The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-01-17
SELECTED STORY.
I" That Young Man."

Mamma, can't go to prayer meet
ing again." she said.
"Why not, dearp"
i" Because of that horrid young man
DIR. James and Mr.. Hazlitt are trying
to get into the church. They brought
him to the social first, and came and
introduced him to me. OF course l
saw they wanted him to have good
time, and so did my best for him, and
some of the other girls. Horrid thingl
knew all the time he didn't deserve
it,, but what can you do at a church
socialln
swell, what then, my dear?"
why, then he came to prayer-meet-
ing; and got up and bewailed his sins,
and actually wept and everybody was
so sorry for him, and thought he was
going to be converted right off Those
good De Braceys came and shook hands
with him after meeting and got talking
with him, and slipped off as fast as |
could, for l thought he was looking
round my way before he'd got the tears
wiped out of his eyes"
"And he came again tonight"
Yes; and looked just as complacent
as-as-anythingl l don't believe he's
converted at all. He was all scented
with horrid perfume and cigar smoke,
and he sal stroking his mustache and
looking round. l don't believe he cared
for the prayers or anything. And then
what must he do but lie in wait by the
door and ask to see me home"
"What did you do?"
Why, I'd just come out of prayer
NEE ting. l couldn't invent an excuse
on the spot, and l didn't want to say
outright l couldn't bear him. Besides,
/ knew DR.. James had set his heart on
keeping him in the way of church in
fuences, and so let him come along
But it's the last time. If he's going to
meeting l won't go, that's ALL"
"Why, Maggie, what foolish re-
solvep
What can / do?"
You can behave like a lady"
$50 did, or tried to. | did it for
DIR. James sake. But it's too much to
have asked of one"
"You can behave like a Christian
lady"
"What is the difference?"
Well, Christian lady might be
more courteous and patient than any
other"
"She'd have to be, with him."
" How did he annoy you? Wasn't
he respectful p
Respectful" said Maggie, with
flashing eyes. He trod as if he was
walking on eggs. He didn't even dare
repeat to me what he said to Edith the
other night, though he wanted to-
"What was that?"
SGHe had the presump tion to toll HOY
he had seen me pass his place of bust
every week for three years, and always
wanted to know me. I'll never 90
through that street again. It's mean of
you to laugh now, mamma. If you
could know how foolish and empty
headed he is. l don't see how you
could want me for a minute to have
anything to do with him."
81 would not if thought he could
hurt you, dear. But something went
to my heart last Sunday morning. Did
you see ii? His mother had brought
him to church. 1t is only lately that
he has come at all, you know. But one
seat was left in the pew where his
mother sits. He saw it and would not
go up the aisle, but stood looking rather
sulky by the door. His mother went
straight to the next neighbours pew
and asked leave to sit there, then she
turned and beckoned him to take the
seat she had left vacant for his sake.
When saw her eager look and gesture
as she beckoned, read her motherly
anxiety for him, and it went to my
heart"
Maggie was silent minute, but pres
emily she said " Little Mrs. Wise who
sits back of him told me coming out of
church that the smell of tobacco about
him had nearly made her sick. She
thought she would have to leave"
know it; but if she had only seen
that poor mothers look, think she
would have forgotten the smell.
know" continued Mrs. Ward, "lhat he
is foolish, vain young man, and just
out of pure foolishness and for want of
the right sort of friends, he has been
near falling into ruinous ways. Mr..
Hazlitt stumbled upon him in some of
his church investigations, and brought
him to the prayer-meeting; DR.. James
has been to see him, and had several
patient talks with him. Think of that,
Maggie; our DR.. James, whose time is
| so precious, ana WHOSE InOugnl ana
knowledge are so really great-he cares
for this poor fellow as earnestly as the
shepherd in the New Testament cared
for the lost sheep. He is ready to leave
all the wise and good people that might
be more congenial to him, to go in search
of this one. His heart is in the work
of saving him. Mr.. Hazlitt, and those
good De Braceys,' as you call them
have the same spirit. Now, cannot you
girls, Edith and Emma, and the rest OF
you, do something's"
But you must see the case is diff.
ferent, mamma. We girls don't want
to be subject to his attentions"
off you would stop thinking about
his attentions and substitute some
earnest, friendly aim of your OWL
toward him, you would cease to be dis
turbed, l think. A girl like you, Mag
gle, ought to be able to keep any place
you choose in your intercourse with
him."
Well, know that, mamma. But
there's another thing "-and here Mag,
gle hesitated, coloring and frowning