The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-03-02
NUMBER ].

1t had happened. as Mrs. Jenner
discovered by dilligent inquiry, that
occasionally one OF the girls, when
first arrayed 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 a
rule this lasted only until the bonnet
or gown had lost its freshness. The
GreShams were not only Sunday
school vagrants. They were open
Sabbath breakers. with no belief in
God or Heaven. Taere was not a
Bible in the house. One sometimes
found tawdry novel Or copy Of
the Police Gazette but nothing fit to
read. nothing that was not pOison-
Gus.
"Mr. Lester"-Mrs. Jenner adj
dressed the superintendent of the
First, Church Sunday School, one eve
ming after prayer meetIng-"piease
find some one else to take my class.
Pm going to open a Sunday School
at home"
Drawing him aside, she told him
of her plan. 1t was to gather the
Gresham children in her own parlor
every Sabbath afternoon, teaching
them the Bible, and after simple ex-
ercises. prayer and hymn, finished
the session with treat of cakes or
fruit.
II think" she said modestly,
"that can get hold of them in that
way. Jake promises that his BROTH
ers shall come regularly"
Aren't you afraid to have Jake
Gresham about your place so famii-
iarly." asked Mr.. Lester-"with his
reputation ?"
A fash 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 appren-
ticed to our good Mr.. Gray, who says
Jacob will make a capital black
smith. How is fellow ever to make
up for past crime if there is no for
giveness in this world ?''
"You are right. II beg your par
don," replied Mr.. Lester. "Weii,
we shall lose one of our best teachers,
but see no other way, for you. with
your conscience. Yous eem to h, We
adopted the Greshams."
II have" she answered simply.
She already had a plan for elevat-
ing 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 re.
sponsible for some other family,
neither God-fearing nor comfortable.
giving them personal care and and
applying individual help to their up
lifting, our charitable boards. in the
smaller towns at least. will have eas.
ier work. When l had my last talk
with Mrs. Jenner, the gulf between
the college folks and the factory peo-
pie was not yet bridged the social
conditions of my nameless town. on
the surface, were about what they
had been tor years.
But the Greshams were on the
mend. The father had made strug.
gle to overcome his besetting Gin;
the home had become cleaner and
was more comfortably furnished. and
the flower in the window was multi
piled by a dozen. The boys we're 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 ap.
pointed days, wore clean and whole
gowns and disdained to beg. One
woman's way of helping had in this
case borne good fruit.-C0RgregGtion.
GiiSt,