Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-06-10

1
ged to you all, and will try and do bet
ter. l hope you will sometimes pray for
such as T.
Katy hal been intensely interested in
the man, and when he sat down she
seemed expectant of some response to
his words But the closing hymn was
sung. and all prepared to leave.
"Come Kitty" said Mr.. Hayward,
''aren't you ready to go?"
Isn't any one going to speak to that
poor man? Papa would have shaken
hands with him. 1t is too bad! l am
afraid lie will be bad again" almost sob
bed the excited child. Cant you speak
to him, Uncle Arthur"
"Why, my dear, am afraid l should
be but poor preacher.
"Then I must speak to him." said the
child, moved by an impulse which she
could not resist. "Come with me, uncle
please" They made their way up to
Mr.. Hayward, to whom Katy said, Il
want to speak to the man who said he
would try to do better" MIR. Hayward
took her to him; and she, following the
habit of her good father, held out her
little hand to the man, and said gently,
81 am so glad that you are going to be
good. Please don't swear or fight IN the
rough place that you told about" The
man looked at her in amaZement. In
her white dress, with her flowing golden
hair, she seemed to him spirit. He
could not reply at once. Have you a
Bible ?" continued the soft. sweet voice.
mo, miss By chance Katy had her
own little Bible in her pocket. Here,
take this one and promise me that you
will read it."
The pleading, upturned face was not
to be resisted. I'm not much at read
ing. but I'll pick out a little to please
you"
THANK you. Ishall pray for you,and
when you come back you must come and
see me, and tell me how you have got
along Uncle, please write our number
in this book. And now goodbye; l
know you will do your best.
The tears stood i'll the mans eyes as
he grasped the little hand in his own
hard one; and he stood looking after the
| child, as she fitted away by her uncle's
side, as if he were gazing at an angel,
who had descended to earth for little
while, and wod soon soar upward again.
Mr.. RAYMOND had also shaken hands
with him, and had left some money in
his palm, saying as he did so, "Buy your
self something comfortable with it. Do
as the child says, and all will be WELL"
He put the little Bible CAREFUL away in
his breast pocket, and went silently and
thoughtfully away with his comrades.
Contrary to his usual habit, he did not
spend the money for drink, but put it
away for some future necessity.
| hn+ irbt x1yha Kotia 70 hid
her uncle "good night" he held her in
long embrace, and whispered, "Your
name should have been Evangeline, for
surely you have bee: a little evangel
this night" Katy knelt with full
heart 10y her little bed, and prayed earn
eStly for the soul in the midst of temp
tatiOn. LII the morning she found on
her table, in place of the little volume
which she had given the fisherman, a
beautiful Bible with ivory covers. On
the fly-leaf was written, il her uncle's
hand, "Katy Brooks, the little evangel'
And little child shall lead them
Weeks and months had gone by in
their ceaseless round. Spring had been
followed by summer. and that in turn
by autumn. October found Katy Brooks
still an inmate of her uncle's family, en-
deared to them by her gentle, loving
ways.
One evening the servent entered the
sitting room where the family were
gathered, and said that there was man
in the hall to see Miss Kate.
She tripped away, and, going into the
hall, saw decently dressed man await
ing her appearance.
Don't you remember me?" he asked,
as she heSitated.
NO." Katy replied. Not just yet. :"
He took little worn book from his
pocket, and when Katy saw that it was
her own little Bible, she looked again at
his face, and exclaimed: Il remember
you now; you are tine fsherman How
do you do? Have you read my Bible !?
Have you tried to be good? L am so
glad to see your Pouring out these ca
ger words, she took him by the hand and
led him to the library, where she asked
him to tell her the history of the months
which had passed since the memorable
evening of the prayer meeting.
1--WE went down the river the next
morning, miss, and commenced work at
once. We were very busy from early
in the morning until late at night, drag
ging the nets, but thought of my prom
ise to you, and tried to spell out bit in
the little book every night before turn
ed in. The boys laughed and joked
about me awful, but | most generally
managed to pick out little"
Il am so glad" said the child. "And
did the words comfort you?"
'That they did, miss. Some of the
-,1
easier to find So l soon had some that
became precious indeed to me-
What were they? l think know
some of them. My papa marked them
for me-"
"Yes, miss. There was one, Come
unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy
laden, and l will give you rest You
see l learnt it by heart, for it seemed to
mean me, for my work was hard,
and at night was very tired and when
L read that the kingdom of heaven is
like little child thought of you,
miss"
oh, tha.k you. And did you try not
to swear?'
ut was hard, miss; but did my best,
as l said L would.
Did you read the Bible to any of the
men?"
81 read little of it to my mate some
times; but he used to laugh at it, and
say it would do for old women, he din'nt
want any of it. But one day he took
sick, and the doctor said he must die.
Poor Jerry didn't say much, he kinder
groaned and turned over. But after the
doctor had gone, as l was doing what /
could to make him easy like, he called
softly, 'Tomp-Tom is my nand, miss
Tom Waters 'What?' says l. Have
you got the book what the little girl
give you?' Yes says 1. Read bit,
Tom,' says he. So, miss, read as well
as | could about the mansions on high,
and Jesus love, and other things that l
knew where to find, and miss, it seemed
like he couldn't hear enough"