The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-07-09
Srlettro lllistrllanu.
II "ELIAsES.''
rrrpm lho Yonlhs comranlon.l

the morning Of the 25th of December, when
he felt his elbow touched. Looking down,
no saw standing there n ragged, dirty boy
of ten years old-iust such q child as you
may see scores Of in q great city.
Nothing was more Unusual than for any
one TO penetrate into Mr.. Grayton's sane
tum unarnounccd. Even business men
found this room in business hours difficult
of entrance, for Mr.. Grayton was doing AN
immense business, and required the unin-
torrupted use of his time. .L
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 n penny, to keep Chris.
tmas with, sir"
"Who are your asked the merchant,
looking at him with q kind smile.
The boy took courage on the instant, and
repeated his request "A penny to keep
Christmas with, please, sir"
'fNow, Johnny, and Mr.. Grayton's smile
grew even kinder as he put down his papers
aud gave his attention 70 the child, II will
make q 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 l tell the truth 10 eachiother."
Il crept in behind the boxes through
the stores; and then when the old Teller
with light turned his back, / cut and ran.
I've watched you, sir, and (his voice fall.
ing into q whine again. you'll give me q
penny, cause it's Ohristmas?"
~ will make a bargain with you, John
NY, by and by. Listen TO me, first. Your
name Is Johnny, 1 suppose
The boy shook his head, without answer
ing.
20, then, i'll am not to know what il is,
then we can't trade, Good morning"
tIt's-
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 siilkily,-
There be so many Of them"
80 many? Why, that is the way they
christen royal children, You're in luck.
80. they are all Eliasos."
"Elias? That's a good name"
mo. Eliases. Johnny elias Tom, elias
Dan. elias Bill, elias Sam Jones, elias
Eyes, / understand. Well now, drop the
Eiases, and tell me what your mother calls
YOU
Little divil, sarse-box, imp Of Satan,
brat; and, when she Is drunk, darling"
These words the boysaid standing on n
foot, swinging round on it rs If it was n
pivot.
Mr.. Grayton looked down and saw the
foot, bare, cracked open, and bleeding.
"Aud yet, " he said, with n look offender
pity in his face, mot one of these is your
real name"
go, that's Ted,
lied? Better yet. I like Ted. Now.
Master Ted" mo one had ever called him
so before,) swell 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
streakI will give you a quarter when you
come back
From under the shock of dark hair, two
blue eyes smiled; but the mouth drew it's
corners down, and said, very plainly
'No, sir, you don't catch me that way:
when / 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 10
trust me2 1 will wait here until you come
back, If you come any time before two"
Now, It may perhaps not seem 10 to my
readers, but hold it 30 be one ofthe great
est compliments ever paid to this good,
rich man, that this little, wicked boy, born,
/ 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 MIR. Groyton's face for a moment, should
have simply said, every well. sir" and
have gone ont.
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, aud there was the boy
again.
so, so you are back" he said, looking at
him from head to foot; 'Rnd you have
done your work well. Now go to the regis
ter and warm yourself; you look cold"
The boy literally grabbed-I know nc
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 IL
then, putting it away. he said, pleasantly
care you warm, Ted2"
Eyes, 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 G
lhAtI ~ AhAb-hbMb JUN ~ lhNbb ttu OlA
erwise Ia cunning, wicked expression
which use had made natural 10 small
somewhat delicate features; large, blue
eyes, and lashes SO long that they gave q
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 were tied
together, also, with ends of colored Irvine.
Altogether, the boy was, if anything, more
pitiable-looking than before; for now the
wear and tear OF his life Of sin and shame
was distinctly visible.
''red," said Mr.. Grayton, after looking
at him a few minutes in silence, 'would
you like to be a rich man?"
kinder guess l would" said Ted, quite
readily.
''Would you like to own a large store,
filled up TO the top Of the sixth story with
goods, as / do to-day?"
"Guess l would" again answered the
boy.
Mr.. Grayton took out a well-hlled purse
and laid it on the table near him. Ted
watched him narrowly, his eyes opening
wider and wider every moment.
Now, suppose left my purse there,
and went out into the next room, shutting
the door between u.s. could You help taking
II was enough 10 make the tears come
into anybody's eyes TO see the wild, long
ing look that dashed into the boys face,
and TO watch the almost convulaiye witch
ing of his long, supple fingers.