The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-11-22

new recruit s invasion. she alone could
have told. But Donald was Christian.
like his mistress, and could refuse her
nothing when the appeal was made ''in
His name. y
| Not Gresham, boy and girl, could
be persuaded to go to Sunday-school.
1t had happened, as Mrs. Jenner dis
covered by diligent inquiry, that occa-
sionally one of the girls. when first ar
rayed in new apparel from head to
foot, the gift of some kind friend,
would, for a Sabbath or two, in the
neighborhood Of Christmas, attend
some ones class; but as rule this
lasted only until the bonnet or gown
had lost its freshness. The Greshams
were not even Sunday-school vagrants.
They We're open Sabbath-breakers,
with no belief in God or Heaven
There was not q Bible in the house.
One sometimes found a tawdry novel
or a copy of the Police Gazette, but
nothing fit to read, nothing that was
not poisonous
"Mr. Lester"-Mrs. Jenner ad-
dressed the superintendent of the First
Church Sunday-school, one evening
after prayer meeting ssplease find
some one else to take my class. j am
going to open Sunday-school at
home"
Drawing him aside, she told him of
her plan. 1t was to gathert the Gresham
children in her own parlor every Sab
bath afternoon, teaching them the
Bible, and after simple exercises,
prayer and a hymn, finishing the ses-
sion with a treat of cakes or fruit.
Il think" she said, modestly, ssthat
can get hold of them in that way.
Jake promises that his brothers shall
come regularly" 81
''Aren't you afraid to have Jake
Gresham about your place so familiar
ly,'' asked Mr.. Lester-s.with his rep
utationpn f.
A flash shot from the soft blue eyes.
Whatever his reputation may have
been, Mr.. Lester. the boy is building
up new character. My husband says
he would trust him anywhere. And
he is to be apprenticed to our good
| Mr.. Gray, who says Jacob will make a
| capital blacksmith. How is a fellow
ever to make up for a past crime if
there is no forgiveness in this world?'
.'You are right. i beg your pardon, J"
replied Mr.. Lester. ..Well, we shall
lose one of our best teachers, but I see
no other way, for you, with your con-
science. You seem to have adopted the
Greshams.n
81 have,' she answered. simply.
She already had a plan for elevating
Sally, who was at home again, and
every one of them was on her mind.
The question is whether there is a
more excellent way to help the poor
than this of Mrs. Jenner's. When
each family, among the well-to-do and
Christ-loving, shall become response
BILE for some other family, neither God
fearing nor comfortable, giving them
personal care and applying individual
help to their uplifting, our charitable
boards. in smaller towns at least, will
have easier work. When I had my
last talk with Mrs. Jenner, the gull
between the college folks and the fac
tory people was not yet bridged; the
social conditions of my nameless town,
on the surface, were about what they
had been for years.
/ But the Greshams were on the mend.
The father had made o struggle to
overcome his, besetting sin; the home
had become cleaner and was more COM
fortably furnished, and the flower in
the window was multiplied by dozen.
The boys wer3 all learning trades, and
gave promise of working steadily; the
girls, taught by Mrs. Jenner, had
learned to cook and to- sew; and the
mother, for the first time in many
years, did her washing and ironing on
their appointed days, wore clean and
whole gowns and disdained to beg.
One woman's way of helping had in
this case borne good fruit. Congrega-
tiotsdlist. ass8
s4 ------s -