The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-01-17


been converted"
Conversion is not character, nv
dear. 1t is only the beginning of it.
The young man is the same he was last
month only that his face is set another
way; Get toward better society for one
thing"
g. Ii is the same foolish face"
Well, do you want to turn it back
again2"
81 don't want to see much of it. He
limited as hard as he dared that should
ask him to call. You wouldn't want
me to do that, mammal"
"What is Christian home for?'
But L would be ashamed to have
any of our other callers find him here"
Then you would be ashamed of a
Christian deed"
What could | do for him? We
have nothing in common"
Then share something with him till
you have; your ideas, your tastes, your
knowledge. He is ready to take what
you give himp'
ooh, yes"
go my dear, be generousl There is
a phrase | read this morning about the
Lord-'with the Lord there is mercy,
and with him is plenteous redemption
'Plenteous redemption' Why can't
we be more like him-more penteous
with all the redeeming power we have
got?"
Maggie was silent moment scanning
her mothers face with wide-open,
thoughtful eyes. How came YOU"
she presently said, to have such
mean, selfish, stingy thing as l am for
daughter?'
About week from that time Maggie
was entertaining an evening caller.
Her mother sat in the back parlor and
took no shame for listening a little to
the conversation. Maggie had by far
the greater share in it. The caller, be
it confessed, handled an ivory-headed
cane, which he sometimes consulted
with his lips as if they might thence
draw inspiration. His eyes meantime
were fastened upon Maggie with
steadiness not altogether pleasant She
managed to divert them by and by.
From that blessed theme the weather,
upon which she had begun, she di-
verged to the trip to Florida she had
made at this season last year, and then
she brought out the photographs she
had gathered, and put such vivacity
into the showing of them, and into her
relation of the little events of her
journey, that Mr.. Dorley could not
it somewhat long call. Mr.. Dorley,
when he proudly told his mother
where he had been that evening, made
only one comment. "She treated me
like a gentleman"
Only week later and Maggie had
yet another call. This time Mr.. Dor
ley got little catechizing, and became
quite free to tell how many hours he
was kept behind the counter, and what
perplexities and diversions he found
there. Presently Maggie appeared in
the library. Mamma" she said in
hurried whisper, "may 1 lend the
Lady of the Aroostook,' or Jane
Eyre?' He's never read anything Not
any!hing,l Not even Uncle Toms
"Suppose you begin with that them"
said Mrs. Ward. "That interests
everybody"
Uncle Toms Cabin proved a great
success. Mr.. DOrley came back with it
at the end of another week, and said he
would ask no better "fun" than to sit
down and read book like that when
his work was over. Yet he had cried
over it. He was young man to laugh
and cry easily But he said it was a
book to make man better for the read
ing of it.
By this time Maggie had forgotten
that he was ga horrid young man." and
really had a friendly feeling toward
him. And tonight very bright idea
came to her. 40, Mr.. Dorley," she
said, " if you would only come down
to the Boys Club and help play games
with them some EVENING"" Then she
told him all about the Club, and he was
immensely interested, and very willing
to promise his help. "But you'll for
give me-" said Maggie swe city, "if
ask something, Mr.. Dorley. You know
and when you go down there will you
mind not wearing anything you've been
smoking IMP We don't want the boys
to think any of their friends practice
what we preach against"
Mr.. Dorley assented to that with per-
feet good temper. But on his way to
the door that night he turned to say:
You don't like smoking, Miss
Ward?"
"Not Bit" said Maggie.
He made no reply, but went away in
meditation. Maggie never noticed the
odor of tobacco upon his garments
again.
He proved real treasure in the
Boys Club; he was so good-natured,
and so heartily enjoyed the games and
occupations he assisted in. Meantime,
he read good many books that Miss
Ward lent him. He was rapidly re-
ceiving new light on the nature of en-
joyment, the uses of living, the good of
society, on manners, beauty, religion.
DR.. James locked down from the pull
pit and saw that the young mans face
was no longer foolish. Thought and
feeling had dawned in it. Mr.. Dorley
no longer sauntered late into church
and seated himself loungingly to divide
his attention between the faces of the
young girls about him, his finger-nails,
his mustache and his new trousers
His awakened mind could take in the
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