Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-07-14

go it2"
"But what made Christmas2 What doe
it meanP"
"Guess it tgrowed," replied Ted, with
leer
'Did you ever hear of Jesus Christ, who
came to love and save just such boys a.
you are?"
"Guess have "Ive been to mission
school. Give me a penny, and I'll sins
you a song I learnt there, beginging o yul
gar street song. "Now, that amt it. Nov
here goes p and he broke out, in ricl
contralto voice, into
''Come to Jesus"
Yes" said Mr.. Grayton, after having
listened to the tune and words, given per
fectly to the end 'that is the same Jesus
whose birthday Christmas is.
Birthday? What is that9'
''The day upon which He was born.
When is your birthday"
''Guess never had one. Dun know. y
To-day" went on Mr.. Grayton, without
taking any notice of this answer, 'Jesus
Christ came into the world to be the friend
and Savior of just such little boys as you
are. 10 you understand lue
"Shouldn t wonder, answered Ted, max
ing an evident effort to do so.
''But He can't be your friend so long as
you sin-lie, steal, swear, and the like. -
He don't love boys that have Eliases He
wants them good, honest and true Tedsi
and nothing else"
'erhey would cotch me, then"
"You must not do anything for which
they would want to catch you. Now, Ted,
1 begun by asking you if you would like to
be rich man and own big store like
this. Do you know never did any OF
those wicked things when / was little boy
like you. fl had should have been in
Jail, or dead, and not here to-day. My
name was always John Grayton, and new
er anything else; and when Christmas, this
very Christmas came,I used to 60 to church
and hear what Christ had done for me
how He was a baby, and laid in manger,
with the great, brown-eyed cattle round
Him, and how angels sang his birth
hymn
Mr.. Grayton stopped abruptly. Ted
evidently was not interested in a word he
was saying.
''Ted, he said, after moments pause
II will make another bargain with you. "
Ted was again all attention Was there
another quarter comingH What a lucky
Christmas this vas!
81 am going to trust you for little
while, and see whether it is possible to
make a good honest boy of you. I want
you to begin this very Christmas day, be-
cause to-day it seems as if Christ was q
little nearer to His children than at any
other time, and even more ready and will
ling to help them. Now, if give you work
and pay you well, will you undertake to do
it faithfully and honOstly?"
All the vagabond blood in the boy rush
ed, for moment, unanimously into his
face. He be honestP He stop all his
wicked ways and turn good, like the child
rem the mission hymns told him about?-
He, Ted, with all his Eliases, and his pro-
fame words, and his sly tricks, with his
artful lodges, and his cunning lies? He,
Ted?
Mr.. Grayton did not speak to him as he
sat there with this train Of thought push
ing and iostling itself through his mind.
He still walked up and down his Office, on
ly stopping now and then to watch the
changing, expressive face.
"WellP ?" he said, at last.
81 don't think can help it," burst out
Ted. "You see, sir, I've got the hang Of
'em, and they will Gomez
These were the first honest words the
boy had ever knowingly spoken in his whole
life.
81 am going to trust you, though, Ted"
Mr.. Grayton said; "trust you until you de-
ceive me. Here, now, to begin, is ten dol
lars. Go out, buy yourself good, new
suit of clothes. Get warm stockings and
soft, easy shoes for those sore feet. Have
your hair cut and cleaned. Put away the
old life with these old clothes, little Ted,
and on this beautiful Christmas come TO
Christ and come TO me, and be our new
born boy"
Ted could not understand these words
fully; he understood far better the express
sion of the noble face that beamed down
into the dark night of his neglected boy
hood. bringing with it the glad light of the
risen star ofBethleham.
"Put away the old clothes, and with them
the old life, Ted. Put it away! Put Il
a,oay"
Before an hour had passed, there stood
Ted in Mr.. Grayton's Office once more, clad
frcm head to foot in new dress. What OF
the new lifep'
Five years from this day Mr.. Grayton is
sitting again in his Office, and his door
opens softly after slight tap.
ha ya nnpna - so,J l,1i.
boy, ITO bring you little picture l have
drawn for Christmas present to you. It's
not done well sir, but it tells story"
The picture was of a ragged dirty boy,
by an office-table, gentleman
looking kindly down upon him, with his
hand on the boys head. Under ii was sim.
ply written "Eliases."
With this picture was photograph of
the giver, under it written, edward
Bates"
co. Ted, said Mr.. Grayton, his eyes dim
with tears as he looked at them, "yOu are
my Christmas present, the costliest and the
dearest God ever gave me and he stretched
his hand out to tho boy. "We will never
either of US for get that happy Christmas
day." LEDGEsIDG.
WOMAN ANALYzED. "A Philadelphia pa
per says that young woman Of that city,
who had acquired the habit Of whitening
herself with cosmetics from head TO foot,
recently took n medical BATH and, on
emerging from 1t, was Mortified Mt finding
herself as black as an Ethiopian. The trans
formation was complete Not vestige Of
the supreme Caucasian race was left. Her
physician was sent for in alarm and haste.
On his arrival he laughed immoderately,
and said; "Madam, youare not i'll; you are
no longer woman, but sulphuret II Is
not now question Of medical treatment,