Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-07-14
Srlftteo IllisfelIanD.
THE "ELIASES."
From the Youths Companion.I

ne saw SIduuluB tuSI6 IL IuBbSu, uICy W.
of ten years old-jnst such child as you
may see scores of in great city.
Nothing was more unusual than for any
one to penetrate into Mr.. Grayton's sane
tum unarnounced. Even business mer
found this room in business hours difficult
of entrance, for Mr.. Grayton was doing al
immense business, and required the unin-
terrupted use of his time.
Here, however, now stood this boy and
the moment he saw he had attracted the
merchants attention, he held out his hand
with the usual whine, -
"Please give me penny, to keep Chris
tmas with, sir.
"Who are you?" asked the merchant,
looking at him with kind smile.
The boy took courage on the instant, and
repeated his request,-"A penny to keep
Christmas with, please, sir, "
''Now, Johnny, and Mr.. Grayton's smile
grew even kinder as he put down his papers
and gave his attention to the child, II will
make bargain with you. don't know
how you came in here How did you? Tell
me that, first; and mind, no lies. Let you
and tell the truth to eachother
II crept in behind the boxes through
the stores; and then when the old feller
with light turned his back, cut and ram
I've watched you, sir, and (his voice fall
ing into whine again, you'll give me q
penny, cause it's Christmas?"
II will make bargain with you, John
ny, by and by. Listen to me, first. Your
name is Johnny, suppose"
The boy shook his head, without answer
ing.
90 then, if l am not to know what it is,
then we can't trade, Good morning"
t'Its--
"Stop, Johnny. Remember, the first
part of our bargain is, that you speak only
the TRUTH"
A faint color spread over the face, visible
even through the dirt. Then the boy said,
almost slllkily,-
''There be so many of them"
$50 many2 Why, that is the way they
christen royal children, You're in luck"
60 they are all Eliases."
'Elias? That's good name"
''No. Eliases. Johnny elias Tom, elias
Dan, elias Bill, elias Sam Jones, elias
''Yes, understand. Well now, drop the
Eliases, and tell me what your mother calls
YOU"
'Little divil, sarse-box, imp of Satan,
These words the boy said standing on one
foot, swinging round on it as if it was O
pivot
Mr. Grayton looked down and saw the
foot, bare, cracked open, and bleeding.
"And yet, he said with look offender
pity in his face, mot one of these is your
real name"
80, that's Ted,
"Ted? Better yet. like Ted Now.
Master Ted" mo one had ever called him
SO before,) "well proceed with our bar
gain. If you will go out to the nearest
place where you can find water, and wash
yourself clean-mind, now, say clean no
streak-I will give you quarter when you
come back"
From under the shock of dark hair, two
blue eyes smiled; but the mouth drew its
corners down, and said, very plainly
'No, sir, you don't catch me that way:
when l come back you'll be gone. "A 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 pennyto keep Christmas with, please,
sir"
For shame, Tedl Are you afraid to
trust me? will wait here until you como
back, if you come any time before two"
Now, it may perhaps not seem SO TO my
readers but hold it to be one ofthe great
est compliments ever paid to this good,
rich man, that this little, wicked boy born,
L had almost said, to lie and steal; never
spoken the truth to by others; cheated and
abused by almost everybody with whom he
had come in contact, after looking sharply
In Mr.. Graytons face for moment, should
have simply said, "very well, sir" and
have gone out.
The merchant was deep in his business,
and so long had he been away that he had
almost forgotten him when he felt another
touch on his elbow, and there was the boy
again.
20, 10 you are back" he said, looking at
him from head to foot; "and you have
done your work we'll. Now go to the regis
ter and warm yourself; you look cold.
The boy literally grabbed-I know no
other word that so well expresses the mo-
tion-the money, and the merchant, look
ing up only now and then from his paper,
went on until he had finished reading it;
then, putting it away, he said, pleasantly
"Are you warm, TedH"
"Yes, sir"
The kindly warmth and the unusual ap-
plication of water had so changed the boy,
think even his mother would hardly have
known him. AS Mr.. Grayton drew up his
chair and sat down beside him he saw
pale, old face--hOw could it have been 9TH
erwise IA cunning wicked expression,
which use had made natural to small,
somewhat delicate features; large, blue
eyes, and lashes so long that they gave
peculiar, softened look, utterly at vari-
ance with every other story which the face
told.
Every particle of dirt has been removed,
and in some places the skin with it. The
feet tied up in bits of old play-bills and
some Of the rags on the clothes we're tied
together, also, with ends of col0red twine.
Altogether, the boy was, il anything, more
pitlable-looking than before; for now the
wear and tear of his life Of sin and shame
was distinctly visible.
"Ted," said Mr.. Gnyton, after looking
at him few minutes in silence, 'would
you like to be rich MANI"
KINDER guess / would," said Ted, quite
readily
"Would you like to own large store,
filed up to the top Of the sixth story with
goods, as do to-day"
"Guoss | would again answered the
boy
Mr.. Grayton took out well-6lled purse
and laid it on the table near him. Ted
watched him narrowly, his eyes opening
wider and wider every moment.
'.Now, suppose Ileft my purse there,
and went out into the next room, shutting
the door between MS could you help taking
one Of those bills2"
II was enough TO make the tears come
into anybody'seyes 10 see the wild, long
ing look that dashed into the boys face,
and 10 witch the alnnaL cnnvulaiva tWitch-