The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-01-17

Il do not care for that" said the
boy; IF can only get II start | think
1 can learn will you try me | will
come with you now, he continued,
trying tOraise himself from the pillow,
but falling back in weakness.
No, my poor fellow. not to-day"
said Asa kindly this is the holiday
time, you remember, and You must
rest and take good cheer: if YOU were
able we would bid you to our New
Years feast, but TONES and broths are
better for you just now but YOU shall
still be treated to IL royal dinner, even
though it may have to come IA few
days later, on account of your weak
state
But | cannot i. ~ -,s:er upon
your Kindness, sir.u- es.,u the boy
grateful tears filling his eyes. Il am
a perfect stranger to you and have no
claim upon your bounty
Yes, the claim of being our neigh
Dor, replied Asa.
Il used to read the Bible daily with
my mother, sir, bnt inmy wild rovings
| have given it up, and shou! scarce
ly dare to pray
You remember the Prodigal Son.
do you not? We would none of It's
|
wanderingS," rejoined Asa.
When Asa and Mildred visited the
sick boy IL few hours later, they found
him able to sit up.
Il did not learn your name this
| morning. said Asa, tenderly placing
| his hand upon the boys shoulder with
reassuring touch.
My name is Edgar Thornton, sir ;
my father is ii shipping merchant i'll
| S.
! 'Nh. | uSel 20 know Your father"
| replied Asa. Il aEL much indebted to
him; when WAS young and struggling
without friends or means, he usVu Ills
influence to secure me IL position.
| which was my starting point. and |
am, indeed, glad To have the oplnr
tuuitY TO return the kindness TO his
son.
SO Edgar not only found employ
ment, but warm, true friends who re
ceivGd him into home IA one OF their
own number He wrote to his parents
peniteut letter, asking forgiveness
for his waywardness, and telling them
of his prospects in the future. Asa
Allan also wrote note to the bows
father, expressing his pleasure in be-
ing able to repay, in some measure,
the kindness which he had received
from him in the past. and promising
an elder brothers care of Edgar.
Realizing his own wonderful deliver
;tuce from Az evil course, Edgar felt
that his mission was to aid others who
were walking iii the same downward
paths, and many were the young lie
was the means of saving from lives Of
folly and drunkenness moving from
his own experience low best TO reach
their hearts and induce them to turn
from evil.
Truly the ways OF Providence are
far-reaching and most marvellous.
How may one good deed go on broad
ening in its influence, until God can
estimate the results. This young man,
rescued through the Christian love OF
Asa and Mildred Allan, became light |
unto many others wandering in dark |
ness, and the good which he was bless |
ed of God to accomplish would have |
been lost, had those Christian hearts |
neglected the passing opportunity for
tender charity on that New Year 5 |
eve, shilling the promptness of com
passion with the cold reasoningS of |
worldly policy.
Hencetorth, with every passing year,
after the Christmas chimes have rung |
out upon the air their joyful carol in |
Of the angels glad |
tiding, Peace on earth, good will to-
ward men," Asa, Mildred and Edgar |
made it their special mission to seek |
and rescue some despairing ones. and in |
Christ's name minister to their needs |
and bless them with a new hope for |
the New Year.