The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-07-11
thrlstinn Kindness.

empty cars in the sariy dawn Of d win
ter's morning. A boy who had Been
asleep in one of them was thrown,
| dazed and hcwildersd, against the
door, which he had pulled to when
he SraRfed into the car the night be-
fore.
Just then a brakeman thrust his
head into the car, and reached for his
jacket, which he supposed was hang:
ing where he had leftit. He was some
what surprised to find the boy on
It, and took it from him without cere-
"Now get out Of hefcl'' be said,
thrustins the boy from the door. IF
/ catch you in one Of these cars again,
I'll give you to a policeman"
"What's he been up tp, Bill p said
] man who was putting freight in the
next car.
"Up to my coat he said. Civ
| ing it a vigorous shake as he walked
| off.
The boy looked dirty and detected,
| as he limped along the side Of the track,
The man who had spoken called after
himi
"Hullo, there Do you want a
job?"
The boy turned hack Quickly.
"If you'll help me load them firkins,
I'll pay YOU for itj but you'll II have to
III Tie prospect ii 4 little money
Frightened the boy, and he set to work
In earnest, though he was stiff and
cramped and hungry.
'Do you live round here ?" asked the
man.
The boy shook his head.
tIn case we should want to hire a
boy about your size, can you give me
any recommendations as to your char
acter ?"
The boys face flushed, but he made
no answer. The man watched him
narrowly, and when the car was load
ed handed him twenty-five cents, say
ing: "We're short of hands in the
freightroom. Boyou think you'd like
the JOB p q,
face was almost painful ia its eagerness
as be followed the man into the freight
room.
"Now," said the freight man; seat
ing himself On d box, "we'll have a
bit of talk before we get to business.
I don't know anything about you, ex-
cept that you are cold and hungry !;
you look that. But l think it is like
ly that you've got into some scrape !;
if you hadn't. you wouldn't be loafng
about stations and sleeping in freight
cars. I'm not going to ask you if
you have done anything wrong, but 1
am going to ask you if you've got a
mother"
'sNo, shes $ dead
"Got any fatheffor folks that belong
to 70, you :" :.
rWell, now, if you had mother,
I'd send you to. her in NO time, for
there is nothing that mother won't
forgive; but uncles and cousins are
different.
"If recommend you at the Office,
they'll take you. But mind, if l do
it, I'm going to watch you as cat
does mouse. You'll have to
spend you evenings and Sundays with
me.
81 went wrong myself when I was
no older than you are," lowering his
voice. can if it hadn't been for my
motheg-Well, that Was long time
ago. You've got switched upon the
wrong track 1 am very sure, and as
you hav Mt any mother to help you on
the right one, God helpin' ne, I'll do
it, if you'll let me.
"Preachin' isn't in my line, but
there's just one thing you dop;t want
to forget, and hat is the good Father
is giving you chance now to get back
where you can do right and feel right.
Are you going to take it ?"
The boy answered family that he
would try. he was taken into the
freight-yard, and was Under the new
friends eye constantly, and it was not
long before the man had so won
his confidence that he told him his
story.
There was trouble and dishonesty
connected with it, but for two years
the lad proved himself faithful and
trustworthy in his new occupation.
He was then advanced to more res.
ponsible position, but there was some
thing almost pathetic in his devotion
to the man who had befriended him, and
in his respect for the religion lie pro-
fessed.
Here was practical Christianity,
worthy any mans emulation Youths
Gon,ponaon,