Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-23

sighted guardian and decamped with 1t to some unknown region, leaving on the seat he had occupied when most moved pack of dirty cards arranged in the order of finished game of solitaire
 As for Mack, having escaped to Jersey shores, he spent his i'll gotten gains in riot as long as they lasted. Finally he gambled away tho remnant at low tavern far out on country road, and being discovered dead drunk and penniless at the hour of closing was dumped out into the mud by tho proprietor.o the place and his assist ant
 About daylight he came to his senses, and he staggered up and away, had an- other sleep by the roadside and awoke again to the consciousness that he never was in a worse plight
 He was in country place. The ways and means possible to him in tho city were impossible here.. Ho had no money for fares though he heard the shriek of steam car hard by He was hungry and miserable.
 Lying all night in Jersey mud had given him chills and fever, though he did not know it.
 So, when the sun began to glow with noontide heat, he staggered past white
  against those palings dark green foliage of a row of currant bushes, with the red fruit glstening in pendent punches, like so many jewels.
 Powered and parched, this fruit was wonderful joy to him. Ho stopped and put out his hand and clutchod dozen of the berries He put them to his lips. His hand went out for more, when voice in tones not angry, butsdecisive, called to him.
 Young man, lot those berries alone, or I'll set the dog on you.
 Mack looked up. Thero was the gentle man whom he denominated Parson Walk CT looking over the fonce. He knew of tho stealing of that contribution box. Of course ho was an enemy
 Dr. Walker went back to his seat on tho porch, and there came to him a shrill, sweet old womans voico from the dining room:
 "Oh, Thomas, how could you?'
 "What, Betsey?"
 ''Why, Thomas, saw him as ho passed "a poor, starving soul, if ever saw onel I've been among the poor enough to know hunger and sickness when I sec em. He's both, and you wouldn' let him cat few currants"-
 ''Ithought it was just the sort of trick boys are always playing" slid tho old gentleman. "I'll try to catch up with him, and if he's hungry I'll bring him back.''
 So away he trotted into the woods And there, looking whito and wan among the trembling shadows of the green branches, he found Mack.
 His head was on his arm, and he was crying.
 My boy," said the old man, bending over him, and softened as tho old lady had been by the memory of lad who had died years before, the only one who had ever called him father, ''my boy, Pm afraid you are not well-why, it's MackP' And with the discovery camo feeling of re- pulsion.
 II was dry" said Mack. "How did know they was your'n3"
 My boy, shid Parson Walker, Eff you were hungry or thirsty, you were wei come; if you arc either now-and think you are-come home with mo and have some supper. came after you for that. I thought it was mere thieving trick taking the currants, and I'm a little fond of my garden.
 Mack sat at 0 table with white cloth upon it and had all he wanted. He ate : in silence Then he lifted up his head ' ''Parson Walker" he said as respect fully as knew how, is this any part of it?"
 "Of what, my boyf" asked the old man.
 "Of Christians, said Mack.
 "What didyou think Christianity was?" asked Dr. Walker curiously.
 ''Prayin and believin lot of things and goin to church,n said Mack.
 I'm not sure that sudden reformations arc very common, and I am not sure that this one was, but Mack, being very i'll for some time, was nursed in tho pretty par sonage for many weeks, and some power was at hand to soften him, and though he never will be an elegant gentleman he certainly leads today an honest life and is grateful to those who have helped him to