The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-19


men, who thrust your little missionary boxes
under your neighbours nose, and plead for
our black brothers, far, far away in Timbuotoo.
Good and true Christian men have devoted
themselves 10 the missionary's perilous work,
know, and gladly laid down their lives for
its sake. Doubtless they will have their
reward.
But should not blood be thicker than water!
Should not our own pariahs be our first care !
Should not the State drag into the light the
wretched beings whose faces, If cleaned, would
be as white as our owni whose confused COLO
cation Of words is surely our own languagep
who are subject to the same laws as ourselves
except that they know them only as pun
ishments Why are these English freemen
and freewomen ever to be a curse aud scandal
to their country Why is the baby of the
thief to be so utterly unoared fer that II must
become q thief as soon almost as it can run
alone
To face this hydra requires a Christians
courage. To conquer 1t will need an unselfsh
endurance, which springs only from a sense Of
duty to God and man. We all admit the ex-
istenCe of the evil. How few of us have the
courage and the self denial to attempt to sub
vert it
There are, however, good men and women
moving about in the midst of this wretched-
ness teaching some the value OF order and
cleanliness, and how to make their rags less
apparent, until the Book, which it is their
mission to sell, becomes desire. These mis-
sionaries are called Bible Men and Bible
Women.
1t is the Bible woman, Martha, who is talk
ing so gently to a ragged woman on the land
ing Of the filthy house to which have intro
duced you.
The little basket Martha Ramsay carries
contains medicine and some other com fort for
a sick man who lives in one of the attios. He
has lived there two years or more. Quite
alone; no living thing with him, neither bird
nor cat. He rarely stirred abroad, except at
the dusk of the evening" and then seemingly
only to purchase food. He does such cleaning
OF his room as he permits himself, never
quitting it without locking the door, and the
lock is one which he bought when he first
came to lodge in the Rookery. He has made
no friends, not even with his landlsdy, but
pays his rent without scarcely exchanging
"the time of day, or saying word on the
weather." He is always wretchedly clad, but
heat or cold seems alike to him.
1t was on the preceding day-Chrstmas
Day-that Martha, going about her duty,
| found this wretched man seated on the stairs
of the second floor, apparently in great pain
| or, he might have been drinking.
"Whst ails you, my poor man ~ asked
Martha gently; 'are you ill?"
"Yes, very ill. Are yOu strong enough to
help me to my room 3'
"I'll try" replied Martha, cheerfully; "I'm
not very strong woman but there-which is
| your roomH H''
"Up higher-the attic on the left" said the
man; and then step by step, aided by Martha,
he reached the door of his room.
Thanks, my good woman" said the man;
81 can manage now"
"NOt you,n said Martha" 81 must see you
safely settled"
"No-I won't have it. allow no one to
enter my ROOM" exclaimed the man; but a
paroxysm of pain made him cling to the door
post and drop the key.
Martha did not hesitate moment, but un-
locking the door, led the now unresisting
man to his miserable pallet, and laid him
| on it.
When the pain ceased the man looked
| towards Martha, and the expression of thank
fitness which came into his face seemed to
| quicken her memory, and she started as she
looked at him.
"Surely must be deceived and yet do
! | speak to Mr.. Thomas Y'' she asked.
The man turned quickly to her and said,
"Who are you that - 2-I never saw you
before to-day"
eyes, yes am sure I am not mistaken.
! You were my benetactOr years ago; but am
not mistaken-l am Martha Ramsey, the poor
! creature
sis il so ~ cried the man, sis 1t so 9' and
then his head fell upon his pillow. The almost
! feshless hand with which he covered his eyes
seemed to tell OF long privation-hunger, cruel
hunger.
Martha was greatly moved. AS soon as she
could speak freely she reminded David Thomas
of his former goodness. She told him that her
means were very small but it would be her
duty, her happiness, TO help him who had
rescued her when her life was at its worst. At
first he rejected her kindly offers of help, but
| after time he seemed to yield. Martha had
some skill in housewife pharmacy, and sue
ceeded in allaying the pain which returned at
intervals, for the next hour or so.
"And now" she said, 81 can leave you; but
shall come back very shortly with doctor"
| ''No, no I'll have no doctor D. extor-
tionate sooundrels Half fools-half knaves!"
"But not the one | should bring" said
Martha, gently.
81 won't see any one-any one but you !"
replied Thomas, sharply, adding, "that ia, if
! you like TO come on your own account.
! know what's the matter with me- had some
| brandy and water-tOo muoh~-on Christmas
| Eve-and sat down on a doorstep and went to
! sleep. OF course | caught cold"
'No doubt you are right, said Martha; $50
shall come by-and-by and bring you some
! Cruel"
'No charity stuff !" cried Thomas, 81 won't
touch it,"
mo, il shall be my own; and you won't
refuse that, my dear friend and benefactor ~
said Martha, oOeXiDgly.
Mr.. Thomas only gave gruut.
"Why, bless me ~ said Martha, "you have
no fire, and"
81 hate fire-I can't breathe if the rooms
hot. If you're cold you had better stay
away" replied Mr.. Thomas.
Martha only smiled, and threw over her