Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-12-20

suddenly he Taused brfore . great
building into which crowds were pour.
Ing. He joined the throus and drifted
In. There were lights and music. Some
bcdy-a man with clear baritone voice
was singing something. To the ears Of
the ishmselite stole thesc words;
i've foabd friend In Jesus
Hes everything 10 me:
Hes the fAire-t ~ ten thousand to my soai.
The LILY Of the Waller.
In him alone 80
AL n~cd In cleanse and mAks me fully whole.
Then suddenly the great audience rose
TO its feet and rrspondedi
IIss the Lily of th. Valley,
The bright and Morning stAf,
ffss the fAirest VI ten thousand "a my -oai.
johnson looked stupidity about. lie
saw faces lined with sin and suffering
the faces Of thieves and outcasis. But
everybody wAs singing. He looked at
the platform. II was filed with men
and women dressed In curious fashion.
In dark blue costumes. with big scarlet
letter, on their breasts. During John.
sons prison life the Salvation Army had
sprung into existence.
lie ell my gries has tAksn.
And all my sorro~s horns;
In temptation he's my strong and mighty
towsf--
rang out tho voice like q clarion call.
And once more the POOR. sclden way.
fArers TO whom he sang answered:
lie. the Lily % the Valley.
The BrisL, and Mornins STAR
Hes the fAlr~.t of ten thousand To my soaL
Sotnething rolled down the cheek OF
the ex-couvict
lie put mp his hand impatiently To
brush II away.
And then. half stumbling. he hurried
out into the night.
But n he fed through the fast fall.
Ing snowhAkes he heard again the re-
frain well up like ba,tlecryi
Hes the Lily Of the VALLEY.
Next day ~ he aimlessly walked
about he came face 10 face with man
he had known In hi. old life. The man
started - II he had seen ghost. and
then shamefacedly and hesitatingly eI.
tended his hand.
"iiowdy do. Johnson he said tim.
IDLY.
"oh. I'm well enough said johnson
with short. harsh laugh. I'm trying
TO get something TO do. Perhaps you
rould help me-"
"i-oh. no-weli. you zee, Just now
everybcdys taken mp with Christmas. =
EYES, 20 I see."
"Of course you understand It's not an
easy thing "a recommend 80
"a jailbird."
"weli. er-you understand"
Eyes. I understand. I won't bother
you. I'll get along In some fashion.
i've little money. But tell me. can you
give me any news Of Raymondr
"well. yea You heard about his
failursy'
"iis failure, No."
"Ycs, lost every cent . ysar ago. Poor
a. church mouse. Sick. too. heard .
few days ago. Rheumatism. ] believe.
His Wife
"Yes. yes. his wife"
"She's supporting him. understand
sewing. They live somewhere on the
east side I'm tenement. Horrible come
down! Well. I cant stand here all day.
Gociby. II I hear Of anything"-and
he was gone.
johnson stood looking after him In .
dased fashion until o gentle hint from
q policeman reminded him he had better
move ON.
So Raymond was poor and sick-his
revenge, then. was partly begun-and
that Christmas prrsenti-some way the
thought Of killing poor invalid did not
appeal 20 strongly 10 the ishmaelite-
somewhere ON the east sidei-as well
try TO hunt the traditional needle-poor.
sick. and Nelly sewing TO support him
we'll. there was some justice In heaven
u not on earth.
Il was the night before Christmas
when johnson strolled again into the
great rink where the salvation Army
was holding its meetings. He listened "a
the burning words which fell from the
lirs Of sweet faced woman. She talked
OF Gods best gift 10 man and spoke oi
peace and good viii. Then again the
singer came forward. and again the
strains which had rung In Johnson's ear
for two days rolled 10 the roof. While
listening eagerly his eyes suddenly fell
upon the face Of . woman who was att
ting three seats from him. A pale, thin,
shabbiiy dressed woman.
Il was Nellyi
When shs rose 10 20 he followed her,
A she hurried away he stealthily crep'
behind her, his hand Involuntary
cluiching the knife over his heart.
Up . rickety flight Of stairs she wsnt
and closs behind came her pursuer. Shs
opened the door on the third landing
and went In. He crouchsd outside
holding his breath.
The door remained sjar.
He looked In and marked The poo
room, With its wrstchsd bsloogings. II.
ssw the bed and the SICK man bolsterst
up BY aabby pllowA
ais that you. Nelly. b board Ray
mond say. ~ thousht yoa would nsvs'
come"
"wsIl, John. dear. I just ran into ~
rink . moment 10 hsar ths singing. =
sousdsd % sweet :. ! sans along. Her