The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-11-03
Ghildren's Column .
" Miss Hannah's Bow"

Inc puDlc school, and since her father S
death, had found urgent need for all
that she could earn. Miss Hannah's
strength was not great, and her work
pressed heavily, so that often when night
came she was too tired to read.
The day had been trying one, and
Miss Reed felt unusually weary the
Sunday before she had given up her
Sunday School class, because her weeks
teaching generally ended in severe
headache. Thinking over this fact, Miss
Reed gave an audible sigh, and said half
aloud
We'll, well, there is no use in my trying
to do anything but earn living; I have
time and strength for nothing else
AT this moment she found herself op-
posite locksmith's shop, and remember
ing that she wanted key altered, entered
the shop. The master was out, but pale,
not very attractive looking boy sat at
work, and he said that she could have the
key by the next day. AS Miss Hannah
turned to leave, aweary look in the boy s
face caught her eye, and she said in a
kindly way:
do you like this work, my lad?"
The boy looked up surprised, but see
ing look of interest in her face, said
timidly:
"I like it pretty well, ma am, but I
get very tired I'm not used to be shut
up SO much
What have you been used to do?"
said Miss Reed.
al lived on farm, said the boy :;
" but father didn't need us all to help
him, SO he said had better come to the
city, and l found this place"
DO you earn enough to live on?"
81 only get enough to pay my board,
and have very little left :"
Where doyou board?"
Not far from here; there are six other
fellows that board in the same house"
What do you do in the evening? Do
you sit with your landlady ?"
"She don't often sit anywhere, I think.
for she's working most of the time, and
we don't say much to her, except when
we pay our bills When I can earn a
little extra, 1 go to the minstrels; it's
right jolly there"
Do you ever go to church,"
No, ma'am, don't know much about
the churches, and my clothes are not
good enough to 60"
10 you ever read?
Not much; there are not MANY books
at our house; one fellow takes a news
paper, and he lends me that sometimes. 1"
1t was getting late, and Miss Reed
after learning that the boys name was
Joseph Steele, said pleasantly "Well
Joseph, we have had quite talk, haven't
we?" 1ag
When she went home, two voices
seemed to be speaking to her; one voice
said Here is a friendles boy, with no
good influences around him, can you help
him a little ?" The other said 4: ~
wouldn't trouble myself about him; you
have enough to do"
The first voice must have been the
strongest, for the next day, when Miss
Reed called for the key, she said to Joe ::
Wouldn't you like to go to Sunday
School with me next Sunday ?"
Joe looked reflective, and said:
don't care much about it, but if you
want me to go, will. p"
q" I would wish you to go once, and see
how you like it, said Miss Reed :" and
if you call on me at two o'clock next
Sunday, we will go together"
When Sunday came, Miss Reed had
headache, and almost hoped that Joe
would not appear; but as the clock struck,
he came, looking quite clean and neat,
and they soon reached the school. The
room wss very attractive place, and Joe
gazed curiously around The superin-
tendent shook hands with him very
kindly, and then placed him in the class
Of a very earnest, faithful teacher. At
ter school Miss Reed found chance to
tell Joe's teacher few facts about his
new scholar, and then she walked some
distance with Joe, and was delighted to
hear him say that he liked that teacher
frst-rate, and he meant to come next
Sunday.
This was the beginning Of new things
for Joe. Miss Reed never did anything
by halves, and her interest in the boy
did not wane. In few weeks she was
rejoiced to discover Joe Steele, dressed
in new coat, sitting in the church GAL
lery. He smiled as he caught her eve. |
and, after church, he told her that his
teacher had helped him to get the coat,
and to please him he had come to church.
Before long the good teacher invited his
whole class to spend the evening with
him. Joe told Miss Reed that it was the
L. 4