The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-24

svenfngs; she nttls company 81
,beenfoucked by tie Gospel he preached,
TO inquire Of. him and, his - New. eTesta-
ment what more they .AnnustH do to win
eternal life. One Thanksgiving:evening
be- held what he called a Jubilee" at
which . number of his grateful followers
assisted. fThe room, Oh thsI gala might.
was as, forlofnf and wretched as ever, with
its dim light OF, tallow'dips, absence of
fire, and assembly of rude, ragged chill
dren. numbering thirty or forty, every
one Of whom bore the marks of poverty,
if not Of pinching want: -. $50"
The name of Jubilee, and the time,
Thanksgiving evening [says the graphic
narrator], would naturally suggest fes..
tival or o., supper; but, such thing being
quite beyond their means, Moody had ap-
pointed kind Of love.feast, at which
every one was to tell what he had to be
most thankful for.
One little fellow, who had no other
relative in the world but a decrepit old
grandfather, with whom he had lived in
the greatest poverty, had become a
Christian some time before, and, like
others Of the children, was tryingto do a
little home.missionary work on his own
account. When his turn came to tell
what he was most thankful for. he said:
"There was that big fellow, Butcher
Kilroy,' who acted so bad that nobody
would have him, and he had to be turned
out of one class after another, till l was
afraid he weuld be turned out Of the
school. 1t took me long time to get
him to come, and I begged him to stay.
I used to pray to Jesus every day to give
him new heart, and I felt pretty sure
He would if we didn't turn him out. By
and-by Butcher Kilroy' began to want to
be Christian, and now he is converted;
and that is what makes this Thanksgiving
the happiest one in all my life
Is there any story of the early Chris
tians in the Catacombs more affecting
than this?
Among the children of poverty and
misery whom Mr.. Moody strove to en-
tice into his school by means of gentle
words. and smiles. and plentiful gifts Of
maple-sugar, was one desperate case that
long resisted all approaches:
He was a sort of chief among the gut.
ter .snipes, who, partly because they ad-
mired him, and partly because they fear
ed him. allowed him to be a perfect tyrant
over them. 1t was long time before
they could get near enough to this young
ruffian to speak to him; but even he at
last was caught with the missionary sugar,
and invited to come to the mission school.
1t was cold day in February; but
the only garment he had on was a man S
old overcoat, so ragged that it had to be
stitched together around his body, giving
him the appearance of being sewed up in
great, dirty bag. A big pair of shoes,
and paper wrapped around his legs, com.
pleted his winter costume. In this out.
fit he made his appearance, one Sunday,
at the door of the North Market School.
Moody catching sight of him, gave him
his hand, pulled him in, and, marching
with him the whole length of the room,
gave him place In class, with the same
kindness and attention he would have
shown to the best dressed boy on the
North Side.
At sight Of the wretched waif: a stran-
ger visiting the school was moved to
tears. After the exercises were over, he
took him to his honse and gave him a
full suit of clothes belonging to his own
son.
The wild lad, thus civilized in appear
ance, continued to attend the school
and at length, one by one, brought all
his followers with him. And now that
same boy is a Christian gentleman, in re-
ceipt of large salary, and superintend.
ent of Sunday school in one of our large
cities.
10 keep crowded school of uncivil.
lied children in decent order was a task
that tried the ingenuity and patience of
the teachers to the utmost. At one
time particularly wild barbarian ap-
peared among them, who, defying all
authority, stirred up an intolerable
tumult. 1t was contrary to the priuci-
pies of the school to expel a child, as
thereby his soul might be lost; therefore,
every expedient was tried to subdue the
savage mood of the young reprobate.
The case lay heavy on Mr.. Moody's mind
all one week. The next Sunday the boy
was on hand, and as uproarious as ever;
and there was actual danger of his break.
ing up the school.
On this memorable day Mr.. Moody
determined to try the last remedy. His
ample physical endowment for missionary
work has already been mentioned, - of
which, on this day, he was to make a
very effective use. Coming suddenly
upon the fellow, in the middle of the hall
he seized him with both hands, fairly
lifting him off his legs, carried him into
the little ante-room, locked the door, and
proceeded to apply the treatment recon.
mended by Solomon. This was by no
means an easy task, for the culprit was
as strong and active and savage as a
wolf. The noise Of the struggle awakened