Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-08-06
SeltfttOl glIisteLIann.
THE HERO OF. sAFAN's ALLEY,
- 81 By y MRS, ca wa FLANDERS.


BY MRs4i ca Va tlANDEbs'
s..i IFrom the Youths companion.l r
"' In times gone by, before the sin and de
pravity Of the Five Points, in New York
city, was modified by christian influences,
there was in that vicinity an alley so dark
and loathsone that it came, to be called
ASatan's Alley" .nat
Never was title more suggestive Of the
condition Of its occupants. The men and
women were so beastly in their habits,
their personal appearance so revolving, the
filtlpand.perpetuol gloom Of the long den
so repellant, that language would not atle-
quately describe their odiousness. But
hideous as it all WAS, there crept in and out
of that gloomy passage two boys whose
faces might have served for painters
study ! ,vNala-s,4 .'. r.
. GJlstave, the eldest, haddelicate features,
Laughing blue eyes and golden curls, that
impaired an etfeminate sweetness to his
countenance such ms is often seen among
children OF German extraction. IN
Christian, the younger, although darker
and taller, was equally attractive. Both Of
these lads were ragged, shoeless and filthy.
Accustomed from their infancy to scenes
Of drunkenness and violence, they natural
ly enough became profane and thievish,
One morning, as usual, Christian and
Gustave set out on n begging expedition;
Christian with api old basket upon his arm
Gustave with q soYed bag flung carelessly
over his shoulder is'''''"
The two boys, whatever were their faults,
loved each other as they trudged lovingly
. along from one house 70 another, telling
their oft repeated story that 'father was
dead and mother was poor, until, %earied
withthsri mornings walk, they sat down
10 look over the contents ofitheir bag and
basket. siisrar l0 lrG Is
.As.the youngsters were thus engaged, a
gentleman passed along the street with
package in ,his-handce a+ a --or
II say, Christie, that's pne Of them brew
cry ylfelers, that's opened the school in the
old brewery s-.ioy eIf ts
BLOW me if he amt looking right at
US r. cried Gustaye, jerking his rimless hat
as if trying to conceal his dirty brow
'NWhat II he is ?" returned Christie, with
his grave eyes upon the mans face; che
WORT harm the like of us" ,,- ..,.vrc.,-I
$50 you are the lad / met in Maiden lane
lu6 OCn6I my. btith tub BSutleuldlI, tdhlIS !
the soiled fingers Between his own. II I
am glad to see you Did you read the
book 1 gave you? ana did you ask your
parentslte let you come to our school?"
Christians face grew crimson, but he an /
swered, stoutly, ''No, siig hain't read the I
.book.-I can't read nothingAand / hain't 1
asked to goto school cause I knew it want
no use. = g.. .1-.s t-s .t-l 4.si ti'I!ill
.No -use--how is that2 aa DO 10 '.i
1--WE has to beg frommorning to night.
Dads been drunk ever since that day, and
nam isn't much better If Gussie and l
went to school, the, baby'd starye to death,
sartin.P ID, seq4. f..t III .7a.tr..
The stranger looked seriously into the
two boys faces. 81 ..a.. -s.. tstEa
Would you like to come to the school
if I could get the consent Of your par
ents y -. 'ft.u...l -r.t
''Yes, sir, said Christian, promptly
'Pd like to learn how to read; but Gussie |
and l haint no clothes sir, nor shoes.
Never mind that; all you have to do is .
to come as tidy as you can. We will see to
the rest Now, I win 60 to your parents .
and see if they will consent.
It was with many misgivings that the
L = a IL !. -. a. ,.I...S M. WI -. Ff
ooys t 4et ~ o,lo way " SI.an tho my "tI ti
az lase theS IeaIneu fl ene Ioom MLeie tne
Inso 'otS oouPts, ~ CG o,'nhad n [ ~
uoNon o.n1i "a, v''il'':oa, "bon
narents and rnsbed bacL To the street lest
thew sbonld heat him for beino 80 off /
cious.
rs ,ros nos t1,a ,rort of an borr or dow
or a xveor sto hin, tbaee baeoitad noren{s I
fo listen 40 the GOOD mans, nroI,osali a fter
a time, however. they concluded that the /
boys would make better beggars and better
thieves by learning TO read, and SO sent /
them cheerfully trf the old brewery.
When GIlssie and Christian had learned |
to read, they were rewarded with a suit of
whole clothes. and pair of thick shoes.
Christian. whose sanguine Temperament
rendered him more susceptible to pleasure
and pain than was Gustave, fhn all the way
home with breathless delight to show his
to his parents.
A new1eeline. one of self-respect. took
possession of him. He had learned to
read. His teachers had eomplimented him. /
They had shown him that theft, and drunk I
enness. and ragged garments were boon
companions: and when they had dismissed
him that evening, a tidy, comfortably-clad
boy, he had promised them and himself
never 10 steal or lie or bep again as long
as he lived. 80 15Y97'.'
The parents were not auite as bappv in
tbe chance of garments as tbe boya had
enticinated Tbe father ernmbled at the
contrast betcreeI1 them and him fbe mother
ordered them 10 Iof their toooerv and |
90 bec for their sunners'n '''r,s Ja |
c.. aS5 C,LIfs.;. -. L.
ust1se anu oiiis.an alas'iI Pns away L9i SIe,i
neT saaisn.s a. gitiiy a. sney wels aUte,
nu tesI 'net wlncI nov , seee H'9
SoGo anS at tnela sook theE ana
oasKet ana went together 1nLo tine street
tiSn svS WsEsd MpT p alS,r q bSfi ba reacbsd % AZ