The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1918-02-23
The Ragged
Boy
An Easter Story
By ETHEL HOLMES
By ETHEL HOLMES

60 to Sunday school. On the way she
overlook a boy about her own age
whose forlorn appearance touched her
heart He was out at the elbows. ont
at the knees of his trousers. and his
toes appeared between the upper part
of his shoes md the soles. The cx-
preston on his face was In frC"rd
with his apparel-it was one Of misery.
Aren't you going to Sunday SCHOOL,"
asked the girl.
Sunday schoolr' the boy repeated.
as though he had not heard Alright.
"Yes. This il Easter Sunday. Didn't
you know that all the children go to
Sunday school and all the grownups go
to churchT'
The boy looked at the girls clothes.
then at his own. She was a picture OF
neatness. he picture Of poverty.
Il 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.
IF you did," she said. "they would
all look Mt you as II they were afraid
you'd touch them. Come with me.
I'll 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 a back seat. where lie was not no.
ticcd 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
OF her coat and put 1t over Ills shoul-
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 10 move to put In
contribution. or course her friend.
the ragged boy. had nothing to give.
but the boy who was linking up tho
collection wondered. for the girl was
the daughter Of the richest farmer
thcrcabo and was q liberal giver.
That Mary Treusdnil gave no Easter
Offering was indeed a surprise.
When the services were over Mary
and her protege went out together.
aud he insisted on hurrylng away be-
fore the others could get view OF bis
dilapidated condition. When they came
to a fork In the road and no one WAS
near Mary took a five dollar bill from
her pocket.
This was to have been my Easter
offering Mt Sunday school. But. you
see, I couldn't give no much when you
had nothing to give. II would have
made you feel ashamed. So thought
I'd keep 1t for an Easter offering for
you
lie drew back. There was that In
him which had led him to appreciate
her delicacy In avoiding hurting his
feelings. and 1t was this same nppre-
citation that led him to decline her gilt.
She understood ut once.
Take It as n loan." she said. Some
day q small amount like this will be
nothing to you and you can repay me-"
There was hopeless look on the
boys face, a shamed look. rs he per-
mitted her TO thrust the bill upon him.
He snid nothing, but his eyes spoke
volumes. She took his hand In hers.
pressed 1t. then turned to go to her
home, he following her wistfully with
Ills sad eyes.
This was the first kindness that he
had received from stranger. Kind
ness shown him by one near his own
nge. He stood. occasionally dropping
his eyes to the bill In his hand. then
raising them to the retrcnting figure
Of the girl who had given 1t to him.
Then came a great change In him. lie
had received nm incentive. II seemed
to him that an angel had been sent
| Ill NJ ho
slough OF dcspond. A resolution came
to him to lie worthy Of the donor.
With the encouragement he Ind re.
ceivcti It seemed to him TINT he could
move the world.
The sun rose on another Easter morn
ing twelve years later and shone on
the same location where Mary Treus-
dali took the rugged boy to Sunday
school, Upon the hill was the Treus-
dnil farmhouse. but 1t Ind lost Its
spick and span appearance. The farm
| or had lost a succession OF crops and
had died with mortgage on his fnrin.
Mary was struggling along trying to
save the property by raising vegetables
and such other produce ms she could
raise without the Investment OF cnpI.
tai.
Easter came late that year. and III.
air was balmy and fragrant With
opening buds. An automobile passed
over q rise In the mound and. de-
scendinR a dcclivity. stopped at the
fork Of the roads where Mary Tre,is-
dnil hnd mnde hev loan to the ragged
hoy. In the car was n young man.