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

before the stone vault The door was
shut so tight that il took all Mikes
strength TO force il open. And Mr..
Griuby looking straight before him,
| shouted
la-ha! nobody, as told you "
But the next minute he saw what the
rest OF us had already seem bundle
OF rags in one corner Of the vault, down
on the floor, and amidst the rags was a
white face aud thin hand, and bare
bruised and bleeding foot; and VIC
dragged out into such mir us there was
IN the cellar a miserable wretch of II
little boy, who seemed quite dead
Up IN the office, however. we brought
him to life, aud got the story from him
lie lived, 1t seems, among thieves. and
they had planned to rob us that night.
aud he, poor little nudge, had slipped
In somehow, aud hidden in the cellar
to open the door for them, never think
ing any one would come there TINT
night
But when Mike and went down. he
took to the vault, and there would have
,mothered but for my heuring him. |
don't care to tell you how we kept him.
and hlled the place with constabIes. who
when the burglars came, pouuced out
upon them, and took them into custody.
You can guess all that. It's the bow |
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, and that they used him cruelty
Once a rufiian Of the gang lad brok Gu
his leg in drunken fury. and he limped
yet from the injury. lie was such a
pale, worn, miserable ing, that every
one felt merciful 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 inther sat- aud put bis hand
upon his arm.
" Father" said he, II want to ask
you a favor. | want my own way in
one thing"
&" Well" said the old gentleman, "let
me hear you"
" | want to take Ben Wade into the
house as an GRAND boy" said young
Grinby.
" Hey?" said the old gentleman;
" what, young housebreaker as an
errauu boy2 Bless my soulw
" Father" says young Grinby, "the
boy is naturally a good boy. | like
him | want to save him. Perhaps il
| had not so good father to guide me
and 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 snuff.
box. aud looked at Mr.. Morris.
" I've noticed the lads eye; it's a
good one" said Mr.. Morris.
It's a risk" said Mr.. Grinby, "but
we'll consider"
And suppose the result was what
young Grinby 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
no abuse made difference in him in a
week.
la month or SO, people stopped pre-
dieting that young Grinby would repent
some day, aud 10 a year 1 don't think
there was Que in the office who didn't
love that boy-so grateful aud so trust.
worthy, aud so ready to do everything
for every one Young Mr.. Grinby 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 hi,
is in all my acquaintance with him,
after he had learned to write at all
At twenty he was one of the best
clerks in our establishment, besides
being as fine looking young fellow MS
one would wish to see. On the whole
| did not wonder that Miss Lucy Evans
tnok fancy to him-a sister. sir, of one
of the young fellows at our place, and a
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 ia
those days, lie was so fond and proud
of her, aud she had such tender way
of looking at him, that they made my
old heart young again, as | often told
Mrs. HUMPHREYS, to whom | always
honfide everything. Aud how he
werenced her, why, a ribbon, or
he'd flower, that she had worn. were
cl,ished by him us u mser cherishes
hisnld.
Alast he told me in confidence for
her lnie was sacred and not to be
spoke before every oue-that they
were the married
Anwhen | look back, sir" said
ne an'eemenber the miserable DAYS
oil my w.ched childhood, and think
now friensss aud iorlurn | was, aud
now there y nothing before me but
prison or thgallows, aud think now |
nave eVery'ag TO make mans life
HES. ed-the mer to win a resp cctable
livelihood by ratabls labor the resne,
Of men. and thd,ye OF such girl as
Lucy - eau ne be too grateful to
me sind ifienu v saved me from
life dare not cornplate God bless
Mr. Griphy saite, lifting his h.t
reveroptially as he light in church
aud there was prayer his dark ewes
rs he looked upwardt
Those were the Ia! words 7 ever
heard him speak, excep Good niybt ,
An. dear me, it should " beep GOOD
bye. Ten minutes later vent one way
home, and be, ag IL seem ,f,arv.j