The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-11-24

before the stone vault The door was
shut 80 tight that it took all Mikes
strength to force it open. And Mr..
Grinby, looking straight before him.
| shouted:
Ha-ha! nobody, as | told you f."
But the next minute he saw wha, the
rest OF us had already seen--a bundle
OF rags in one corner of the vault, down
on the floor, and amidst the rags was
white face aud thin hand, and bare,
bruised and bleeding foot; aud We
dragged out into such air us there was
IN the cellar miserable wretch of
little boy, who seemed quite dead.
Up in the Office, however. we brought
hlm to life, aud got the story from him
lie lived, it seems, among thieves, and
they had planned to rob us that night.
and he, poor little midge, had slipped
IN somehow, aud hidden in the cellar.
to opcu the door FOR them, never think.
'ng, any one would come there that
night.
But when Mike and | went down. he
took to the vault, and there would have
smolhered but for my herring him.
don care to tell you how we kept him,
and filled the place with cunstables, who
when the burglars came, pouuced out
upon them, und took them into custody
\ ou can guess all that It's the boy
have to tell you about-poor Ben Wade
1t came out during the investigation
consequent upon the arrest, that the
poor child was kept among the thieves
by force, aud that they used him cruelty
Once ruihan of the gang lad broken
his leg in drunken fury. aud he limped
yet from the injury. lie was such
pale, worn, miserable ing, that every
me felt merciiul to him. aud il was
deci led to pardon him aud send him to
the poor no ise.
but that very morning, Grinby, Jun,
Tor, young man. came into the office
where his father sat, aud put his hand
upon his arm.
Father" said he, II want to ask
you favor. | want my own way iu
one thing"
Well, said the old gentleman, "let
me hear you "
want to take Ben Wade into the
house as an crrand boy" said young
Grinby
Hey 2 said the old gentleman
what, young housebreaker as an
errand boyy Bless my souIg'
Father" says young Grinby, "the |
boy is naturallya good boy. | like |
him; | want to save him. Perhaps il |
| had not so good a father to guide me |
aud to care for me, might have been
worse han he. don't ask you to
trust him, sir. only ask leave TO
trust him myself. am sure he will
prove deserving of confidence"
Old Mr. Grinby took out his suuff.
box, and looked ut Mr. Morris.
I've noticed the lads eye; it's a
GOOD Que" said Mr. Morris.
" Its risk" said Mr. Griuby, "but
well consider"
And | suppose the result was what
young Grlnby wanted, for little Ben
Wade came to US the next Monday.
Now he was clean and whole, he
didn't look so bad, and good food and
~ abuse made difference in him in
week.
In month or SO, people stopped pre-
dieting that young Grinby would repent
some day, aud in year | don't think
there was Que in the office who didn't
love thut boy-so grateful and SO trust.
worthy, and SO ready to do everything
for every one. Young Mr.. Griuby had
him taught, aud well taught, too The
lightning calculator might beat him,
but | doubt it; and never knew that
lad to forget to dot his is or cross his
is in all my acquaintance with him,
after he had learned to write ut all
At twenty he was one of the best
clerks in our establishment, besides
being as fine looking young fellow as
one would wish to see On the whole
| did not wonder that Miss Lucy Evans
took fancy to him-a sister. sir, of one
of the young fellows at our place, and
girl who looked like queen. aud was
good as she was handsome.
| used to meet them walking on the
battery where lovers used to walk in
those days lie was so fond and proud
Of her. aud she had such tender way
of looking ut him, that they made my
old heart young again, as | often told
Mrs. Humphries, to whom | always
roh6dc everything. And how he
werenced her, why, a ribbon, or a
ilcd flower, that she had worn. were
ect'ished by him us miser cherishes
hiswld
hlast he told me in confidence for
her 'nie was sacred and not to be
spoke before every one-that they
were The married
Anwhen | look back, sir" said
ne an'rcmember tho miserable DAYS
o' my wFched childhood, aud think
now iricnsss and iorlurn was, aud
how there rs nothing before me but a
prison or 'hsallows, aud think now |
nave every'ag to make mans life
n'eS. ea-'ne wer to win respectable
livelihood by rarabls labor ,he resnet
of men. and tha I'VE of snch n girI a.
Lucy Il can uet be too prateIul 10
the kind friend saved me from
life dare pot col npIate God HESS
Mr. Grinhy |" saite. lifting his h.,
reveropially as hetirht in church
aud there was praJen his dark ewes
as he looked upward
Those were the laswords 7 aver
heard nm sPeak' ekceh Gocd night -
All. dear me. ii should We been GOOD
bye, Ten minutes later vent one way
hnme. and he. us il seem .aa.i