Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-03-29
ff. t4isf i=i
The Ragged
Boy
An Easter Story
By ETHEL HOLMES
By ETHEL HOLMES

from a spick and span farmhouse to
so to Sunday school. On the way she
overlook boy about her own age
whose forlorn appearance touched her
heart. He was out at the elbows, out
at the knees of his trousers, and his
toes appeared between the upper part
of his shoes and the soles. The e1-
preston on his face was in accord
with his apparel-it was one of misery.
Aren't you going to Sunday school?"
asked the girl.
Sunday SCHOOL," the boy repeated
as though he had not heard Alright.
Eyes. This is Easter Sunday. Didn't
you know that all the children go to
Sunday school and all the grownups go
to church,"
The boy looked at the girls clothes.
then at his own She was picture of
neatness, he picture of poverty.
II couldn't go to Sunday school look
ing this way, could II" he said.
The girl looked doubtful Then sud
denly an idea seemed to come to her.
of you did," she said, "they would
all look at you as if they were afraid
you'd touch them Come with me.
Ill show them that you're friend Of
mine.'
The boy demurred, and the girl in
sisted. She took him with her to Sun
day school, but she could not get him
forward among the other children. He
took back seat, where he was not no.
ticed. But the girl sat beside him.
There was an open window near them,
and draft was coming In on them.
The boy shivered, and the girl took
off her coat and put it over his Shout
ders.
During the exercises collection was
taken up. One Of the boys passed the
plate to where these two were sitting,
but the girl made no move to put in a
contribution. OF course her friend.
the ragged boy, had nothing to give,
but the boy who was taking UP the
collection wondered, for the girl was
the daughter of the richest farmer
thereabout and was liberal giyer.
That Mary Treusdail gave no Easter
offering was indeed a surprise.
When the services were over Mary
and her protege went out together,
and he insisted on hurrying away be-
fore the others could get a view OF his
dilapidated condition. When they came
to fork in the road and no one was
near Mary took five dollar bill from
her pocket
This was to have been my Easter
Offering at Sunday school. But, you
see. couldn't give SO much when you
had nothing to give. 1t would have
made you feel ashamed. So thought
I'd keep it for an Easter offering fol
you"
He drew back. There was that il
him which had led him to appreciate
her delicacy in avoiding hurting his
feelings, and it was this same appre
citation that led him to decline her gift
She understood at once.
Take it as loan," she said "Som,
day small amount like this will b.
nothing to you and you can repay me-
There was a hopeless look on tn
boys face, shamed look, as he pei
mitted her to thrust the bill upon him
He said nothing, but his eyes spok
volumes She took his hand in hers
pressed it, then turned to go to he
home, lie following her wistfully wit
his sad eyes,
This was the first kindness that
had received from stranger, KIND
ness shown him by one near his Ow
age. He stood, occasionally droppin
his eyes to the bill in his hand, the
raising them to the retreating fgur
of the girl who had given it to hin
Then came great change in him. III
had received an incentive. 1t SCENE
to him that an angel had been sen
from heaven to lift him out of til
slough of despond. A resolution cam
to him to be worthy of the donol
With the encouragement he had re
ceived it seemed to him that he coul
move the world.
The sun rose on another Easter morI
ing twelve years later and shone o
the same location where Mary Treus
dali took the ragged boy to Sunda
school. Upon the hill was the Treu:
dali farmhouse, but it had lost it
spick and span appearance The farm
err had lost succession of crops an
had died with mortgage on his farm
Mary was struggling along trying
save the property by raising vegetable
and such other produce as she coul
raise without the investment of cap
tai.
Easter came late that year, and til
air was balmy and fragrant wit
opening buds. An automobile passe
over rise in the ground and, d.
scending decliyity, stopped at tn
fork of the roads where Mary Treu
dali had made her loan to the ragge
boy. In the car was young maj
From the neatness Of his dress on
would not suspect he was that yer
ragged boy. He looked up at th
Treusdail farmhouse and noted its d
lapidated appearance. He turned hi
oaza TO the church where Mary ha