The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-06-17

~ go II w. Na'NNA ~ ttAAAADHb w u UJti'
with whom he had come in contact
after looking sharply in Mr.. GRAY
toms face for amoment, should hay,
lsimply said, Very well, sir" ant
have gone out.
The merchant was deep in hi.
| business, and so long had he beer
away that he had almost forgotten
| him, when he felt another touch on
| his elbow, and there stood the boy
again.
30, so you are back" he said
looking at him from head to foot.
"and you have done your work well
Now go to the register and warm
yourself; you look cold"
| The boy literally grabbed know
/ no other word that so well express
ses the motion-the money, and the
merchant, looking 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, Ted?"
"Yes, sir
The kindly warmth and the un-
usual application of water had so
changed the boy, l think even his
mother would hardly have known
him. As 1Ir. Grayton drew up his
chair and sat down beside him he
saw a pale, old faee-how could it
have been otherwise "a cunning
wicked expression, which use had
made natural to the small, somewhat
delicate features, large blue eyes,
and lashes so long that they gave a
peculiar, softened look, utterly at
variance with every other story
which the face told
Every particle Of dirt had been re-
moved, and in some places the skin
with it. The feet tied mp in bits of
old play-bills, and some Of the rags
on his clothes were tied together,
also, with ends of twine.
Altogether, the boy was, if any
thing, more pitiable-looking than
before; for now the wear and tear of
his life of sin and shame was dis
tinctly visible.
Ted" said Mr.. Grayton, after
looking at him few minutes in ST.
lence, ''would you like to be a rich
manT?
Kinder guess ] would. said Ted.
quite readily.
"Would you like to own q large
store, filed up to the top of the
sixth story with goods, as 1 do to-
day2''
aGuess 1 would, again answered
the boy.
Mr., Grayton took out a well-flled
purse and laid it OF the table near
him. Ted watched him narrowly,
his eyes opening wider and wider
every moment.
"Now' supposed left my purse
there and went out into the next
room, shutting the door between us,
could you help taking one Of these
bills?''
1t was enough to make -th e. tears
come into anybody's eyes to see the
wild, longing look that dashed into
the boys face, and to watch the al
most conclusive twitching of his
long, supple fingers.
You couldn't gcould you? Well,
I'm not going to tempt you, poor
little Ted"
Poor little Ted! Poor little Tedr'
The boy kept repeating these words
over and over again, as he sat there,
looking from the open pocket book
to the merchant, and from the mer,
chant back to the open pocket book.
Nobody had ever said poor to him
before. Did this great man, with
his gentle, kindly face looking down
into his, pity him?-him, with only
his EGases and his mothers pro-
families for his lanes.
you have stolen, Ted?" asked
Mr.. G., at last.
''Ted nodded his head.
"Ofen?"
He nodded his head again, and
then added in a whisper, "but they
didn't cotch me, though"
Mr.. GraytOn put up his money,
walked two or three times up and
down the room, then come back to
the spot where Ted still sat, intent
ly watching him.
"IuSt you steal, and lie, and
swear? Dom you think you could
get along without them if you had
something else to do?'
Ted only opened his eyes wider,
dropping his mouth, open now, also.
Listen, Ted" and Mr.. Grayton
put his hand gently on the boys
rough, disheyelIed hair. you ask
ed ME for a penny to keep Christmas
with. Do you know what Christ
mas isy'
"Dres EN- up in pretty green; have
lots ofsIick things to buy and sell
bouncing big turkeys; and my eyesm
the old wicked look settling down
again-"don't they go itr'
"But what made Christmas? What
does it mean?"
"Guess it growed," replied Ted, !
with leer.
"Did you ever hearof JesusChrist, |
who came to love and save just such |
little boys as you arey'
"Guess l have. I've been to the |
school. Give me a penny, |
and I'll sing you a song l learnt |
there" beginning a vulgar street
song. NO, that amt it. Now, here |
goesn' and he broke out in a rich
cOntraltO voice, into
"Come to Jesus"
YES" said Mr.. GraytoD, after
having listened to the tune and [
words, given perfectly to the end,
'that is the same Jesus whose birth
lay Christmas is
Birthday What is thatY
The day up On which he was born.
When is your birthday
'Guess ] never had one. Dun
Know"
To-day" went on Mr.. Grayton,
taking any notice Of this
answer. Jesus Christ came into the
world to be the friend and Savior
IF such little boys as you are. Do /
-ou understand me"
shouldn't wonder" answered .
Ted, making an evident effort to do
30.