Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-31
Selectc0 glii5trllanu.
THE HERO OF sATAS's ALLEY.
From the Youths Compartment
n MRS. c. y. FLANDERS.


IN times gone by, before the sin and de-
pravity Of the Five Points, N New York
city, was modified by christian influences,
there was IN that vicinity an alley so dark
and loathsome that 1t came TO be called
''Satan's Alley.
Never was title more suggestive Of the
condition Of its occupants. The men and
women were 50 beaStly IN their habits
their personal appearance SO revolving, the
filth and perpetual gloom Of the long zen
so Tepellant, that language would not ade-
duatelv describe the;- cdiousness. But
hideous as it al was, there cTept in and out
Of that gloomy passage two boys whose
faces might have served for q painters
study.
Gustave. the eldest, had delicate features.
laughing blue eyes and golden curls, that
impaired a. effeminate sv eetness to his
countensnce, such as is often seen among
children Of German extraction.
Christian. the younger, although darker
and taller, vas equally attractive. Both Of
these lads were ragged, shoeless and filthy.
Accustomed from their infancy 70 scenes
d drunkenness and violence, they natural
u enough became profsne and thievish.
One morning, es usual, Christian ana
Ciustave set out O. begging expedition;
Christian with 81 old basket upon his arm,
Gustave with ? aoiled bag flung carelessly
over his shoulder.
The two boys, Whatever we're their faults,
loved each other, as they trudged lovingly
along from one house 70 another, telling
their Oft repeated story-thst father vas
dead and mother was poor, until, wearied
With their mornings walk, they sat down
% look over tie contents Of their bag and
basket.
A. - ---.--, ,---.,,-- ---ayo xJ--e eooaJ .
gentleman passed along the street with q
package N his hand.
II say, Christie, thsts one Of them brew
cry fsllers, that's opened the school il the
Old brewery"
Blow me Il nc amt looking Tignt ii
rs " cried GusSave, jerking his rimless hat
as If trying 20 conceal his dirty brow.
''Whst # ne IS 2" returned Christie, with
ZIG grave eyes upon the mans face; che
wont harm the like Of US
$50 you sre the led l met II Maiden lane
the other day." said the gentleman, taking
the soiled fingers between his own. 81
am glad 20 see you. DID you READ the
book gave you? and did you esk your
parents 70 let you come 70 our schoolg'
Christian s face grew crimson, but he an
swered, stoutly, mo, sir; 1 haint read the
book-I can't read nothing-aad 1 hain't
asked TO 60 to school cause knew it want
no use"
''No use-how is that?'
1--WE has 20 beg from morning &c night.
Dads been drunk ever since that day, and
nam isn't much better. If Gussie and I
went 70 school. the baby'd stsrve to death,
sartin.'
The stranger looked seriously into the
two boys faces.
''would you like TO come 20 the school
If could get the consent Of your par
snts p
''Yes. sir, said Christian, promptly
I'd like to learn how to read; but Gussie
aud hain't no clothes, sir, nor shoes
Never mind that; all you have TO do is
to come IS tidy as you can. We will see to
the rest Nov, ! viii so 70 your parents
and see if they viii consent
It was with many miseivings that the
boys led the vay to Satsn's Alley. When
1T last they reached the room where the
miserable couple, IN common with 8 half
dozen other unfortUnsteg, crouched upon
the floor, Christian pointed hastily 20 his
parents and rushed back 70 the street, lest
they should beat him for being so OIL
cious.
It was not the work Of an hour, or day,
or a week, 70 bring these besotted parents
20 listen 70 the good mans proposal. After
. time, however, they concluded that the
boys would make better beggars and better
thieves by learning to read, and SO sent
them cheerfully TO the old brewery.
When Guss;e and Christian had learned
20 read, they were rewarded with suit Of
whole clothes, and pair OF thick shoes.
Christian. whose sanguine temperament
rendered him more susceptible to pleasure
and pain than was Gustave ran ell the way
home with breathless DELIGHT TO show his
presents TO 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
companions; and when they had dismissed
him that evening, tidy, comiortably-clad
boy, he had promised them and himself
never TO steal, or lie, or beg again, as long
as he lived
The parents were not quite IS 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 to s'tske Of their toggery and
go beg Tor their suppers."
Gustave and Christian put away their
new garments ss carefully as they we're able,
end resumlng their rags, which now seemed
uoonly hatefuI 70 them, took their bag ana
basket and Went together into the street.
Gustave was bitter and complaining. Chris
tan walked silently until he reached an
open lot, then tore and trsmpled the old
oasket under loot and cast t over the wall.
y stave, said ne, there's an end 10
my begging; an going to look for q lob"
II never had occurred 20 these bows be-
fore that work was better than begging: but
the idea once suggested, It was trfurnphant.
Soys VINO read. and boys who have whole
clothes at home, ought to be able to work.
and they ought 20 be ashamed to beg.
That night, when Gustave and Christian
returned home, they carried fresh bread and
fruit. instead Of mouldy crusts and broken
victuals.
No sooner had morning dawned than thev
were abroad again, holding a horse here.
shoveing coal there, running Of errands.
until having earned the family breakfast.
they went home to don their new clothes
and so TO the Five Points mission school
The change IN the boys surprised the
parents into partial sohriety for the SPACE
Of three days At the end Of that time the
poor boys swoke one morning to find their
new clothes and shoes all eone-sold for
r-.sI They had been robbed By their own
Mheh Gustave became aware Of his loss
ne tnre" L'nseh upon the floor and wept