The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1898-01-07
MRS. SUSAN NJ. GRIFFITH.

q can recommend him in every
thing except one" said the gentle
man to Mrs. Evans, 'and that is the
tobacco habit. He has used tobacco
ever since he was six yeals of age;and
though all the good people OF his ac-
uuaintance have talked to him Of the
evils of it again and again, they have
labored in vain. He will still go on
chewing and smoking. He is a devo-
ted slave to it. l really think that he
would do without his meals rather
than tobacco
1T is no use to try then TO break it
up?'' said Mrs Evans thoughtfully.
Not IA bit If You take Steve you'll
have to take him, tobacco and all.
But ! wish you would take him, Mrs.
Evans. He's had miserable life of it.
His step-father has always been very
cruel to him, and does not half feed or
clothe him. 1t is IA fact that the boy
has never had whole suit Of clothes
in his life. Such rags as he has al
ways worn But he is IL good fellow
to work, and am anxious, Mrs. Evans,
to get him into good country home.
These towns are the ruinatiOu of boys.
If you want a hand at eight dollars a
month, you can't do better than take
Steven
well" said the lady slowly, II
need hand very much. My work is
getting behind, and boys who are
willing to work on IL farm are not
| plentiful-not nearly 50 plentiful as
they used to be. | am terrible
enemy to tobacco in any form, how
ever, MIR. Willis, as you well know. 1t
is very disgusting to me. especially in
| the mouth of a boy. And this one is
barely fifteen, you say: Oh my. l
really hesitate. Mr.. Willis"
But yen are q religious and be
nevolent LADY, struck il Mr.. Willis.
You have raised one homeless boy
from babyhood, and made Il good
citizen of him, and we all know you
| love to initiate the Master in doing
good. And | am convinced that you
couldn't find better mission than to
help poor Steve Jones just now"
The lady smiled. You are good
pleader," said she. well, you may
send him round. | will try him, at
least. Let him come tomorrow
morning. Thanks are not necessary, "
she said, as the gentleman tried to eX-
press his gratitude.
The next moment the lady FASTENED
| AVA V, OH bueIHtSS llIOb- l'C III II u
She had much to do, and it was after
noon before she was seated behind the
old Gray on her way home. Now she
had time to think of her venture IN
taking the boy Mr.. Willis had recon-
mended. She shook her head dubious
ly as she thought the matter over.
I'm afraid I've acted the fool" she
said to herself, giving old GRAY an un-
| 10 rains. - hn I
| Mr.. Willis made me feel sorry for the
boy. | hate to see anybody abused;
and if a boy can't have enough to eat
and clothes plenty TO keep clean and
warm. | can't see much use i'll living
at all. If there is anything III this
world. though. that | do really hate,
it's tobacco. Nasty, ill-smeliing stuff
What boy means by soaking him
self through and through with the
filthy weed is more than | can see.
SUPPOSE it's because he never had
enough of anything else to chew
though. Poor fellow. Well, let him
come. Ireckon | can stand it awhile. ,
The next day Steve presented him
self at the kitchen door, ragged, dirty
and tobaccoy. Mrs. Evans nose turned
up involuntarily.
NY" she exclaimed bluntiy, "yOr
are a sight, / never can stand you al
the table looking like that, ard
wouldn't have you sleep in one of my
clean beds in that fix for fifty dollars
J Those clothes all you got.
y es iii, SAID Stez~stepping bach
instiuctively; Il never mad Gc2a {,
change"
MY goodness me! Here, Moses"
| calling loudly to Il middle aged MAJ
who had done duty on the farm 70
fifteen years, hitch up and take thi
bow to town and get him somethin!
decent to wear. | can't stand hin
this way
Am to get him a full suit ma ann
asked Moses, folding his arms deliber
ately over mis- broad breast, and look
ing somewhat surprised and Disguised
"A full suit. Moses, of course. Work
ing clothes are all that he needs q
present to keep himself neat and clean
OF course | intend to give him an az
couut-book and have him put dow
every item himself, and understan
that he is simply being paid in ac
vance for so much work. You do III
derstand that, don't you, Stephen?
"Yes'm," said the boy. Then touch
ing his ragged cap, he added: Pleas
Miss Evans, git me quarters wut
of tobaccer, too
Mrs. Evans was disguised, but sh
put down the tobacco, and the DO
sIouched off to help Moses put tn
horse in the shafts.
A little before noon they returned
and Mrs. Evans directed Stephen
go to a room she pointed out upstail
= as belonging to him, and take bat
q and replace his rags by his new su
Immediately. Never had the DO
seen such room. The single bee
stead. with its white spread an
ratified pillow slips, was perfectly Ell
, chanting, and the bright rag carp
IL and white curtained windows locke
SO inviting. Then there was q pre-
ID tor his clothes, and q table with
drawer in it, Il rocking chair, two ri
- lures hanging on the wall, and
c Bible on a little stand at the head
81 his bed. Steve whistied softly to hir
N self as he washed and dressed al
I'd brushed his closely shingled hair; Al
y, tho lift Ia m rrOr hpfn