The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-04-18
usual stumbling gait, started for

has Ino DOy sulucleut HlOldl
stamina to adhere to that resolu-
tion?" thought the listener at the
window. "Some one ought to encour-
age and aid him in the right way;
why-I can do so: Have l not as
much moral courage as that little
girl7 And how much better l can as
sist himp
The next morning out in the sunny
street and supported by his cane this
man made his way into Poverty Lane,
and saw Ben carrying basket of
clothes around to the side of the
house for his mother; then he helped
her hang them on the line.
Evidently he already had put in
practice some good resolutions; he
presented more clearly appearance
and two suspenders were now doing
duty on the old pantaloons. AS the
gentleman approached the woman
turned to look at him; with throb of
pity he noted her thin, care-worn face.
Making known his errand she glad
ly promised to do the required laun-
dry work and readily consented to
allow Ben to do brands for the gen.
tleman whenever he SO desired. Ben
returned with him and when they
entered the pleasant sitting room
gazed admiringly around. Upon
being given permission to look about
as much as he desired, he proceeded
with hands clasped behind him on a
tour of inspection: Furniture, brio
a-brac, pictures, all were closely OBJ
served; coming to the book case, he
asked, "Mr. Burns, be you cold
porter?" IA what?" Was the sur
prised question. "Why one O. them
fellers who go around telling folks
how wicked they are and leaving
tracts and giving away Bibles where
the folks hadn't none"
I've never tried to do good in that
way, l must own" answered the gen
tleman. "You've got SO many books
L thought may be you was one of
'em. A coldporter came to our
house once and said he'd like to
leave some tracts with us. Father
said he wouldn't have 'em in the
house, and said, If you leave tracts
the heels must be this way
81 was a little Teller then and l
'spose 1 thought if father didn't like
him he was no good. I had some
fire crackers and fired one off close to
to him and singed his coat tails: My!
didn't he jump out of the house
though. l didn't know any better
then; mother felt so bad, | was sorry
afterwards; she said the man was
trying to do some good in this wicked
world; she believes in going to meet
ing, and used to go every Sunday.
Nowadays she don't have decent
clothes to wear Since the shop shut
down she is the only one that earns
anything. l tell you the grass don't
grow under her feet, not much; but
she's getting all tired out. It's time
father and l went to work; first we
know she will be down sick"
"What does your father do for a
living?"
"Not much of anything lately"
"Do you help herr" Not as much
as 1 ought to, I'm going to turn over
new leaf and be somebody, see if I
don't" "Try hard to keep the leaf
turned over and / will be your friend.
I will help you to become good and
useful man, said Mr.Burns, pleased at
the boys outburst of confidence.
Taking from the bookcase hand
some volume, he continued, 1T is
time now for you to go; l will give
you this book full of pictures of ami
mails and birds, and of stories about
them. l hope you will read and en-
JOY it."
THAT l will sir, and thanks to you"
said Ben as with eyes sparkling with
pleasure he bounded away with book
and basket of clothes.
The boys time soon was fully oc.
cupied in reading, work, or healthful
exercise. If sometimes he failed,
lapsing into the old ways, this
staunch friend, ready always to for
give and encourage, turned him in
the right direction. When the fall
term of school began there was in
the boy marked improvement as to
clothing, manners and an interest he
never before had manifested in his
studies.
Meantime that friend had for him.
self discovered the true panacea,
WORK. In benefting others he was
becoming a healthier, happier man.
Often in those days a school decla-
nation selected by his father re-
Cured to him. Csrlyle's words re-
peating themselves almost, it seemed,