The herald., 1897-04-18

as the boys had finished ard saw that
there was nothing more to be eaten OF
carried away they arose. Billy had all
along done as the rect. Such meal as
he had eaten was something to be re-
membered for year. There was a wild
noise of showing back of chairs, and
amidst 1t all was heard a vigorous knock
ing on the upper end of the table, where
the master of the feast, smiling, gray
haired gentleman, stood, striving to gain
hearing.
At last he succeeded in quieting the tu-
mutt. Boys" he said, have you had a
good timer" "You bet!" was the enthu-
siastic chorus; "three cheers for the Ar.
mour mission" called out tall news
boy, and they were given with a Will.
When the boys had shouted themselves
red in the face the man raped again Tor
order. Nov, my boys" he said, Il want
you to stop just ten minutes while tell
you story" "a story, story" shout
ed the boys, humping and cat-calling g
they did when they were in the high
heaven of the third gallery at the thea
ter. When silence was restored the gen.
tleman began and in the simplest Ian
guage he told the boys of the birth of
Christ, His beautiful life and heroic
DEATH how He was scourged and mall
treated, scorned and crucified, and how
He. rose again on Easter day. He told
them, too, of the God who created the
earth, and who put it in the hearts Of
men to love the poor and unfortunate for
the sake Of the child Jeeus. To Billy
this story was as marvellous as as to
any heather who ever heard of it. He
listened with painting breath, and when
it was related how Jesus was tried and
condemned by the unrighteous judge
and went out to hie death, he backed up
in a corner and sobbed and shifted, wip-
ing his eyes and nose on his dirty coat
sleeve, and when he related the wonder
full story of the resurrection Billy's eyes
were round with astonishment.
When it was over Billy was very silent
and thoughtful, and the next morning
he sat on a doorstep of a great Office
building and had long conversation
with Micky. On Monday Billy washed his
face before he went out to work. thing
unknown in his history except on spe
cial occasions, and he carefully pinned
his wilted geranium flower in HE but
tonhole, for his ignorant yet chivalrous
heart yearned to express to his lady that
he cherished her gift and loved the giver
She came up the street as usual, but this
morning Billy walked whole block out
of the way to meet her.
"If you please, ma'am," he said, lift
Ing his ragged cap as he had often seen
gentlemen lift their hats to ladies on the
street, and walking by her side. Il was
there-and, gee! it was as fine as silk;
but, if you please. will you tell me If
what that man said wuz all true, or is
it took back in this mornings papers?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
'"Bout that execution" said Billy, who
had caught the phrase from calling it
upon the hanging of a criminal. IL know
'twasn't in my papers bout Jesus bein'
crucified that way, or they would tol'
me at the office to call it out; they alluz
do, you know, Micky and me, if its true
or just a fake to sell the papers"
BILLY, it is all true, every word, but 1t
didn't happen here, but in Jerusalem"
"Well. now Micky said 1t was in some
other town, but I didn't hear the name.
Now we wants you to tell us the name of
that judge an jury that crucified Jesus,
an we're goin' to get some boys to-
gether, hundred or two, an we're goin'
to get there some way an do 'em up.
Well take stones an smash their win
dowe, an We'll holler at them on the
street. I've heard people say somethin'
bout Jesus Christ, but only when they
wuz mad or tellin' somethin' just cussin !,
you know, but I never knowed where
they got it, or whut they meant; but
Micky an nell get the boys to do up
that judge. an don't you forget it,"
Billy" said the lady, softly, Il have
not. the time to tell you all want to
about that case this morning, but if you
will meet me here next Sunday morning
we VIII go somewhere and hear more
about it, and then you may decide what
you and Micky can do to wipe out that
dreadful wrong of Christ's DEATH"
That promise was soon given, and she
took him to the mission school, and
there Billy Is gradually learning the
depths OF his heatheniem, and what
Christ means to the poor and outcast.
If Christ is risen in the human heart
He is risen to gentle words, good deeds
and sympathy, not only for our loved
ones, but for the poor and Iowly, the
friendlees and outcast. 1t was over these
that the heart of Jesus yearned, and il
is their salvation, both in this world and
the future, that should be our Easter Of
fering to God. LOU V. CHAPLIN.