The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-07-30
SrlstteO Tlistrllann.
THE HRRO or SWANS ALLEY.

by MRS e W FLANDERS


From The Youths Compauionl
In times gone by, before the sin and de
pravity Of the Five Points, in New Yorl
city, was modified by christian influences
there was in that vicinity an alley so durl
and loathsome that It came to be called
"Satan's Alley
Never was title more suggestive of the
condition Of its occupants. The men and
women were so beasily in their habits.
their personal appearance 80 revolving, the
NTH and perpetual gloom of the long den
30 repellant, that language would not AIDE.
guBtely describe their o~diousuess. But
hideous rs it all was. there crept in and out
OK that gloomy passage two boys whose
faces might have served for q painters
-'udy.
Gustaye. the eldest, had delicate features,
laughing blue eyes and golden curls, that
impaired nn-eteminate sweetness TO his
e-uutenauce. such ns ~ often seen among
children OF German extraction.
Christian, the younger, although darker
and taller, was equally attractive Roth of
these lads were ragged, shoeiess aud filthy.
Accustomed from their infancy 60 scenes
Of drunkenness and violence. they natural.
ly enough became proiaue and thicvish.
One morning, as usual, Christinn aud
Iustave set out on a begging expedition.
Christian with ana old basket upon bis arm.
4us.ave with q soiled bag flung carelessly
over his shoulder
The two boys whatever were their faults,
loved each other, as they trudged lovingly
along from one house 10 another, telling
their Oft repeated story-thst ''fsther was
dead and mother was poor until. wearicd
with their mornings walk, they sat down
% look over the contents Of their bag and
basket.
As the Youngsters were thus engaged. a
gentleman passed along the street with o
package in his hand.
Il say, Christie, that. one Of thembrew
cry %fellers, that's opened the school in the
old brewery .
Blow me If he amt looking right at.
rs " cried GuEtave Jerking his rmless hat
as il trying 10 conceal his dirty brow.
What Il he isf' returned Christie, with
his grave eyes upon the mans face "he
wont harm the like Of Us. ID.
80 you are the lad / met in Maiden lane
the other day, " said the gentleman, taking
the soiled fingers between his own Il
Am glad 70 see YOU. Did YOU read the
book ! gave You and did you ask your
parents 20 let you come TO our school ~
Christians face gr8v crimson but be an
swered stoutly "No, sir; / haint read the
book-I cant read nothing-and 1 hain't
asked 70 50 TO school cause knew It want
no use"
mo use-how is thaty'
1--WE has 10 beg from morning 70 night
Dads been drunk ever since that day, and
nam isn't much better II Gussie and
went 70 school, the babyd starye 10 death,
sartin."
The stranger looked seriously into the
two boys faces,
would you ike 10 come 70 the school
II / could Get tho consent Of your par
ents -
''Yes. sir, " said Christian, promptly
I'D like 10 learn how TO read; but Gussie
and l hein't no clothes, sir, nor shoes.
Never mind that; all you have TO do is
70 come AZ tidy as you can, We will see 10
the rest Nov, ! viii go to your parents
and see If they will consent"
Il was with many misgiyings that the
boys led the way to Satan's Alley. When
OF last they reached the room where the
miserable couple, IN common with "a half
dozen other -uniortunates, crouched upon
the floor, Christian pointed hastily 20 his
parents and rushed back to the street, lest
they should beat him for being so Off
eious.
Il was not the work Of an hour, or Il day,
or a week, 10 bring these besotted parents
70 listen TO the good mans proposal, After
Q time, however, they concluded that the
boys would make better beggars and better
thieves by Learning TO read, and 30 sent
them cheerfully 10 the old brewery,
When Gussie and Christian had learned
70 read, they were rewarded with a suit of
whole clothes, aud a pair OF thick shoes.
Chrlstan, whose sanguiue temperament
rendered him more susceptible 10 pleasure
and pain than was Gustaye, ran all the way
home with breathless delight to show his
presents 20 his parents.
A new feeling, one Of self-respect, took
possession Of him. He had learned TO
read. His teachers had complimented him.
They had shown him that theft, and drunk
enness, and ragged garments were boon
companipna; and when they had dismissed
him that evening, a tidy, comtortably-cl clad
boy, he had promised hem and himself
never 70 steal, or lie, on beg again, aB long
as be lived.
The parents were not quite Rs happy in
the change OF garments as the boys had
anticipated. The father grumbled at the
contrast between them and him the mother
ordered them 70 stake OF their toggery and
90 beg Tor their suppers
Gustaye and Christian put away their
new garments as carefully as they were able,
and resunirg their rags, which now seemed
doubly hateful 10 them, took their bag and
basket and went together into the street,
Gustave was bitter and complaining Chris
tan walked silently until he reached an
open lot, then tore aud trampled the old
basket under foot and cast it over the wall
'Gustave, y said he, there's an end to
my begging; | am going 10 look for a job"
II never had occurred to these boys be-
fore that work was better than begging; but
the idea once suggested, it was triumphant.
Boys who read, and boys who have whole
clothes AZ homo, ought to be able to work,
and they ought TO be ashamed 10 beg.
That night, when Gustave and Christian
returned home, they carried fresh bread and
nut instead Of m9pldy erusts and broken
No sooner hadmoming dawned than they
were abroad again, holding a horse here
Shovellpg. coal there, running of errands,
unnl having earned the family breakfast,
they went homo 10 don their new clothes
and 90 70 the Five Points mission school
The change. IN the boys surprised the
parents into partial Bobriety for the space
OF threeldaysaqA t the end OF hat tim Inc
poor boys ayQlle one morning TO find their
new clothes and shoes all gone-sold for
They hadfbeen robbed by their own
When Gustave became aware Of his loss
no threw himself upon the floor and wept