The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1892-12-24

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ing. He joined the throng and drifted
in. There were lights and music. Some
body-a man with a clear baritone voice
was singing something. To the ears CT
the Ishmaelite stole these words:
I've found a friend in Jesus;
He's everything to me-;
He's the fairest of ten thousand 20 my soul.
The Lily of the Valley.
In him alone | see
All need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
Then suddenly the great audience rose
to its feet and responded:
He's the Lily of the Valley,
The Bright and Morning Star;
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
johnson looked stupidity about. He
saw faces lined with sin and suffering
the faces of thieves and outcasts. But
everybody was singing. He looked at
the platform. 1t was filled with men
and women dressed in curious fashion,
in dark blue costumes, with big scarlet
letters on their breasts. During john
sons prison life the Salvation Army had
sprung into existence.
He all my griefs has taken.
And all my sorrows borne;
In temptation he's my strong and mighty
rang out the voice like a clarion call.
And once more the poor, sodden way
farers to whom he sang answered.:
He's the Lily of the Valley,
The Bright and Morning Star;
He's the fairest Of ten thousand 10 my soul.
Something rolled down the cheek OF
the ex-convict.
He put up his hand impatiently to
brush it away
And then, half stumbling, he hurried
out into the night.
But as he fled through the fast fall
ing snowfakes he heard again the re-
frain well up like a battlecry:
He's the Lily of the Valley.
Next day as he aimlessly walked
about he came face to face with a man
| he had known in his old life. The man
started as if he had seen a ghost, and
then s~hamefacedly and hesitatingly ex-
tended his hand.
oHowdy do, Johnson" he said tim
idly.
"Oh, I'm we'll enough" said johnson
with a short, harsh laugh. I'm trying
to get something to do. Perhaps you
could help me-"
ooh, howell, you see, just now
everybody's taken up with Christmas.
eyes, so / See"
"Of course you understand It's not an
easy thing to recommend a-a"-
GA jailbird."
"Well er-you understand"
eyes, l understand. l won't bother
you. I'll get along in some fashion.
I've a little money. But tell me, can you
give me any news OF Raymond"
"Well, yes. You heard about his
failure:'
Ellis failure? No"
Eyes, lost every cent? year ago. Poor
as a church mouse. Sick, too, l heard a
few days ago. Rheumatism. l believe
His wife,
Eyes, yes, his wife,
''She's supporting him, understand
sewing. They live somewhere on the
east side in a tenement. Horrible come
down. Well, l can't stand here all day.
Goodby. If | hear of anything"-and
he was gone.
johnson stood looking after him in q
dazed fashion until a gentle hint from
a policeman reminded him he had better
On.
So Raymond was poor and sick-hls
revenge, then, was partly begun-ano
that Christmas present?-some way the
thought of killing a poor invalid did mo-
appeal so strongly to the Ishmaelite-
somewhere on the east side?-as wei
try to hunt the traditional needle-poor
sick, and Nelly sewing to support him
well. there was some justice i'll heaven
if not on earth.
It was the night before Christina
when Johnson strolled again into thu
great rink where the Salvation Arm.
was holding its meetings. He listened t.
the burning words which fell from thu
lips of a sweet faced Woman She talked
of Gods best gift to man and spoke O
peace and good will. Then again tn
singer came forward, and again TIN
strains which had rung in Johnson's ear
for two days rolled to the roof. Will
listening eagerly his eyes suddenly tel