The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-06-17
FREMONT SANDUSKY COUNTY. OHIO: FRIDAY JUNE H. 1870

- ss1E1s'sss7
Ny name was always John Grayton
and never anything else; and whel
/ Christmas, this veryChristmas came
l used to go to church and hear wha
Christ has done for me-how he wa:
a baby, and laid in a manager, with
the brown-eyed cattle around Him
and how angels sang His birth-hymn
Mr.. Grayton stopped abruptly
Ted evidently was not interested il
a word he was saying.
Ted, he said, after a moments
pause, Il will make another bargain
with you"
Ted was again all attention. Was
there another quarter coming:
What a lucky Christmas this was!
Il am going to trust you for a hit
tie while and see whether it is posi-
bic to make a good honest boy OF
you. Iwant you to begin this very
Christmas day, because to-day it
seems as if Christ was a little nearer
to His children than at any other
time, and even more ready and will
ing to help them. Now, if 1 give
you work and pay you well, will you
undertake to do it faithfully and
honestIy?"
All the vagabOnd blood in the boy
rushed for a moment tumultuously
into his face. He be honest? He
stop all his wicked ways and turn
good, like the children the mission
hymns told him about? He, Ted,
with all his Eiases, and his profane
words, and his sly tricks, with his
artful dodges, and his cunning lies?
He, Ted!
Mr.. Grayt0n did not speak to him
as he sat there with his train Of
thought pushing and jostling itself
through his mind. He still walked
up and down his office, only stopping
now and then to watch the changing,
face.
"Well?' he said at last.
Il don't think I can help it, burst
out Ted. "You see, sir, I've got the
hang of en-, and they will come"
These were the first honest words
the boy had ever knowingly spoken
in his whole life.
Il am going to trust you though,
Ted Mr.. GraytOn said: trust you
until you deceive me. Here, now, to
begin, is ten dollars. Go out, buy
yourself a good, new suit of clothes.
Get warm stockings, and soft, easy
shoes lOr those sore feet. Have
your hair cut and cleaned. Put
away the old life with these old
little Ted. and on this beau
tiful Christmas come to Christ, and
come to me, and be our new born
boy"
Ted could not understand these
words fully; he underestimate far bet
ter the expression Of the noble face
that beamed down into the dark
night of the neglected boyhood,
bringing with il the glad light Of the
risen star Of Bethlehem.
Put away the old clothes, and
with them the life, Ted. Put it
away! Put it array
Before an hour had passed. there
stood Ted in Mr. Grayton's office
once more, clad from head to foot in
new dress. What Of the new hfey
Five years from this day Mr..
GraytOn is sitting again in his Office,
and his door opens after 3 light tap.
4 have come" said a TALL tine
looking boy, "tO bring you little
picture l have drawn for a Christ
mas present to you. It's not done
well, sir, but it tells story
The picture was of a ragged, dirty
boy, standing by an Office table, a
looking kindly down upon
him, with his hand on the bows
head. Under it was simply written
the word "Eliases.
With this picture was a photo
graph Of the giYer, under it written,
Edward Bates" ...
30, Ted' said Mr.. Grayton, his
eyes dim with tears as he looked at
them, ''you are my Christmas present,
the costliest and the dearest God
ever gave me" and he stretched his
hand out to the boy. "We will never
either of US forget the happy Christ
mas day" LEDGERsIDE