The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-12-26
by w. Alexander Inlay

The instrument.
g. by w. Alexander imlay ---.i
Weaving eternal figure elghts
through the streets OF "a great city
in the southwest Saturday evening
crowd shifted in a human phaRtss
magora under brilliant arc lights. 10
was early winter. In the fashionable
district well clad men wore new ov.
sEcoats and silken mufflers. In the
lo~ssr end OF the city men pulled
thin Summer coats tightly about
their -neeks.
Wo16sn beating their way along
the Aorou@hfafes felt the chilling
wind on .sleasyf silk clad ankles.
Children Of the elums hoped swiftly
along. homeward bound from or
rands seeking the warmth Of tene
ments. for their chilled bare feet.
A gutter rat stood In The door
way Of cheap restaurant. The
oder Of frying oniens and steak
tantalIxed sils nostrlis. u was
for the warm air that can1e
through the opsn door THAI he
tarried.
"oit you BUM" he heard. a
seecnd later the toe Of saIl
mans boot had forced him Into
the street.
''fso enc wants . down ard
OUTER thc snifflIAa thing moan-
cd - he siunk away.
Women OF the street passed him
with q ieer. A down and outer
was the last thing on earth they
sought. What they wanted was
money for food and warm quarters.
The rat" could supply neither.
a swinging light In the street
ahead drew his attention. Upon com
iog close to It he spelled out VEL
COME"
"Ha! Hat" he laughed cyricaliy,
but be entered.
Next morning the ..rat" was
no longer d rat. He had been
FED and clothed. He had been
hatked and given bed. Hops
burned high in KIs heart.
Through the offices 81 his new
friends he was given work. ~ 10
ueslsss 10 follow him for. 81
course, 90 In all articles OF sfis
kind, tho "ratH made good.
Beaten and cuffed; ecornsd ard
unwanted he had at last come
70 his own.
Five years later We ind the rat"
without q semblance OF the thing OF
the gutter which had been ciinging
about him.
In q pleasant room, with a flower
In the window. we end him reading.
the daily paper. A woman speaking
In son tones is lulfing . child to
rest.
Outside the wind howis. A COW
bawls Ia the stable at The rear Of
the lot on which the coy home II
built.
The one time down and outer IL
up. BE has 4 wife and
child. He owns home. He has q
COW.
I'VE mist rake some steps
20 Issue our child the surround.
lnes Of Christianity" the wife
tells the one time thing Of the
gutter, after the child 10 sound
asleep In, Its crib.
s'Weli. Whist shall we DO about
it7r he replica.
The woman places her cheek
next 20 HE and wtsIspers. The I
honest citizen 10 a. peace. He
media hIs head In aequlescence.
Sunday comes with bright spark.
ling aaaarning light. The honest eftf.
zen and This wife dress IN their best
md start for church.
III IL church Of brick and stone.
Glazed windows break early morning
light into thousands Of prysnatic
,rEstais.
The minister takes his text
: tsEv0n nc YOU 90 uns0 ofhers.n
.sHis sonorous voice rings out Ia
.ull periods. The one time child OF
he slums in entrauced.
A great organ pe4is It's message of
ife and love-
TIE honest citssen sad his wife
Max forward.
They join the church.
No one knows he l1as been q
thing 81 the streets ard the cir
dsFpath. That has been forget
ten. 9ut--
e9 Many are brought 10 American
churches each year who took
slselr fsrst apward ssep with the
sawsticr Army backing their ~
fcFf.
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House Inderses .. A. Campaign.
Y : i