The San Francisco call., 1898-12-18

NIGGER BILLS CHRISTMAS.
BY<MARlE ALLEN KlMBALL.


No-o-o, sir" amid falling tears.
 Dark from the flying pieces of your clothes. Take off your coats."
 Eight little jackets came off. eight shaking little forms stood before the principal.
 Stand apart Give me plenty of room"
 He stepped back. squared himself, tried the switch two or three times, then hastily pulled out his watch.
 So late! Miss Carroll, I have an en- gagement with a man, I positively have not time to whip these boys. Put on your jackets but if I catch you in mis- chief again you'll remember it. Cop
 Nigger Bill had always thought that miraculous escape, and now he was to help lie for Johnny Kerrigan, and a lie MT Rogers would not tolerate. He was sure the more he thought about it that he would be killed if he were found out. But he had spent the money and he must do it. Risked all that for a poppy blankbooki He wished he had kept to his old slate. Nigger Bill won dered if he could get an old geography cover anywhere; the boys said if you put a geography cover under your shirt 1t wouldn't hurt, only you must holler just as loudi
 Things went along smoothly until day before Christmas. Then Mrs. Ker- rigan appeared.
 What is it I'm being told?" she asked, her face red with heat and in- dtgnation, that you was after excusing me Johnny from school this week. and him blatherskiting around the races, an me slaving meself to death to kape him at the books!"
 Madam, l excused him at your re- quest You sent me note by that col ored boy.'
 Me? Proud would I be could I write, T+I hi thank ye to give him the tanning he de- serves. I'll see he's here to get it."
 Nigger Bills time of retribution had come. The principal opened Miss Car rolls door and stalked in.
 'Nigger Bill," he commanded, "come here"
 The boy trembled all over; his teeth chattered.
 What did you lie to me for?"
 ''The - the-blankbook-the bit " stammered Bill, the tears rolling down his black cheeks. He was incapable from fright of making any further ex- planation. The teacher struck him a light blow. He shrieked and rolled over and over the front of the room. MT. Rogers followed. He gave him an- other, and the boy rolled screaming back again.
 Then the principal collared the gro- tesque black object covered with chalk uuSl anu ledTS, ana, 61ttlng hlm down in chair by his teachers desk, ad- monished him against lying. That was Nigger Bills punishment. He sobbed until school was out.
 When the others were excused Miss Carroll sat down by him; she put her arm around his little threadbare shouI- ders.
 T know you are very sorry" she said.
 Yes. ma'am; won't do it again."
 I am so glad, for I am very sorry, and so is MT. Rogers and somebody else, Jesus. He sees and knows every thing we do.'
 Nigger Bill looked around fearfully.
 Did you know it, dear child?" she went on.
 No ma'am, never heard tell of him. D Then she told him the beautiful story of the cross; of the tender, loving sa- vior; of the little dead girl and the child in the midst
 The boy listened, spellbound. q like him, ma'am," he said.
 Yes" his teacher went on, and there were men who loved him so that they went about telling other people, and some of them had new names Now, I am ooing to give you a new name. l shall call you Willie for you to remember that you are Jesus little boy and he loves you
 The child went home hugging the happy thought. He was no longer Mig ger Bill; he was Willie, and Jesus loved him. His was merry Christmas.