Democratic messenger., 1889-05-25
BECKY'S BURGLAR.


and siingy people for whom she kept house
appreciated her worth, though they bare.
~ rewarded her for her toll.
Old Mr.. and Mrs. DAVIS of,en kept large
sums of money in an old dfashioncd safe in
the house, and II was Bccky's duty to lock
the doors every evening and open them
up every morning.
One night as she was returning from
church ragged and detected tramp met
her nj the door and begged for something
Ia eat.
I'm only servant here" she said after
some thought, "and the folks have gone
To he'd. I'll take the liberty. though, of
giving you some bread and meat if you'll
wait here till fetch II. II won't be much
more than cup OF cold water, but I'll
give II in Ills name" Then she went IN.
shutting as she thought the door, but the
man had stuck the edge Of his hat bet tween
the door and the jamb. After she had
gone he took off his shoes and slipped
nOisclessly INTO the house. lie finally
stopped at the top Of the stairs by an open
door.
The moonlight shOnc through the win.
dow. lie saw an empty bed in the room
AN old.iashiOn affair with "vallancc"-
and, hurrying In. hid himself beneath IL.
II was Rebeccas room and Rcbecca's bed
that he had chosen, and at that moment
the woman herself going TO the door
found IL shut, looking out, saw nothing
Of the beggar, and restored the meat and
bread to the pantry.
u suppose he though, said no." she
whispered TO herself Its a real pity
Then sne trudgcd up stairs.
That caniing old woman" said the man
under the bed 10 himself. well, she
won't he hard to choke If she scrccchcs," !"
and from beneath the valance he watched
her 20 TO and fro, brush her hair, put on
her night cap, and finally sit down and
read chapter out of her Bible. Whereat,
waste of his valublc time, the burglar
used some very bad language.
Al last, Bible exercises over. Rcbecca
knclt down To pray. She prayed first, as
IN duty bound, for her master and mis-.
trcss, that they might he taken care of
through the night. Then for the church,
then for the heaihcn, then for herself.
IF should die sudden she brcathcd.
III fire should come. or wicked burglars
or sudden death-take care of my SOUL
Take me 10 heaven and forgive my sins
My poor old body can't last much longer.
but my precious soul, that is eternal
What would il profit me i'll had all the
world and lost my soul: :"
"Shc certainly believes what she says"
thought the burglar under the bed.
After few words Rcbccca arose. She
was about TO put out her lamp when she
suddenly exclaimed. "Oh, forgot" and
knclt down again.
Il want TO speak 10 the good Lord about
that poor crittur.' she said. II mean the
one that asked ior food. meant Ia give
Him some, but he didn't know. Lord,
please give Inn what he needs. Raise up
some kind friend for him. Let him have
supper and bcd tonight, and not go
wandering, starving about the streets" :"
and Rcbcccas tears fell "and. Lord, il he
isa sinner, stretch forth Thy hands and
help him To paths of righteousness, and
open the gates Of glory Ia his soul and il
he isn't Christian, let him die one. |
cant help him, exccp, by praying. Lord,
listen 10 poor old servant woman for
that poor strangers body and soul-that
they may he saved"
The words fell on the ear Of the burglar
under the bed. They startled him; they
touched him suddenly he found himself
crying.
\ moment more and Rcbccca heard II
strange voice.
Good woman, il said.
whats that 7" said Rebecca.
Don't be frightened" said the voice
I'm not going 10 harm you or any one
I'm the man you've just prayed for'-and
from under the bed crcp, the burglar.
Rcbecca tremblcd, hut she did moi
scream. The man knclt down before her
81 don't know whether God heard youl
prayer, good woman he said, "bui did
feel as II never should forget II. | cam,
here 10 rob the house. I'll leave il with
out amy wish 10 iniurc any one or anything
iiy"u will let me go. think your prayer
has saved me. ! will try 10 leave the life
lead and he an honest man. viii you
bless me rs my mother might -
And Rcbccca put out her hand and
touched the young mans head aud gav,
him her blessing, Then she went down
stairs with him, offering him food as the,
passed the kitchen. But he was in no nce,
Of II he was not IN distress.
As they parted he asked l.cbecca's nam,
and she gave II 10 Inn.
The next morning the old master and
mistress heard her story, and though il
created much CONSERVATION and surpris,
Il was soon forgotten save by Rcbccca
She remembered il as crowning net o
heaven.
And happy indeed was she when, fiy,
years later, she received letter telling
her that the writer was the man for whom
she had prayed, andIthat he had become NJ
honest citizen and Christian aud tina
she had been the direct means.
The letter inclOsc,l bank note of con
siderable amount, and though NO clcw WA
given as To the writer's real name, ihcr,
could he no doub, that il only spoke III,
truth. Rcbccea could absolutely rcaliz'
that she had been the means ul saving
soul
PILES Fil.s. Itching Piles.
SYMPTOMS Moisture: intcnce itching an,
stinging most nj night worse by scratching
IL allowed Ia continue ttuiBFS form. whlcl