonishment.
"Will he give us something.
NO; we can hook it, you know; and
he won't miss it, | know,
Jem looked up slowly, and said
firmly:
Il shan't steal, and you can't make
me any more, for promised my moth
Ell, just as she died, wouldn't. You
may go, but | shan"
Jack hung his head and said moth
ing. Soon however he muttered TO
himself:
"You may starve to death, but l
shall not then raising his voice he
cried, 'Hurrah I'm going anyhow,
to get something to eat
Jem walked off in the opposite di-
rection, whistling to himself. Home,
sweet home"
The bells were ringing for Sunday
school at o'clock. Jem happened to
be passing st. Pauls chapel, and he
saw the boys and girls going in, he
thought he would like to see the
church; 50 he entered, but not without
first taking off his cap, and wiping his
bare feet before he touched the step.
One of the teachers saw him, and
asked him if he came to school? he
was so much frightend he did not an
swer; but he put him into a class with
the ether boys.
After the session was over, the teach
en- came and closely questioned him,
finding him SO honest and upright, he
took him home and gave him his break
fast. and then learned from him his
whole history.
The teachers father, 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 waa sent to school for instruction.
lie made the very best use OF his Tune,
improved very fast and was soon adj
mitted into the Office as u clerk. lie
studied, became u proficient in law,
kept up his habits OF strict integrity
and honor, was finally made partner
in the business of his employer and is
now one of the most popular judges IN
Western New York.
THIS little incident show US that in
tegrity wins its reward even in this
world.