Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-07-07

"Hatst you STEAL and lie and swear
Don't you think you could get along with
out them, iyou had something else to do p
led only opened his eyes the wider
dropping his mouth open now, also.
Listen, Ted;' and Mr.. Grayton put his
hand gently on the boys rough, disheYelle6
hair ''You asked me for a penny TO keer
Christmas with. Do you know what Christ.
mas is?'
''Dress EN- up pretty in green; have lots
/ OF shck thlngs to buy and sell; bouncing
big turkeys, and my eyesl''-the old, wick.
ed look settling down again don't they
go it p -
'.But W tmade Christmas? What does
| it mean ?"
''Guess 1t growed, replied Ted, with q
leer
did you ever hear of Jesus Christ who
came to love and save just such boys as
you are?"
''Guess I have. ''Iye been to mission
school, Give me penny, and I'll sing
you song l learnt there, beginging a vul-
gar street song. ''Now, that amt it. Now
| here goes = and he broke out in rich
contralto voice, into
"Come to Jesus
'.Yes, - said Mr.. Grayton, after having
fectly to the end, f'that is the same Jesus
whose birthday Christmas is"
Birthday? What is that?p
'"rhe 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, ssJesus
Christ came into the world to be the friend
and Savior of just such little boys as you
are. Do you understand me?"
shouldn't wonder, answered Ted, max
ing an evident effort to do so.
'But He can't be your friend so long as
you s1n-ie, steal, swear, and the like
lie don't love boys that have Eliases He
wants them good, honest and true Teds:
and nothing else"
''Ihey would cotch me, then
| ''You must not do anything for which
| they would want to catch you. Now, Ted,
| begun by asking you if you would like to
be rich man and own a big store like
this. Do you know I never did any of
those wicked things when was a little boy
like you. If had I should have been in
jail, or dead, and not here to-day. NV
name was always John Grayton and new
er anything else; and when Christmas, this
very Christmas came, used to go to church
and hear what Christ had done for me
how He was baby, and laid in a 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 lie
was saying.
'"Ted, he said, after moments pause.
81 will make another bargain with you. ~
Ted was again ali attention. Was there
another quarter coming? What q lucky
Christmas this wasl
81 am going TO trust you for little
while, and see whether it is possible to
make good honest boz of you. [ want
you to begin this very Christmas day. be-
cause to-day it seems as if Christ was a
little nearer to His children than at any
other time, and even more ready and viii
ling to help them. Now, if I give you work
and pay you well, will you undertake to do
it faithfully and honestly?"
All the vagabond blood in the boy rush
ed, for a moment, tumultuCusly into his
face. He be honest? He stop all his
wicked ways and turn good, like the child
rem the mission hymns told him about p
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 jostling itself through his mind
He still walked up and down his office, on
ly stopping now and then to watch the
changing, expressive face.
'@Well ?" he said, at last.
81 don't think I 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
lite.
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
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 of Bethleham.
s'Put away the old clothes, and with them
the old life, Ted. Put it away Put ii
aaoay !'
Before an hour had passed, there stood
| Ted in Mr.. Grayton's office once more, clad
from head to foot in new dress. What OF
the new life p
Five years from this day Mr.. Grayton is
sitting again IL his office, and his door
opens softly after slight tap.
Il have come, said tall; fine-looking
boy, ''to bring you little picture 1 have
drawn for a Christmas present to you. It's
not done we'll sir, but it tells story"
The picture was of a ragged, dirty boy,
standing by an office-table, a gentleman
looking kindly down upon him, with his
| hand on the boys head. Under it was SIM
ply written EtEliases."
| With this picture was a photograph of
the giver, under it written, edward
| Bates.
go, Ted" said Mr.. Grayton, his eyes dim
with tears as he looked at them, 's2iou are
my Christmas present, the costliest ana the
! dearest God ever gave me- and he stretched
his hand out to the boy. ''We will never
either Of us for get that happy Christmas
day." iEDGEsIDE.
a GREAT many side hits are being made at
| the PLANTATION BITTERs by a score or two of
disInterested friends, who are endeavorinp to
initiate or counterfeit them. 1t is all of no
use. The people will not be imposed upon.
PLANTATION BITIERs are increasing in use
and popularity every day Thew ara j., Az