The Baltimore County union., 1883-12-29
HOW JAKE FOUND HIM.

II was Saturday morning, clear and
cold. The bells were ringing. and the
people were going into the churches in
the upper part of the city. the same as
on Sunday. A ragged, pale faced boy
loitcred around the door OF one OF them,
and finally plucked up courage to slide
into the porch and gradually to edge
into the door and slip unobserved into
a back seat. He was a little fellow,
with auburn hair and light blue eyes.
and il he had been washed and combed
and well. clad, would have been pretty
boy; hut he bore the marks Of i'll usage
and had the forlorn air OF that most
pitiable object, a neglected child.
He looked cautiously about him, and
when the organ began to sound seemed
utterly confounded. And no wonder,
for Little Jake had never been inside a
church before in all his miserable life
He was nobody's child, and lived down
by the river with an old man who
starved him to make him beg and beat
him to make him steal. This morning
he had been driven forth without break
fast and forbidden, with curses, to re
turn until he got some money. He
was fcverish and i'll and shivcrcd in the
piercing air, and with 4 dull indiffcr-
ence had taken his way aimlessly from
the filthy and proverty-stricken quarter
where he lived toward the broad avenues
and beautiful homes Of the prosperous
world, and in the same dull way had
drifted into the church.
Wreaths Of evergreen and scarlet
holly and exquisite flowers made the
place beautiful. The organ pealed, the
singers sang joyous strains, for it was
Christmas morning, the gladdest time
Of the year to the happy, but nothing
to Little Jake, who had never heard OF
it, but bitter, cold day when he had
no breakfast.
BY and by the minister rose and be-
gan to talk. His voice was soft and
pleasant, and in a simple way he told
the story Of the first Christmas. Little
Jake was all ears. He enlarged on the
fact that Christ to whom a wonderful
star guided the wise men was the richest
and most generous Of beings; that one
had but to ask to receive from him the
choicest treasures. So simple and
gracious was his language, so hearty
his assurance Of welcome, that hope
sprang up in the heart Of the child and
he felt il he could only get to Christ he
would have plenty to cat and some
money given him so he should not be
beaten when he returned home.
The service was soon over, the people
began to go out Of the church and
Little Jake went out with them. He
hung around the door until every one
was gone, hoping to see the softvoiced
minister, but he went out by the vestry
door on the other side of the church,
Little Jake meant to ask him where
Christ lived. After shivering around a
long time he was forced to give him up
and make up his mind to ask some one
else. He was timid child and met
with so many rebuns when he went out
to beg tha: he shrank from approaching
people on any GRAND and he passed a
great many persons as he wandered up
and down the streets before he could
summon courage to make his inquiry.
Finally, however, a pair Of young girl
friends came along, arm in arm, walk.
ing slowly and deeply absorbed in conf
dental conversation. Little Jake ap-
preached them.
"Do you know Christi" he asked,
timidly. They gave him no answer,
but with startled air FASTENED their
steps, turning once or twice to look at
the child. He sighed and wandered
on. II was very cold and nearly every
one walked briskly, and Little Jake
was too timid to arrest their steps. An
old man leaning on cane seemed a
likely person to listen to and answer
his questions, and the child pluckcd up
courage to ask him where Christ lived.
"Speak louder, little feller," he said,
putting his hand on his ear.
Little Jake repeated she question,
accenting the name. An expression OF
rebuke appeared on the aged face.
"You're bad little boy, Pm afear-
ed" he said. "Don't you know it's
wicked to swear1 And on Christmas
Day, too" and he shook his head and
went sorrowfully away.
The short winter afternoon was wear
ing to close before he made another
attempt. He turned the matter over
in his mind and concluded to vary his
form Of address. A stout German wo-