Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-07-23

bird in the hand is worth two in the
bush.' So instead Of moving, Ted
said, holding out his hand, but without
The whine now, "A penny to keep Christ
mas with, please, SIR
For shame, Ted. Are you afraid to
trust me? I will wait here until you
come back, if you come any time before
two
Now it may perhaps not seem so to
my readers, but hold it to be one OF
the greatest compliments ever paid to
this good, rich man, that this little wicked
boy, born, l had almost said, 10 lie and
steal; never spoken the truth 10 by 9TH
ers; cheated and abused by almost every
body with whom he had come in con-
tact with, after looking sharply in Mr..
Grayton's face for a moment, should
have simply said, Very well, sir and
nave gone out.
The merchant was deep in his bust
ness, and so long had been away tba; he
had almost forgotten him, when he Felt
another touch Oh bis elbow, and there
was the boy again.
%, so you are back he said, looking
al him from head to foot; 'and you have
done your work well. Now go|io the
register and warm yourself; you look
coId.'
The boy literally grabbed-I know
no other word that so we'll expresses the
motion-the money, and the merchant
looked up only now and then from bis
paper, went on until he had finished
reading it; then putting it away be said
pleasantly,
'Are YOU warm, Ted?'
Yes, sir
The kindly warmth and the unusual
application Of water had so changed the
boy 1 think even his mother would
hardly have known him. As Mr.. Gray
Ton drew up bis chair and sat down be-
side him he saw pale, old face how
could il have been osherwise--a cunning,
wicked expression, which use had made
natural 10 small, somewhat delicate fea-
lures; large, blue eyes, and lashes so
long Thai they gave peculiar, sof;ened
look, utterly at variance with every oth-
en- story which the face told.
Every particle of dirt has been re-
moved, and in some places The skin with
it. The feet lied up in bits Of old play
bills and some Of The rags en- the clothes
were lied together, also with ends Of
colored Irvine. Altogether The boy was,
il anything, more pitiable-looking than
before; for now the wear and tear of
bis life of sin and shame was distinctly
visible.
Ted said Mr.. Grayton, after looking
al him a few minutes in silence, would
you like 10 be rich man?'
kinder guess l would said 'ed,quite
readily.
Would YOU like 10 own large store
filled up 10 the Top of the sixth story
with goods, as do 10 day?'
Guess l would again answered the
boy.
Mr.. Grayton took ont a well-6lled
purse and laid II on The table near him.
Ted watched him narrowly, his eyes
opening wide and wider every moment.
Now suppose l left my purse there
and went out into the next room, shut
ting the door between MS, could You
help taking one of those bills?
Ii was enough 10 make the Tears come
into any6ody's eyes TO see The wild,
longing look that dashed into the boys
face, and to watch the almost convulsive
twitching Of bis long, supple fingers.
you couldn't, could YOU? Well, I'm
not going TO tempt YOU, poor lille Ted
Poor little Ted! Pool little Ted ?
The boy kept repeating these words
over and over again, RS he sal there
looking from the open pockei-book 10
the merchant, and back from The mer-
chant 10 the open pocket-book. Did
this great man, with his gentle, kindly
face looking down inio BIZ, pity him 2 :
him with only bis Eliases aud bis mo,h-
ei's profaaiiies FOR his uames?
You have stolen, Ted?' asked Mr.. g.,
at last.
Ted nodded his head.
'Oitenp {
He nodded his head again, and then
added, in whisper, 'but iiey didn't
cotch me, though
Mr.. Grayton put up bis money, walk
ed two or three times acro-s the room,
then came back 10 the spot where Ted
still sat- iniently watching him.
M.st you steal, and lie, and swear?
Don't YOU think you could gel along
without them, if You had some hing else
10 do?
Ted only opened bis eyes tbe wider,
dropping bis mouth, open now, also.
'Lisien Ted;' and Mr.. Gr?vton put
bis hand gently on the boys rough, dis.
hevelled hair. You asked me for a
penny TO keep Christmas with. Do you
know what Christmas is?'
'Dress 'em up 10 green; have lots of
slick things to buy ADD sell; bouncing
big turkeys, and my evesr-the old,
wicked look settling down again. don't
they go it?'
fBut what made Christmas? What
does il meant
Guess il growed,' replied Ted with a
leer.
did you ever hear OF Jesus Chris,
who came TO love and serve Just such
boys as you aIeg