The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1908-07-09
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Quite likely there was not much she
knew how TO do; but that was not her
fault She had never had a chance.
Almost starved. cold and weary. she
had slept ia dOorways. or any poor
shelter she could find. only 20 resume
her frultless quest the next morning.
faint with hunger. There could be
but one result OF her arrest. She was
committed for yagrancy."
When she came out. the stigma fol-
lowed her. She could not get work.
No one was ready TO trust her before !;
now. when she had come from "a ref
uge. -the island" or whatever Il might
BE-. her chance was even less
After she had received many rebuffs.
a restaurant keeper. who did not know
where she had been. hired her as
waitress. She tried hard 70 suit. and
learned quickly. was quiet and civil.
and had begun 70 feel encouraged. She
was earning her living. For the first
time ia her life she had enough 70 eat.
and far better food than she had ever
before tasted. She was tired az night.
but she had a room 20 herself and
slept In clean. comfortable bed. IN
stead Of shed or doorway; and a
kind word now and then cheered her
more than the one who said Il could
ever guess
One day a woman. showiiy dressed.
no doubt calling herself lady. came
IN. and ordered a meaI- This girl was
not the one who waited GA her. but
the customer. looking idly about the
room. saw her. recognized her. and
knew abe had once been arrested for
what. OF Ia shat circumstances. ehe
neither knew nor enrcd When she
went 10 the desk 20 pay for her meal.
she said 10 the proprietor:
do you know you've E0t a thief
among your waitrcssesg'
~-Oh. | guess not be answered
~Our girls nrenil honest They may b.
poor. and not very well dressed. but
honest they all arr
-You'rc mistaken about that one"
she said. Indicating the girl By ges-
turc. -she has b~en in q refornatory.
You had better keep watch. She VII
steal from Jon yet. II abe hasn't al
ready-
Tho man felt uneasy. In spite 81
himself. his mind rrcurred again and
again 10 what the woman had said. He
conld not nnd fault with the girl. She
was ~if.rcspecting and did her work
faithfully. Isut be was doubtful and |
suspicious. A. hls better judgment told |
him all the while. there was no reason 1
for Il except the Idle chatter q a
chancc patron. and be made no move
Cor time
hut unfortunately. three or -four
wrecks later. tablecioth was missing
DIRECTLY tho new girl was suspected Of
stealing u: all the others were ''abovc
<asplcion~
Tho dining room was searched. AZ
was thought. In every nook and granny
where the cloth could possibly BE-. but
Without success The giri was charged
with the theft. and dismissed. Of course
without q recommendation.
Where could abe turnf What could
she dor Hungry. cold. shcitcrIena
again. with no chance OF getting en-.
pIoyment % any kind. no one 20 aay
\ word 10 her behalf. SO far. she had
never stolen pcnny's worth. and she
had kept herself morally clean. But
shat were the aiternativcsf starva-
Hon. suicide And starvation was no
,asier 70 her than Il would be 10 the
happy women IN homes Of comfort and
Affection
Some days after she was turned
sway the fahlccioth was found IN
irawer. overlooked or left there by
mistake. But no one knew where she
vas. and nothing could be done. There
lad been robbery. indeed. grievous
me, but who was the theft
In her sore need and dire temptation
Iomc Of the Salvation Army found this
,lri. and held cut helping hand Just
low II happened need not be told Ger
min II IL that they found and rescued
Ter. They took her home. fed and
lothed her. and. after q few days rest.
'btaincd a place for her. II was do
nestle service IN respectable family
n the country. where she would be
indy treated. and they could have an
versight.
This was two or three years ago.
he girl has given satisfaction, and Is
ontentcd and happy. She has COM
ortnble home. bears a good character,
nd is trusted and valued, as she de-
orvcs to be.
One OF many that the Salvation
.rmy and Volunteers Of America have
escued from sin. suffering or shame,
nd brought into the sunshine
Queer they may be IN some Of their
iays. but the "blcssIng OF those that
'cre perlshIng" is theirs. - Youths
when We Need 60 Pray.
We most need to pray when II is
ardest 70 pray We most need quiet.
A. -.