The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-22

passed the hat and got a few dimes
for him-he said he was going to send
It back to his old sister in Virginia.
Shouldn't wonder II he did. 1t was
about So l suppose, but it looked like
lot TO him"
Ten minutes later Thaddeus, trem.
bling with emotion, was standing atop
OF one OF the closed typewriter desks,
where the cashier and the salesman
had lifted him. Even the manager.
weary Of looking anxiously into space,
had come out from his office to watch
/ the fun. And from the first utterance
/ from the wrlnkled brown lips the
group around him had begun to laugh
I They were in a mood to be amused
easily. and, besides, Just to look at
! Thaddeus was to satisfy ones crav.
| ings for the ridicous. Perhaps this
was because Of his broad. genial smile
/ in the midst Of wrinkles, rags and rheu.
matism.
Ten minutes later the laughter had
ceased. The bent figure had straight.
ened out and the eyes were shining
with the clear light and faith Of con.
yiction. Every pair Of eyes In the doz.
en- or so around him was riveted on
him intently.
II knows. sistern and brethren" he
said. that you intends to pass the hat
and take up collection for me. and
! | knows it because of the mite of
Christmas spirit in yo' hearts that you
! is dOnin' this TO- me. An Is CRATE
| full. that | is Here the voice grew
! clearer and the eyes shone brighter.
But what / wants TO tell you is that
!, poor oil crippled darby as Is. have
got mo to give you all than you all
has got to give me. Is got in my heart
a treasure. the treasure of loVin' one
another. loving your brethren and sis.
ter same as loves you all-espe.
cially the same as loves my ol' sis.
ter down in Virginia And yo' all have
lost sight Of that kind of lovin' !
can tell by lookin' in yo' faces ="
and so the old man preached OH and
the faces around him grew more intent
and the figures grew closer And
now he said, raising his withered
brown hand in blessing, Il gives my
great Christmas gift to you-the great.
est of all gifts-of lovin' one anoth-
err
So the old man stopped. and no ono
noticed how much went into the hat
hat the salesman SILENT" passed
around, and no one spoke save in
monosyllables for the Christmas spirit
had at last entered the office of the
big factory
1t was 10 o'clock by the clock in the
office and old Thaddeus was Oh his
knees scrubbing the concrete floors,
Grooming IS he did so an old darby mel
ody. Just then the door opened. and
the telephone girl bundled into mans
overcoat, came in on the arm OF the
new salesman.
You're a parson. honor bright,
aren't yOu?" the man asked. We'll
here's the license. We had a little
talk after your sermon. Uncle Thad.
deus, and here VIC are. Can you marry
us right away" And there in the
outer office beside the switchboard the
little telephone girl was married IN
the new salesman. After it was over
and the blessing had been pronounced
the old man smiled and said: I'll tell
, =
these oil hans has blessed tonight. Mr..
Cashier and the managers secretary.
they got here ahead of you all. They
said it was the little sermon did it.
too"
Thaddeus was almost ready to leave
the office, his work done, when the
door opened with rush. It was the
manager. out of breath and excited.
81 was afraid Ia miss you, uncle"
he said. with a smile that was as gen.
ial as Thaddcus's own. But | have
a little something to tell you. I've
been to the president OF the concern
4 10 have it o. I'D or Id have got here
sooner. You have been faithful and
VIC appreciate you, Thaddeus. and we
are going to pension YOU for life. Fol
the rest oil your days you arc 10 &c.
ceive your regular wage and half as
much besides. You can stay here or
: not as you choose. Perhaps you'd rath.
er 80 back to your old sister in Vir.
gtnia. wanted to tell you myself so
you'd know that your sermon had
brought the Christmas spirit into one