Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-12-26


the carved stalls, the shining marble
altar with its cleaning cross and above
it a picture of Child, Boy with
outstretched arms coming toward him
through field of lilies.
All through the service there had
been a name repeated which was hOr-
ribly familiar to the boy, and he had
wondered as he had seen the bowed
heads, ike a wheat-feld in a summer
breeze. This must be He, then !
Some one to be worshipped some one
who came down from heaven; some one
who had suffered. This much he had
learned fIom the service. So he gazed
at the picture with longing in his keen
eyes. Why, He was Boy, and com
ing toward him
II wish He wouldn't look at me like
that! Seems as if He wanted me to
do somethin for Him. Kinder sorry,
too. Looks like He'd lived on the
east side, so poor and mourntul' l
bet yer He knows what it is to be coh
and hungry, and sleep in barrel l
wish, now, l hadn't knocked down that
little kid goin for beer this mornln'
or cheated jim at craps. And SO,
while the good doctor preached in the
pulpit, the Boy above the altar preached
to the boy below.
Suddenly Charley Reed said, 81 say,
Teddy, you'll have to go to the gate
and receive the contribution. sing
solo in The oifertory. Follow the
boy at the end of the opposite stall
keep step with him, march to the rall
then, and the doctor will give you both
plates. Then turn,-be sure you
wheel toward the other boy,-march
to the top of the steps and wait. Stand
perfectly still, and the vestrymen will
bring up the offering. Then wheel IN
side, carry the plates and empty them
into the alms-basin the doctor will
hold. Dojust as Tom does, keep step
and OH" Charley said, imploringly,
"dont bungle, for then they'll blame
me p
Charley did not know his boy Ted
dy bunglel He marched in perfect
time, shoulder to shoulder, and stood
facing the vast congregation, that wore
a general air of riches and luxury,
"All blokes from de avenue!' thought
Teddy, and this drove the tender
thoughts of that unhappy Child, whose
woe and love had touched him so
strangely, out of his heart. Teddy
was himself again-bitter, hard, def
ant the scourge of the block, the :er-
ror of the apple-woman, the east side
"out on the make -
Two by two the vestrymen came up,
each emptying his full plate into the
larger ones held by the boys. Would
they never stop? What heaps of mon
ey Teddy had never seen as much
and now he was holding it !
Such chance Right beside his
thumb lay bill folded very small.
Some lady must have tucked it in her
glove. Just as be wheel i he put MS
thumb on this Gotta sleeve lay full
and loose over his hand-and with a
dexterous movement, he concealed 1t
in his palm. Teddy had not played
craps for nothing.
He went back to his stall, flushed
with sense of triumph, and tucked
the bill into his jacket pocket. He
must not look at it yet 1t might be
"fver Then he was sure Of the
fifty cents. What a mornings work
Wouldn't he elbow her in y
All this while the service was going
on, but it was only the opening notes
of Gounod's "Sanctus" that brought
him back.
AS the first "Holy, Holy" stole out
he forgot his money, and all the glO-
ries it could buy. Again and again
rang out that marvellous cry, each
repetition higher and stronger and
nearer the throne, and the heart o
the boy went with it.
He looked at the picture with a ra
diant smile. This must surely make
Him glad The sunshine fell on tn
calm face; it lighted up those eye
filed with inscrutable sorrow, and
pang struck into Teddy's heart like
knife. The money He had taker
it from Hin
The boy had known nothing bu
misery from his birth, but as he lsi'
his head down on the stall, besid
which he knelt, an agony which N
hunger, or cold, or pain had eve
forced from him racked him. Tedd.
Fitzgerald's soul was being born
III -. z-JoJ I'D fbs y1rocpc