Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-03-18

above it all could he heard clear, full voice
chanting from the "Gloria in Excelsis :"
"Thou that takest away the sins of the
world, haze mercy upon u.s." clear and Won
drousy sweet, but with an intonation of ag-
ony that made her shudder as again and
again the refrain was repeated. Rising to
get her hat and shawl, the singing ceased
and the door was opened by a boy Of per-
haps ten years. Such queer, old face for
the little body whose head did not reach the
top of the broom-h handle that rested over
his shoulder.
"Why, Joey, Pve kept you from your
work again. Pm sorry. Where are your
shoes?" as she spied the blue feet.
"Oh! 1 take them off when l sweep to
save them," and the voice trembled so that
Alice said: "Joey, something troubles you.
I saw it in school to-day you cannot hide
it from me, my boy"
She read him we'll one of her brightest
scholars a keen, sensitive nature, which she
had often befriended. His mother janitress
of the school, he did most of the cleaning,
while she went out washing.
His long, bony fingers crept slowly
through his hair-she knew that meant
trouble with Joe-a culver of the thin lips,
and then quick turning from her, as if the
tenderness were more than he could bear.
Sitting down on one of the benches her sym
pathetic "Come, Joey tell me all, brought
him to her side, but his heart was too full {;
a great sob, and leaning his head on Alice's
arm he wept more with the grief of man
than child.
She wisely waited in silence, sure his
story would be told, for there was strong
love between the two. All through the
school he was named "Miss Clayton's Joe."
"You see, Miss Clayton, ever since you
got me into the choir I've been so happy.
Professor Weimer says Pm his best treble
and he can't lose me. Pve learned all the
chants for Christmas-oh, the decr chants!-
and for an instant the boys face grew radi-
ant with unutterable JOY. "He would pay
me next year, and then I'd help mother;
but, oh, I acish I cere dead"
"Why, Joey, with such a hope before
you, what do you mean?"
"I'll never go into the choir again. You
know Professor Weimer is going to give a
sacred concert Christmas eve. We are-no,
they are practising for it now, and can't
go. I don't mind their fun in the choir so
long as the curtains hide me, because when
I sing I forget all about" he only looked
down at the patchs and rags-"but you see,
at the concert! I wish I could die this min
ute!"
She wondered she had not thought of it
before. The week previous, the professor
had told her that her portege possessed a
remarkable voice and was his main depend
ence in solo parts. The chid's whole nature
was music his mother said he spent hours
during the night chanting to himselftill she
thought the angels must come and take him.
"Joey, you have no other clothes:"
"No, ma'am, and I've tried so hard to be
easy on my shoes. I'd 60 barefoot on the
street to save them for the concert, if mother
wouldn't find it out. She wanted to beg
some old clothes; but, oh, Miss Clayton,
Horace Drake said he'd put ragamobm out
of the chOir'-they're all rich but me, you
know"
1t was terrible to see that little hand run
through his hair, and on the cheeks burned
two scarlet spots as his excitement increas-
ed 1t was the cough which started Alice
from her seat in minute she was out of the
room and back, knceling before the child,
with his shoes.
"Joey put these right on, and don't 60
without them ever. I'll bring you warm
stockings tomorrow. And Joey, will you
promise me one thing-never again to wish
you were dead ?"
ooh, Miss Clayton, you don't know-it
will kill me if l can't sing?"
"You can sing, dear boy; you shall sing
at the concert Christmas eve, in a whole
ner suH as good as Horace brakes. know
some one who wants to make a present"
Was it the hungry look before her that
half stifed her words just there? Pa pres
ent to little boy like you, and it will buy
new boots too, joey"
The tears were in Alice's eyes then, for
the gladstone smile had gone from her face
to his!
Turning from the school-room door she
fingered at the foot Of the stairs to hear
again the "Gloria": "We praise Thee, we
bless Thee, we worship Thee!" and she
accepted it, song of thanksgiving to Him
whose little one she had received"
In the days that followed great peace
rested over her heart, it was enough to
watch the light in Josy's eyes, though his
cough increased so rapidly that he remain
ed at home the last week to save himself
for the concert only going out to practise.
Chistmas eve-and Ernest Dent waited
in Aunt James parlor. AS the anticipated
hour drew near it must be confessed he
harbored little anxiety as to the first i'm
preston his betrothed would make. His
mother would love her in the end, but she
was naughty in her manner; not altogether
pleased with his engagement, gay, rollick-
ing sister Kate would take her right into
her atfectionate heart.
So busily thinking he did not hear Alice
till, with her hands in his, she stood direct
ly in front of him, her eager eyes seeking