Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1893-01-04
do you think the janitor would

The little detected one dragged
herself over to the boy, Will, at
tracted by the kindly good nature
in his face, his fine clothes and his
grandiose manner, she placed her
little hand in his.
IL like you; you've got so many
pretty things | guess God loves you
too. I'm so little and so poor He
couldn't love me-"
The grandmother stood in the
door. Taking the little slender
hand she led Elsie out of the room,
saying:
"All this nonsense is making the
child sick"
Though the night and day had
been spent by the boys forgetful of
God and the teachings of good faith
ers and mothers, yet so far the world
had left some innocence in their
hearts, and they were overcome to
see little child lose faith in God
love, and to find themselves power
less to help her. Next morning
when the bronze doors Of the bank
swung open Jim and his friend
were the first to enter. Together
they went to the janitor. The old
man was obdurate, proof against
their promises. Will then told the
story of Elsie. As he proceeded in
his graphic way the messengers
gathered round him, and through
out the great bank the words were
carried from mouth to MOUTH
mot a nickel, not a dish" The
pressure proved too strong for the
ianitor. He advanced the loan.
Nor did it end there. Every mes
senger, clerk, teller, cashier made
contribution to the fund. During
the excitement the President-the
great money-king of the city-en-
tered. He, too, heard the story,
and taking from the cash counter
three packages, each containing
twenty new shining nickels, he
placed them in Jim's hands, saying:
There are the three nickels,"
and taking a bank-note from his
pocket: This is for the little girls
dishes"
With light hearts Jim and Will
went home that night. They had
selected the prettiest set of dishes
the city stores afforded, and the re-
mainder of the money had been con-
verted into new nickels from the
mint. These treasures were left
for safe keeping until night with
friends below. AS they mounted
the stairs Elsie was waiting as usual
for Jim. She was more cheerful
but much subdued.
ELSIE" said Will, Ibid you hang
up your stocking last night?'
"Oh, no; last night was not the
night. 1t was the night-bebore-
last" and the little lips quivered.
"Yes, but maybe the angel God
sent with the things could not find
the way up these dark, shaky stairs. V
THE teacher told me that angels
could see in the dark, the same as
in the light"
"Well," suggested Jim, perhaps
the angel hasn't had time to get
around to you. You know this is
an awful big city and the angels
must be going round yet"
The pretty eyes opened wide
She had never thought Of that.
do you really think that God
loves me, and that the angel will
come yet?"
"Well, | wouldn't wonder. If l
were you, I'd hang up the stockings
tonight. You see, we must not be
in such a hurry with God"
Elsie was now all life again, and
her spirits rising, dubbed over in
dimples on her cheeks. Her boys
must help her hang up the stock
ings. The grandmother objected,
but wink and few words from
the boys gained her consent. Good
nights were said, and when the lit
tie happy brain finally rested in
sleep, the boys on tiptoe brought in
their treasures. At the sight Of
the lovely dishes and great quanti-
ty of shining nickels, more than she
had in all her life seen together,
and more than she could earn in
many months, the grand mother
broke down. The tight strings
which poverty had so many years
been binding around her heart
seemed to snap, and she rushed from
the room. The boys finished their
work in silence, and as they went
to their room few star rays were
shining through the sky-light and
feebly lighted up one Of the distant
corners of the dining hall where
Jim saw the figure of an old woman
Lpoal,oo NTH boaJ ,,o~o:,oI L.