The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1912-12-13

| faint light l could see q childs crib.
went on tiptoe to the open door ant
| recognized the child had seen leavin,
i the house that same afternoon.
He looked mighty pretty lyin,
| asleep, one arm under his cheek ant
bis chubby little fists doubled up. A
the other end of the room was bed, IL
which, supposed. his nurse was sleep
ing. One Christmas present had beel
given him. and he had taken it to bet
with him. 1t was tin horn. 1t mad,
me vince, for If he should wake III
and catch sight of me it would be
fine medium with which to arouse tn,
house.
Suddenly a clock without began t.
strike, and bells all over the city were
ringing in Christmas day. I should
have thought of my critical position
but instead was impressed with the
|iringing Of the bells. The most solemn
thing In the world is tolling bell, anG
the most gladsome is the sound OF
bells ringing for some joyful event
/ was standing listening to the merry
jangle when the boy began to stir In
his crib, opened his eyes and listened
intently. He had evidently been arous
ed by the bells. Then he sat up and
Selling his horn. began to blow blast
that should have caused me to beat q
hasty retreat. But it didn't The bells
without and the horn within were SO
typical Of Christmas that In my ap
probation of the ushering in of the
Cay forgot that 1 stood, as it were
at the door of prison cell. heard q
chuckle in one Of the rooms and a
mans voice call out:
Merry Christmas. Benny! Now. &C
to sleep again and give Santa Claus q
chance to come down the chimney
and fill your stocking"
But the boys mother couldn't keep
away from him. and the first thing |
knew a woman in her nightdress
came through the hall. l started down
stairs. but was too late. She gave the
alarm. A man sprang into the hall and
before l had reached the lower story
seized me. He was big and strong.
while 1. weak from want of food. was
unable to resist
The horror Of my situation did not
affect me as one would suppose 1t
would. A Jail hasn't the terror for
one who cannot feed himself that it
has for one who doesn't know depriva-
tion. l resigned myself to my fate.
The man, seeing that there was little
to fear from me. took me into his
library and turned on the lights. Then
he stood looking at me. The Christ
mas bells were still ringing without
and 1t seemed to me that they were
a deterring influence upon my captor
to turning fellow being on this bless
ed morning over to the police. How
ever, he mastered his repugnance and
started to telephone when In walked
Benny in his nightie. He stood look
Ing at me for moment. then saida 10.
~Oh, thought you was Santa Claus!e
t.srss, --zy,-s~s 2 s-ss +ss~
man.
"Who Is he. papa"
zone who stole into the house to tak'
your Christmas gifts from you"
The little fellow looked very sober
''What are you going to do with him ?
he asked of his father.
"Send him to jail"
"And he won't have any Christmas? ?
"No. Wicked persons don't deserve tt
have any Christmas"
1--WE never had Christmas" 1 sait
despairingly. but thus far I've never
spent one in Jail. ! am starving an(
came in here to<get something l coult
sell SO that might buy meal"
The man looked at me tnquiringly
Perhaps there was sincerity in my face
that moved him.
"Your first burgiary?" he asked.
81 have never stolen a penny in my
life"
No great time had thus far passed
since l was discovered. and the bells
were still ringing. They were beating
against this mans heart
"You can co." he said presently.
"And. papa" put in Benny. cant
give him some of my Christmas gifts?
Time enough for that tomorrow
replied the father. then to me. I'll
you'll come here about noon I'll have
a talk with you and see If can de
anything to help you"
Cant he have a part Of our Christ
mas dinner?" asked Benny.
To this the father paid no attention
but, opening the front door. told me t
60 forth. saying to me as l passed out
''If you're sincere you'll come back to
morrow; If you're a hardened crimina
I shall probably never see you again
Go before those bells stop ringing"
"Goodby" cried Benny. Come tt
dinner"
did return to dinner, and found {
friend. He dared not at once trust mt
tn his house, but he gave me position
as porter in his place Of business. |
was not long before he discovered tha
! possessed gift more enduring thar
any that could be given at Christmas
my artistic faculty-and he sent me t.
an art school to study. That was year.
ago. and / am now prominent In m!
~~'N
comes often to my studio We art
strong friends. / tell him that he saved
more than my life. Hanging to th'
wall Of my artists den is the tin horl
which walked his parents on Christmas
morning and led to my regeneration.
But the Christmas bells. / have
heard them many time since they
awakened in me a conscience. quick
ened the spirit Of mercy in the man
had come to rob and snatched me from
the life of criminal. No matter where
am on Christmas morning. how tired
and sleepy whether sick or well. | an
awake before the dawn listening fol
them. And never do hear them but
my heart is filed with the blessed in
duence Of the child who came OH ar
erraud Of mercy to all men.