The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-14
Jacket kept sounding in his ears as he

"Teddie, is it yours? Teddie, are you
doing right?"
He stopped at last, as the sudden
thought came into his mind:
II wonder if it is all mine? May be
somebody lost it," And started look
on his face took the place of that glad
surprise which had lighted up his bright
eyes.
He walked on little slower than be-
fore, thinking almost aloud, "Ob, il it is
only truly mine, it will buy Madge a
warm shawl, and Sadie an apple, and a
fire to keep warm, and ever SO many
things. May be Madge will say 1 may
keep it. I can run home quickly and
tell her all about it."
Suiting the action to the word, he start
ed on again. But louder and louder he
felt that humping under his jacket as he
went.
"You must always do right, Teddie, no
matter how hard it is. God will see you,
if no one else doee. Stop, Teddie, you
are doing wrong. That purse is not
yours"
lie did stop, and said aloud, "It is
rightly mine. found it. And yet perhaps
som ebody who has lost it is looking for it
now, and feels awfully bad about it. I
would, il I had lost it. May be. if go and
ask Madge, 1 would not find the people
there looking for it when got back"
"Now, Teddie," spoke the voice under
his jacket, "turn right back and go and do
right. God will see, and God will help.
You must not keep what does not belong
to you"
"I'n do it," he exclaimed, and pushing
his hat back from his face, his bright
curls flying in the wind. he turned sharp
ly around, and retraced his stepe.
Presently he saw policeman and two
ladies coming toward him. One was an
old lady, with face pure and sweet in it's
frame work of silver hair, that carried no
terror to the heart of the timid child; the
other young fair girl who seemed to be
wild with excitement and GRIEF
II must have dropped it on this block,
for little beyond is where first missed
it, and We made call here" she said, ad-
dressing the policeman.
as it purse you have lost, LADY ?" said
Teddie. II found this on the grass here
close to the sidewalk" and he pointed to
the place where he had picked it up.
Eyes, that is it," exclaimed the young
lady with glad cry.
"Look into it and see il it is all right,
ma'am." said the policeman, with side
long glance at Teddie as he spoke.
"Every thing is just as left it. My
gold piece that Uncle John gave me, and
all the rest" she replied, exactly where
I put it,"
"And now, my little man." said the
elder lady, laying her hand kindly on
Teddie's arm, "What shall we do for the
honest little boy that would not keep
what did not honestly belong to him?"
But the policeman who bad hoped to
find the purse and receive the reward
himself, nuttered as he turned away:
"He'll take all you'll give him, ma'am.
These ragged little urchins are pack of
thieves, anyway"
"But this little boy is not" said the
elder lady, land he shall be well paid for
his honesty, too. Where do you live my
| L. 4 81, n roi1 xgikb a oxuoof cv,oi1o
an an attic in one of the houses in
Poverty Row." he answered, rather hes
itatingly.
"Have you always lived in Poverty
Row."
"Only since mamma and papa died.
Papa first died, and then mamma soon
followed. After that we had to live in
Poverty Row."
"Well, get into our carriage and show
us the way to your home"
Teddie quickly obeyed, chatting gaily
all the way, his face aglow with pleasure
at ride, the like of which he had never
had before.
Teddie faid that carriages did not drive
through Poverty Row, Mrs. Bells coach
man found a way. They mounted the
narrow, dingy staircase, Mre Bell and
her daughter following Teddie's lead, un-
til they reached the small attic room,
where patient sister Madge was seated
by the ore small window earning live
lihood with the needle for herself, Ted
die, and little Sadie. The story of the
lost purse was told. And Teddie, with a
timid look, said;
ooh, Msdge, how wanted to keep it,,
and bring it home to you. But, then, 1
knew it must be wrong, and went right
back when 1 thought of that"
"Do you know, Teddie, that you won a
great victory when you made up your
mind not to keep what you felt certain
was not yours?" said Mrs. Bell, looking
at him with kindly eyee. "Great victo.
ries are not always won on the field of
battle"
The visitors remained long enough to
freely discuss the needs of the little fami-
ly, and left generous gift when they
went away, with promise to return in a
few days. Then Teddie's curly head
nestled close to his sisters arm, as he
whispered