The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-10
|he Ragged
| Boy
An Easter Story
ETHEL HOLMES
ETHEL HOLMES

0CAfC ySoiS oid cdiiicu lOTtu
spick and span farmhouse to
nnday school. On the way she
a boy about her own age
|orlorn appearance touched her
He was out at the elbows, out
knees of his trousers. and his
Deared between the upper part
Dhoes and the soles. The ex-
on his face was in accord
apparel-it was one of misery.
h you going to Sunday school? 2"
be girl.
ny SCHOOL," the boy repeated.
gh he had not heard Alright.
This Is Easter Sunday. Didn't
Wv that all the children go TO
school and all the grownups go
h?"
oy looked at the girls clothes.
his own. She was n picture of
he a picture of poverty.
ldn't go to Sunday school look
way. could II" be said.
lrl looked doubtful. Then sud
idea seemed to come to her
~ did" she said. they would
at you as If they were afraid
Duch them. Come with me.
y them that you're a friend of
oy demurred. and the girl In
She took him with her to Sun.
Dol. but she could not get him
among the other children. He
ack seat, where he was not no
But the girl sat beside him
6as an open window near them,
)raft was coming in on them.
shivered. and the girl took
eoat and put it over his shoul-
the exercises a collection was
One of the boys passed the
where these two were sitting.
girl made no move to put In
tion. OF course her friend,
ked boy, had nothing 20 give.
boy who was taking up the
wondered, for the girl was
lighter of the richest farmer
but and was liberal giver
hry Treusdail gave no Easter
was indeed a surprise.
the services We're over Mary
protege went out together.
Insisted on hurrying away be-
others could get a view of his
ted condition. When they came
/ In the road and no one was
|ry took a five dollar bill from
ket.
was to have been my Easter
at Sunday school. But, you
uldn't give so much when you
hing to give. 1t would have
b feel ashamed. So l thought
it for an Easter offering for
Wv back. There was that in
ch had led him to appreciate
eacy in avoiding hurting his
and 1t was this same appre-
hat led him to decline her gift.
erstood at once.
ut as a loan," she said. Some
mall amount like this will be
TO you and you can repay me-
was a hopeless look on the
BE. a shamed look. as he per-
er to thrust the bill upon him.
nothing. but his eyes spoke
She took HIS hand in hers,
1t. then turned to go to her
following her wistfully with
eyes.
las the first kindness that he
wed from stranger, a kind
wn him by one near his own
stood, occasionally dropping
to the bill In his hand, then
hem to the retreating figure
rl who had given 1t TO him.
ne a great change In him. He
wed an incentive. 1t seemed
that an angel had been sent
lven to lift him out of the
despond. A resolution came
10 be worthy of the donor.
encouragement he had re-
seemed to him that be could
world.
rose on another Easter morn
Fe years later and shone on
location where Mary Treus-
the ragged boy TO Sunday
Upon the hill was the Treus-
nhouse. but II had lost Its
span appearance. The farm
st a succession Of crops and
with a mortgage on his farm.
b struggling along trying to
property by raising vegetables
other produce as she could
bout the investment Of capt.
came late that year. and the
balmy and fragrant with
buds. An automobile passed
1se In the ground and. de-
a declivity. stopped at the
be roads where Mary Treus-
made her loan to the ragged
the car was a young man.
neatness Of his dress one
4 suspect he was that very
oy. he looked up at the
farmhouse and noted its d.