Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-11-14
d.lonlh's Column.
TIM'S NEW SUIT.

where even new suit of clothes work
ed a reformation such as few who live
in comfortable homes, without want,
could readily imagine?
In narrow lane at the rear of the
house where we lived, and out Of a
wretchly squalid place-for it could not
be called home-there came often to
play with the children bright-faced
little fellow with very ragged and soil
ed garments. had not the heart to
prevent it, or forbid the naturally joy
GUS spirit, in its effort to leap up to the
glad sunshine it found there.
One day l called Tim to me for that
was the boys name) and asked him if
he had ever been to Sunday-school.
Opening his large dark eyes in astonish
ment. he replied: IL don't know what
it is, ma'am." explained to him as
simply as l could, and then asked him |
if he would like to 60. His whole face
frightened for moment and then grew
very sad, as, looking down at his rags
and soiled bare feet, he answered: "Yes
ma'am. but l have no good clother."
"But suppose you could have clothes
fit to wear, how would it be then %
I'D be so glad. ma'am," he replied.
told him to come to me next day,
and we would see what could be done.
Early on that next Sabbath morning
the lad was at my door. shall never
forget the look of new and strange de-
light upon his face when arrayed in the
clothes we had procured for him. A
little cut away jacket, and pants; in
the pocket snow-white handkerchief
the very first he had ever owned his
linen collar tied with a neat black rib
bon, and shoes and stockings upon the
poor callous feet. 1t would have done
your heart good to have seen him.
What an outburst of wonder and adj
miration came from the other children
How he stood on tiptoe before the glass
wanting ''to see himself, for he was
little boy, and had no such thing as
looking-glass where he lived. think
| never saw so radiant face He hard
ly knew himself, and his mother really
did take him for one of the other boys!
To Sunday-school we went. The les
son was opened to and read aloud, al
though the usual plan was to commit
the verses in concert. My new scholar
sat with staring eyes and gaping mouth,
and | really think that he could not
? have told whether he was in the body or
; out so ecstatic was his joy
We were in the habit in our school of
| distributing cards, with pictures upon
7 them, for good conduct. l passed one
: to him. 1t was that of Christ blessing
Y little children.
e "Who is that man with baby on his
e lap and has got SO many children? Is
s he their father ?" he inquired.
r "Why. that is Jesus. my boy. Did
J, you never hear of Jesus %
e mo, ma'am, l never heard tell about
e him.
It Drawing him to me, went over the
y old, old story of Jesus and his love
" how he spent all his time after he grew
g up, in going about doing good, and,
above all, how kind he was to the poor
q and the sick.
"Oh 1 wish he was here now, teach
at er; don't you?''
"He is here, Tim,-always ready to
+, help US, too, in every hour of our lives
and before he went to heaven he taught
he as how to pray to him whenever We
wanted anything or were in any troub
rs lie, and promised he would hear us and
Op send US relief"
~ Chow / wish 1 had known that be-
I'M fore" said the child, earnestly. "Why
Oy didn't somebody tell me ?-for then
en- could have saved my mother many /;
rts beating, and perhaps Jesus would hav,
,ur sent US some bread when Susie and
er. used to cry ourselves to sleep, we wer
SO hungry. | am so glad you have tolC
me about him, and l must go on m,
he knees now, if you will only tell me wha
put he wanted me to say" and down upoI
orv his knees Tim went before l could re
in monstrate; but not alone; one afte
'0f another of the seven boys of the elias
ard followed his example, all with claspe
hands and upturned faces, waiting fo
the teaching | was to give this poor DO
who, for the first time, was looking fc
help from the Savior whom he ha
known but one short hour! And s.
We a with these little hands clustering abol
me, led them to that most beautiful
YES ,s all prayers, that Jesus himself taugl
n of when upon earth, sour Father whit
At art in heaven"
Until
. As the boys rose from their knees,
sely' saw bow deeply impressed Tim was wi
my
.alth '''"o nio' ooi'io0 Aoi Oniie'' Nosol !"
hing. there happier company of boys, b
the very happiest of them all was t
mhsr poor outcast, who, though made in Goe
trial image, had been left to the surroundin
were of vice and misery, and knew not IN