The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-11-14
philadelphia Catholic Record.l
"UNTO THESE LEAST"
(Concluded.)
III,

(Concuded.)
He went to Jake; Jake sitting sullen and
wretched in the city Jail; Jake, young, and
what might have once been comely, and snow
ing evidence of having owned better lot
Amazed at this, he STOOD stookstiil gazing as at
rufRau of the Bill or Gabe style.
"Well, sir" said the prisoner, dehantly;
Excuse me-" answered rI Inc esS NosS 0'o
Instantly the snllen face lit, the dehans
manner vanished, the eager question quivered
"What of poor Mole Good or evilp
"GOOd," promptly answered the mild voice,
and can promise you she Is forever removed
from such evil as that in which you saw her
last. Now, tell me, do you know anything OF
the child's parentage, even her fathers namef
81 know ALL" answered the young man, "all
that hep
al am q FRIEND" was the simple reply
twill be a father to the poor little outcast."
Outcast-yesr bitterly echoed the young
man, and yet in what has been hell to me,
her presence was like the rustic of an angels
wing. Sir, that child was miracle amongst
ing could have made her like them For me, l
am lost, past redemption-she can yet Dc
saysap a.. ,r,,,,on a.nv .ir von ara
grasp of him who does not cast it deliberately
beneath his feet Now, the child's name A.,
Oourted d Of the fair and gay.S The old mans
p, hands had screened his face from view. " Her
mother, Eleauora Esling, u lady and an heiress'
Here"
He took from his ragged pocket q package
II have carried these for years" he said ;
"they were intrusted to me by the mother
when dying, in the hope that some day they
might be OF service to the child. You may
look over them, sir, and in q proper time and
place will give you legal possession OF tneu
Tor her benefit"
The old man looked at them, then up tc
heaven, then turned away, evidently over
powered by some strong emotion.
"Sir" said the prisoner, this childI
mother married a man whom her family con
temned, because he was poor; He was veal
in mind and body, and when they cast her m
and refused her any share of her fortune, h'
was not fit to face the world with her aud fo
her. He might have become q respectable
member of society with competence; in pow
erty he fell by degrees, till his place becAm
"Misorable tbeory| exclaimed the Did man
bitterly, land you ~
az! Oh! might have been of you
'steady young men, sir, but for the ipjustic
of the world, which branded me with s cri m
did Il OF CONF nit. and made me a felon for tb
term of II year aud day retaliated by be
coming one truly. l." be sighed wear!
wistful sigh, "Imis ut have attained somethlu
better for little Nole's sake; but, sir, if she
roing to be 'respectable,' l must bid her fare
we'll. Take her from mo, and from evil; lie
her forget me-"
Nag said the old man, in that gentl
tone, which, throughout the interview, ha
been such O contrast to the bitter ana denan
one of his listener; "rather say, II she
going to be respectable, will climb an
height to keep near her. Let me still live i
her mind, and promise to become the realt
of what her imagination loves in me nov
goodness and manly honor"
6" Almost thou persuAdest me- dropped il
Voluntarily from the young lips, and so
rush of color stole over the lightly bearde
face-"but no. l have gone too far downW
"Never STRIP and the voice, gent
throughout, rose to mighty tone such as SON
eloquent preacher might use, to call va
crowds to God; in all the depths OF ST.
there Is no redemption hell! Do not reac
that, sir-recede while there is time; go o.
and It will surely be your goal!
The silence of conviction chained the your
mans lips, his heart, his soul. To him, WI
had called this silence into life, twas . sacre
thing, and he did not disturb it, for he kne
its power. He sat awaiting it's result, with O
expression akin to awe written on his face;
light such Es might have been reelected fro
An inner glimpse of heaven, dwelling In h
eyes After some time, said the young ma
humbly:
"sir, thank you. 1 will fall no more
climb shall be my aim, when am free me
once ngsthP
said the prisoner, it is not fit to give you
vet" and he drew back his.
"My friend" was the earnest answer, ct
man is in my eyes deserving OF more genulr
respect, than he, who having erred, Is ready
reDnir the error. Give me your hand and tai
mine as an earnest of my determination TO al
Won in your upward struggles"
So tho Withersd hand, and the strong an
young and shapely one, were clasped in clat
wherein q friendship fret found being whiC
never changed or died on earth, and Of tt
kind which even lives beyond the grave.