Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-04-30
p A NEW MAN.
Little Violet and Her Flowers
Transform Jabed Jones.

II there ever was n man who would
have afforded n staunch proof in favor
of natural dcpravity it was Jabcd Jones.
From his birth he had been under a
stigma, sometimes of one kind, some
times of another, but always sufficiently
marked to lead to his avoidance by the
good and ordcr-lovimg. He had grown
up on the town until he became old
enough TO earn his own living; then he
had been apprenticcd 10 one master
after another, being turned away from
all without exception, for some crime
or irremcdiable fault. He had never
known his fnther, and it would have
been better for him If he had been alike
ignorant of his mother; but she lived
long enough to instill in to his mind al
most every vicious principle, to the eX-
clusion of any good, then died. Not
an interesting hero for story, yet
after all, one around whom clustered
unexpectedly some singular circum-
stances.
Walking swiftly through the woods
that border the outskirts of the town of
DrunImund, Jabed Jones came sudden
ly one day upon u little girl seated by
the side of Il bank covered with blue
Violcts. The child was covered rs well
as the bank, for hcrlap was full of flow
ers; so were both of her hands, and all
around her gypsy hat a half=madc
wreath was hanging. Queer little
punches, too, were dropped carclcSsly
IN inh nrla fbnt
she made the prctticst picture Jabcd
ever saw, and he began to walk slowly
as he drew near her, that he might see
her the better.
Jabed was escaping from justice, and
had the shadow of great crime over
him, in spite OF which he was by no
means an unpleasant-loolting man. He
had light complexion, full blue eyes,
waving auburn hair, and one of the
sweetest smiles God ever gave 4 human
face. As he came opposite tho child,
he stopped, and smiled down upon her;
and she not only returned the smile, but
gathered both tiny hands full of flowers,
and held them toward him, with:
"You may ave 'um, all your ownty
townty.n
Thank you!" said Jabcd, STOPPING
down to take them carefully. Pretty
flowers, aint theyP"
"Vi'lets," said the child. "for man.
ma. She's sick, don't you know? I've
got lots and lots. Sec!' trying to
spread out her treasures before him.
Mice, pretty tlowersm repeated Ja-
bed, in Il voice SO softened he hardly
knew it for his own.
"Good-by!' said the child, motioning
him away. You can't have any
more. They're my mammals cause
she's sick"
Jabed walked slowly away, with the
flowers held daintily in his sin-stained
hand. Never had one been given him
before. He could not drop them, he
had no wish TO retain them. They
came from world of which he knew
and cared nothing, but for some unac-
countablc reason they seemed to have Il
hold upon him. He kept looking down
mt them, then back ut the child, rs is
she could give the explanation. Still
going slowly away, as the distance be-
tween them increased, the spell was
breaking, when suddenly he heard n
sharp cry, us of child in distress. He
looked at the flowers he held, stopped.
took step forward and then turned
abruptly and rctraced his way to the
spot where he had left the flower-child.
She was not there. but the same sharp
cry repeated led him into the woods at
the right, and there, upon rock, sat
the little girl, crying bitterly.
What is it, little violet?h he asked,
gently "Havc you lost your way?"
II wants my mammal said the child.
running toward him and taking tight
hold of his hand.
He hesitated. The town lay quite n
distance behind him, and to return to
it was 10 risk lifelong imprisonment,
perhaps worse. Yet the child kept tug
ging at his hand, repeating as she drew
him forward:
ii wants my mamma! / wants my
mamma. Biddy don't come to lead
me. Pleasen
"Up, then!' said Jabed, lifting the
child in his arms. Then. with sudden
tenderness, kiss me, little violet, and
will carry you safe home, no matter
what happens to Jabed Jones.n
The child put her arms around his
neck and kissed him, the only pure kiss
this man had ever known. Then he
walked swiftly back, she chatting to
him in her pretty way, and he answer
ing with hushcd voice. Suddenly the
evil in his nature stirred. What a
chance this wasl' The child was ole
gantly dressed. On her neck she wore
Il gold chain, with baby locket sus-
pended from it, and on one of her small
fingers r ring, the value of which he
knew full well. .'Why uotp Why
not?" she was a child OF rich parents,
beyond doubt, who had strayed away
in search of flowers. There would be a
large ransom offered for her return.
The child, smiling from her high
perch in his arms, noticed that he
stopped, and said. bending her little
body forward eagerly in her impa-
tience:
want my mamma! May wants her
mamma! Please!' patting his cheek
with the back of herylolet-filled hand.
''And May shall have her mamma, "
said the man with fierce struggle.
SECT thee behind me, Satani'
SO rare was the command, that Satan,
esrighted, obeyed, and pretty soon they
reached the outskirts OF the town.
"Now where is your home, little
violetP" asked Jabed. Point it out u
me RS quick as you can"
There's my papa!' was the child''
answer. pointing TO large house, OF
the yeranda Of which a gentleman wa
walking.
What induced ,iabed TO the act ht
could not tell. bc might easily have