UNIVERSITY OF N.C. AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 IVERSITY C | |j | || ! I | |j |; || 1 1 
 
 00022094225 
 School of Libr\ 
 Science 
 
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H.H. ^T^.^ (&*-. 
 
 
 
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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
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BUSTER AND BABY JIM, 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR OF 
 
 "THE BLUE FLAG," ETC. 
 
 A fM\ euvice Soc.ie.ttf Nt 
 
 "with god all things are possible." 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE 
 AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 
 
 1.30 NASSAU-STREET, NEW YORK. 
 
He who would see the originals of Buster and 
 Baby Jim, need but explore the lanes and alleys 
 of any large city. There are thousands of such 
 children to be rescued. 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year i8C2, by the 
 American Tract Society, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court 
 of the Southern District cf the State of Xew Yorli. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 The Brothers - 5 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 "Butter and Eggs" — 13 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 A Bide 22 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 The Stone Building--'- 29 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The Hon. Mr. B - 38 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Parting - - --- 49 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 A Western Farmer -- 53 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Mrs. Jillard Ci 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 The Confession 72 
 
 
CONTENTS. 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Letters ■ 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 The Tempted - 87 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Business in Town - - - C;0 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Conclusion 98 
 
BUSTER, AND BABY JIM. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE BROTHERS. 
 
 There is a sunny street-corner in one 
 of our cities, which was once the favorite 
 lounging-place for the idle boys of all 
 that neighborhood. In fair weather or 
 foul, a knot of little fellows was sure to 
 be collected there, buzzing away like 
 bees, if they were not gathering honey. 
 They talked and laughed and cracked 
 their jokes, and seemed in truth a "mer- 
 rie companie ;" yet when the careful 
 mothers who lived hard by sent out their 
 sons on errands, they were sure to say, 
 "Don't stop at the corner," or, "Go 
 
6 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 round the other way, so that you need 
 not pass that corner." 
 
 It was not that the group of bo} r s of 
 which we have spoken could not boast 
 some well-dressed lads among them, tha^t 
 they were condemned ; no, it was not on 
 account of their torn, shabby clothing, 
 that they were such undesirable associ- 
 ates. Wise heads knew that such idle 
 loungers were on the road to wicked- 
 ness, if they had not already been guilty 
 of crime. Passers-by might now and 
 then hear an oath from their young lips, 
 and the Sunday morning bells did not 
 send them to the pleasant Sabbath-school, 
 or bid them join happy families on their 
 way to church. Two of God's command- 
 ments at least they were breaking ; they 
 could not be companions which any good 
 mother would wish for her son. 
 
 Among the most unfailing frequenters 
 of "the corner" were two brothers, who 
 
THE BROTHERS. 7 
 
 were known among their friends as "Bus- 
 ter" and "Baby Jim;" what their real 
 names were no one knew, and on this 
 point they were as ignorant as everybody 
 else. Ever since they could remember 
 they had been wanderers in the streets 
 of the great city, living by begging, pil- 
 fering, or by the doubtful charities of 
 people far gone in wickedness. Just 
 now they had some new acquaintances 
 who seemed to take a great fancy to 
 them. Buster and Baby Jim had found 
 a house where they could always get a 
 comfortable meal, and where rough men 
 gave them a hearty welcome and seemed 
 to take a special pleasure in counting the 
 boys " one of them." Sundry hints had 
 been thrown out as to teaching the broth- 
 ers how to make a handsome living, and 
 "Baby Jim" was led to believe there was 
 a very easy way for him to lay up stores 
 of money, and ride in? his own carriage one 
 
8 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 of these days. The little chap could not 
 help thinking that this would be much 
 more agreeable than his present diver- 
 sion of "hanging on behind" in imminent 
 clanger of the coachman's whip, though it 
 might not be quite as exciting. 
 
 Through the day the boys were at the 
 street corner, lounging and chatting, but 
 in the evening they were going through 
 a course of lessons preparatory to the 
 very profitable branch of business on 
 which they were expected to enter. 
 
 Poor young things ; without father or 
 mother, ignorant and penniless, what 
 was to prevent them from starting upon 
 a career of crime, to end in prison or on 
 the scaffold ? They had no true friend 
 to warn them ; no faithful, loving friend 
 to call them to the ways of pleasantness 
 and peace, and teach them the joy of 
 honest labor and the manly satisfaction 
 of earning their own bread. 
 
THE BROTHERS. 9 
 
 As it was, ' the weeks went by, and 
 Baby Jim's small face grew more keen, 
 eager, and cunning in its expression; 
 while Buster's every limb and feature 
 spoke of the future ruffian, daily increas- 
 ing in strength and daring. 
 
 There was scarcely a year's difference 
 between the ages of the boys. They 
 knew that, though strangers could hard- 
 ly believe it. They well remembered 
 when it was their delight to stand side 
 by side under the projecting shop win- 
 dows, not an inch's difference in their 
 height, though Buster even then claimed 
 authority as the elder brother. 
 
 Exposure and hard usage had stunted 
 little Jim ; but his thin wiry figure seem- 
 ed made of springs of steel, and was 
 more than a match in strength for many 
 i taller, sturdier form ; yet with Buster 
 he never presumed to contend. Truly 
 Buster was too formidable an adversary 
 
10 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 for airy of the boys lightly' to engage him 
 in battle. The big, burly lad was a kind 
 of king among his associates, laying clown 
 the law, and sustaining his authority like 
 many another monarch, by the irresisti- 
 ble argument of brute force. 
 
 Poor, tempted, sinful street-vagrants 
 as were Buster and Baby Jim, there yet 
 lingered in their hearts one feeling which 
 made them akin, though afar off, to saints 
 and angels, and even proved them lost 
 and wandering children of the God of 
 love. 
 
 A true, deep affection for each other 
 had somehow sprung up and been fos- 
 tered in the midst of the hardening, mis- 
 erable life they had led. Sharers of the 
 same pangs of hunger and cold, alike 
 neglected by all the world, they had 
 grown doubly clear to each other through 
 sympathy in suffering and loneliness. 
 
 Baby Jim lost his keen, old look when 
 
THE BROTHERS. 11 
 
 his e} T e fell admiringly on his brother, 
 and the innocence of infancy and the 
 softness of a woman would for the mo- 
 ment hover in his face, beautifying and 
 purifying it as it spoke out the real love 
 that was stirring within. 
 
 It was when Buster's arm was thrown 
 protectingly round his little companion, 
 and only then, that one could catch a 
 glimpse of the better side of his nature. 
 At such times the defiant, swaggering 
 young bully would for the moment show 
 that union of strength and tenderness, of 
 power and forbearance, which gives to a 
 bold and manly character a peculiar 
 charm. 
 
 It was perhaps as much to their true 
 affection for each other that the brothers 
 owed their influence among their associ- 
 ates, as to Buster's strength or the ac- 
 knowledged shrewdness of Baby Jim. 
 
 What is true, noble, and good must 
 
12 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 ever have its power over the most aban- 
 doned of men. While the poor strag- 
 gling vagrants of the street corner mock- 
 ingly gave to big Buster and little Jim 
 the name of "the Twins," each young 
 heart in secret yielded its tribute of 
 admiration and approval to the faithful 
 -love of the brothers. 
 
"BUTTER AND EGGS." 13 
 
 CHAPTER II: 
 
 "BUTTER AND EGGS." 
 
 All that is learned in the world is not 
 gathered from books. A man or boy 
 who will keep his eyes and ears open, 
 will find out much that was never put 
 in print. Many of the lads at the street 
 corner could at the best but spell out a 
 sign, or slowly -read the headings in great 
 letters on an "extra;" yet there was a 
 kind of knowledge afloat among them 
 which had for them its own use, not 
 always of the most innocent kind. 
 
 The passers-by did not need to tell 
 these observing boys who they were, or 
 what was their business. A lawyer, a 
 doctor, a merchant, a clerk, or a me- 
 chanic was as well known by them at a 
 glance, as if he had his occupation put 
 
14 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 on the band of his hat, like the porters 
 of city hotels. They could distinguish 
 the up-town from the down-town peo- 
 ple, and the "west-enders" from "east- 
 enders." Plain clothing: could not hide 
 from them the comfortable, easy look of 
 one who has always had his wants grati- 
 fied without exertion ; nor could the gay- 
 est finery shut their eyes to the empty 
 purses of the foolish women who spent 
 their all to make a fine show upon the 
 public street. A countryman might try 
 to look as much at ease as he pleased, 
 and deck himself in new-attire from the 
 crown of his head to the sole of his feet ; 
 they knew where he came from, without 
 the help of hob-nailed shoes or homespun 
 to tell the story. 
 
 "Butter and eggs,'' said Buster to 
 Baby Jim one day. 
 
 Jim followed the direction of his broth- 
 er's finger, and saw a stout, cheerful- 
 
. "BUTTER AND EGGS." 15 
 
 looking woman coming slowly towards 
 the group among which he was standing. 
 "Yes/ 7 said Jim, nodding assent. 
 "First visit to the city. Full purse; 
 pocket on the left side drops heavy." 
 The subject of these remarks was quite 
 unconscious of any thing in her appear- 
 ance suggestive either of the dairy or 
 the farm-yard, but of neither would she 
 have dreamed of being ashamed. She 
 did not look like a person to be ashamed 
 of any thing she said or did. at home 
 or abroad. Her full face, with its rosy 
 cheeks and wide-open blue eyes, was 
 beaming with truth and kindliness.' She 
 felt no mortification about her style of 
 dress truly, though a foolish city belle 
 would rather have stayed at home from 
 church every Sunday for a month, than 
 have worn that odd gray linen cottage bon- 
 net, or that mouseline de laine, so perfect 
 a reflection of the fl5wer-garden in June. 
 
16 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 Our stranger was perhaps a little proud 
 of her appearance, complacent at least, 
 but not so far as to despise others less 
 fortunate than herself. Her eye softened 
 as it fell on the group of ragged boys, 
 and her hand instinctively sought the 
 left-hand pocket, where, as Jim had 
 rightly judged, her funds were reposing. 
 Whatever might have been her kindly 
 intention, she was not allowed to carry it 
 out There was a stir among the boys 
 as she approached, and Jim exclaimed 
 •■Now for it. Who'll get to the next 
 
 corner first ?" 
 
 At this challenge the whole party set 
 off at full speed, rushing past the stran- 
 ger as if borne on the wings of the wind 
 
 Unceremoniously crowded and nudged 
 
 by the rude little crew, the good woman 
 could hardly keep her place on the sac- 
 walk, and the glance she sent af er them 
 expressed any thing but approval of their 
 
"BUTTER AND EGGS." IT 
 
 proceedings. Gathering up her dress, 
 she stepped quickly on, making mean- 
 while mental comparisons between -the 
 manners of the city and the country, in 
 which the region of butter and eggs had 
 the decided preference. 
 
 At the appointed corner the runners 
 stopped. A smile went round the group 
 as Jim held up a well-filled purse, which 
 in the confusion he had managed to 
 take from the pocket of the country 
 woman. 
 
 Buster struck it from his hand to the 
 pavement, exclaiming, " Police ! Run 
 for your lives !" 
 
 Jim and his companions disappeared 
 down an alley as if made invisible by a 
 spell, while Buster stopped, picked up 
 the purse, and proceeded to examine the 
 contents, as if he felt himself in perfect 
 security. The strong hand of a police- 
 man was laid 'upon his shoulder, and 
 
18 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 there was an exclamation in his ear: "I 
 saw it all. No lies, youngster ; I know 
 your tricks." 
 
 Buster had acted on the impulse of 
 the moment, prompted by the desire to 
 save his brother ; and now, when he found 
 himself a prisoner, his courage for a mo- 
 ment forsook him. He knew that his 
 boasted strength was as nothing com- 
 pared with the powerful figure of the 
 policeman. Swift and stinging were the 
 thoughts that rushed through his mind 
 as he was hurried rapidly along by his 
 captor. Already in imagination the grim 
 cold walls of a prison were closing around 
 him ; already he was cut off from free- 
 dom and sunshine, and gazing sadly at 
 the small barred window whose glimmer 
 of light cast the only brightness on his 
 dark lot. 
 
 Buster was but a lad, scarce twelve 
 years old, and big tears forced them- 
 
 
"BUTTER AND LGGS." 19 
 
 selves into his eyes as this gloomy pic- 
 ture presented itself to his mind. 
 
 The policeman, eager to overtake the 
 countrywoman, lost no time in examin- 
 ing the face or studying the feelings of 
 the culprit. Buster's tears were unno- 
 ticed, and the hardened, sullen look which 
 he had summoned to conceal his fears 
 was all that met the eye of the officer 
 when at length he paused beside the ob- 
 ject of his pursuit. 
 
 "Is this your purse, madam?" asked 
 the policeman. 
 
 The woman put her hand in her pock- 
 et, and then exclaimed, "That it is. I 
 must have dropped it. I believe I did 
 take out my handkerchief a piece back." 
 
 The little group was here joined by a 
 gentleman, whose eager inquiries were 
 soon answered by a full account of the 
 affair from the policeman, in which he 
 left no doubt of Buster's guilt. The 
 
'20 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 stranger was not yet forty years old, 
 but he had all the dignity and wisdom of 
 age, united with the fresh, loving sympa- 
 thies of youth. A thorough Christian in 
 heart and life, like his divine Master, he 
 gave to the sinful and unfortunate his 
 most tender interest. 
 
 His glance was full of yearning pity 
 as it fell on Buster's young face. The 
 boy looked up suddenly as the stranger 
 took his hand and said, " I am sorry for 
 all this, my little fellow. Perhaps it may 
 not prove so bad as it seems. Suppose 
 you tell me the truth about it.' 7 
 
 "I* did n't steal the purse," said Bus- 
 ter, for the first time breaking silence. 
 
 "Just as likely as not I dropped it. 
 I 'm not used to having money about me 
 much," said the woman, now becoming 
 uneasy and anxious to be through with 
 the disagreeable scene. "Let the boy 
 go. I'm to be off in the cars in less 
 
"BUTTER AND EGGS." 21 
 
 than an hour, and can't stand here talk- 
 ing. Look here, my lad, yon are young 
 to be walking in bad ways. May the 
 Lord take care of you and keep you out 
 of sin." 
 
 There was real earnestness in the 
 woman's manner, and as she walked 
 quickly away, Buster felt as if he were 
 losing a friend. 
 
 "You don't get off so," said the offi- 
 cer. "I know you, and you've got to 
 stand your trial this time. It may keep 
 your neck from the gallows to hide in 
 the jug a while now ; so come along with 
 me, and put on a pleasanter face, if you 
 can." 
 
 The rough, coarse manner of the po- 
 liceman won from Buster no reply but a 
 look of blustering defiance, while from 
 the stranger's glance he turned away, as 
 if unable to answer its tender pity. 
 
22 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A RIDE. 
 
 We will not follow Buster through the 
 scenes of his trial. He could not be 
 proved guilty of stealing the purse; but 
 he was unable to show that he had any 
 home or lawful way of life, and it was 
 made plain that the men with whom he 
 was known to associate were of the most 
 suspicious kind. He was at the best in 
 training for a course of guilt, and the 
 strong arm of the law was put forth to 
 save the community from one villain 
 more endangering its peace and safety. 
 
 Buster was not to be sent to the 
 gloomy prison whose outer walls he had 
 so often surveyed. The stranger, who 
 had followed him, had gained permission 
 to take charge of the young culprit. 
 
A RIDE. 23 
 
 Buster soon found himself in a rail- 
 road car. He was a prisoner, that was 
 plain, for the stranger kept a kind but 
 firm hold of his wrist until the train 
 started, and resumed it at every stop- 
 ping-place. There was no present chance 
 of escape, and Buster, with the natural 
 elasticity of youth, began to make the 
 best of the circumstances in which he 
 found himself. 
 
 Along the banks of a wide river the 
 swift cars were rapidly flying. The city 
 with its din and bustle was soon left far 
 behind them, and greenness and beauty 
 took the place of brick walls and paved 
 streets. For the first time in his life 
 Buster was in the open country. There 
 was something imposing to him in the 
 wide stretch of the landscape, the blue 
 mountains lining the distant horizon, the 
 noble river tracing its shining way mid 
 hills and meadows, and over all the blue, 
 
24 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 majestic arch of the clear summer sky. 
 A singular sense of littleness and loneli- 
 ness stole over the heart of the boy. He 
 felt within him nothing akin to this pu- 
 rity and beauty ; and more welcome to 
 him then would have been a footing in 
 some narrow filthy lane of the city, than 
 the sight of nature in its imposing gran- 
 deur. 
 
 In the excitement that had attended 
 Buster's capture and trial, he had thought 
 but little of his brother; but now, as a 
 lonely yearning crept over him, his little 
 companion came naturally to his mind. 
 " Where was Baby Jim? Would he ever 
 know what had become of Buster ?" 
 
 The boy's face softened as he dwelt on 
 this theme, and when the stranger turned 
 to look at him, he was surprised at the 
 expression that had taken the place of 
 his hitherto prevailing look of sullen de- 
 termination. 
 
A RIDE. 25 
 
 ".What arc you thinking of, my lad? 
 You said you had no home, and did 
 not know who your parents were, or I 
 should fancy you were thinking of your 
 mother." 
 
 The gentleman's voice and manner 
 were very kind, and Buster instinctively 
 answered, "I didn't say I hadn't any 
 brother." 
 
 "So you have a brother. You need 
 not be afraid to talk to me now. Noth- 
 ing you say will go against you or him. 
 I think you love your brother, from the 
 way you looked when you were thinking 
 of him just now," said the stranger. 
 
 "We've been together always, him 
 and me. He 's a little un, but knowin. 
 I 'm a'most twice as big, but we are near 
 about the same age," said Buster. " It 's 
 kind o' queer to me not to have him along. 
 It 's a lonely place out here, mister ; no 
 houses nor nothin." 
 
26 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 The conversation thus begun was kept 
 up, until Buster grew so much at his ease 
 that his companion easily won from him 
 the story of Baby Jim's theft, and Bus- 
 ter's impulsive thrusting himself, into 
 clanger in his stead. 
 
 This confession prompted the stranger 
 to two silent prayers. He knew not 
 whither the young thief had fled, but he 
 could follow him with a petition, and beg 
 the God of love to check him in his ca- 
 reer of crime, and call him to the paths 
 of virtue and peace. To Buster his heart 
 warmed, and earnestly he prayed that 
 the kind natural feelings lingering in the 
 boy's rough nature might be cherished, 
 and that, sanctified by the Spirit of God, 
 he might yet reflect the likeness of Him 
 who bore our punishment, and was the 
 sufficient sacrifice and satisfaction for the 
 sin of the world. 
 
 A sudden checking of the train an- 
 
A RIDE. 27 
 
 nounced its approach to another stop- 
 ping-place. 
 
 " We get out here," said Buster's com- 
 panion ; and he led the boy from the car. 
 
 A small wagon was in waiting. Ap- 
 parently they were expected. Side by 
 side they took their places, and then the 
 driver started off the horse at an easy 
 trot. 
 
 " Where be you goin to take me?" said 
 Buster, his curiosity at length finding 
 vent in words. 
 
 "There," said the stranger. " We are 
 going there." 
 
 On the top of a high hill stood a large 
 stone building, firm and substantial, ris- 
 ing, story upon story, until the upper 
 windows looked out far, far over the 
 broad landscape on every side. 
 
 "This is to be, for a time at least, 
 your home," continued Buster's guide. 
 
 The boy was silent. Those stone walls 
 
28 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 might hide many a dark cell; perhaps 
 there was one in store for him. Yet the 
 word "home" had a cheerful sound; a 
 home the poor lad never had known ; he 
 would not banish the pleasant vision that 
 its bare mention had conjured up; he 
 would patiently wait until his fate should 
 be made known to him. 
 
THE STONE BUILDING. 29 
 
 CHAPTEE IV. 
 
 THE STONE BUILDING. 
 
 Buster's heart beat fast as lie mount- 
 ed the stone steps that led to the great 
 building that had been pointed out to 
 him. 
 
 The door was unlocked, and he entered 
 with his companion. 
 
 Through a wide clean hall he passed 
 into a neat, comfortable parlor, with its 
 rocking-chairs, piano, and every mark of 
 comfort. 
 
 " You may sit here a few moments," 
 said his companion. "I will return for 
 you shortly." 
 
 Buster sat down alone in the large 
 room, then rose, walked round it, aston- 
 ished to find himself on a carpeted floor 
 
30 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 and surrounded by so many signs of 
 plenty. 
 
 He had hardly completed his survey 
 when his conductor returned. Sitting 
 down by him, the stranger said, "Bus- 
 ter, my boy, you ha ye had enough of a 
 poor, miserable, wicked life. I do n't 
 want you to grow up to sin and shame. 
 I have brought you here to be taught to 
 do right, and to learn to lead an honest, 
 useful, Christian life. There are mere 
 than three hundred bo} T s in this build- 
 ing. Some of them, like you, have never 
 had any home, and some have been 
 brought up in wicked homes, where they 
 have never learned any thing good. 
 When they come here, we wash them 
 and put on them clean clothes, and tell 
 them we want them to leave all their dirt 
 and wickedness behind them. My boy, 
 you have heard of the great God who 
 made you. He formed your body by his 
 
THE STONE BUILDING. 31 
 
 wonderful power, and lie can make your 
 bad heart pure. He can help you to 
 leave off swearing, lying, stealing, Sab- 
 bath-breaking, anger, and every wicked 
 way. I want you to kneel down as I do, 
 and I will ask hirn to help you and make 
 you better, for the sake of his dear Son." 
 
 Buster mechanically knelt clown, but 
 kept his eyes open and fixed upon his 
 companion's face. 
 
 Yery earnest was the short, simple 
 prayer that he heard offered for him, 
 and love and sincerity were marked on 
 the countenance of the speaker. "You 
 aVt a sham, anyhow," said Buster, as 
 the gentleman rose from his knees. 
 
 After a moment of silence, he said, 
 "Go now, my boy, with the man you 
 will find standing at the door. He will 
 see that you are properly washed and 
 dressed, and after that I will show you 
 your new home." 
 
32 BUSTER AND BABY' JIM. 
 
 "A'n't I going to be shut up? You 
 wouldn't come it over me?" said Buster. 
 
 "You will not be shut up here, if you 
 do as you are told, and behave yourself 
 properly. I have not brought you here 
 to punish you, but .to try to make you 
 better," was the reply. 
 
 "That's a queer dodge," said Buster; 
 "a first-rate one though," and with a 
 cheerful step he left the room. 
 
 More than an hour passed before Bus- 
 ter returned, so completely transformed 
 that Baby Jim would hardly have recog- 
 nized him. His thick hair had been 
 cropped close to his head, and his brown- 
 ed, begrimed face had been washed un- 
 til it fairly shone in its cleanliness. Bus- 
 ter moved but awkwardly in his new suit 
 of plain stout clothing, but he looked 
 approvingly at himself as he approached 
 the gentleman whom he now considered 
 quite as an old friend. 
 
THE STONE BUILDING. 33 
 
 "Now a'n't I a beater!" he exclaimed, 
 as he surveyed himself from top to toe. 
 
 "You do look greatly improved; I 
 should hardly know you myself. See to 
 it that you leave your badness behind 
 you with those old clothes. Now give 
 me your hand, and I '11 show you your 
 way over the building." 
 
 "Here is the dining-room," said the 
 gentleman, opening the door to a large 
 hall where several long lines of tables 
 were ranged in regular order. Great 
 slices of bread were piled in pans that 
 were placed along through the centre of 
 the tables, and by each boy's plate stood 
 a bowl of good sweet milk. "Here is 
 where you will eat your supper present- 
 ly. Do you think you can relish it, Bus- 
 ter?" 
 
 "Now that beats every thing. Do 
 them boys all eat here? My!" exclaim- 
 ed Buster, lost in astonishment and admi- 
 
34 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 ration. " Wont I lay in though, when I 
 get a chance." 
 
 We will not follow Buster and his 
 guide as they passed through chapel and 
 school-room, bathing-room and work- 
 room, until they reached the large sleep- 
 ing apartment, when the gentleman again 
 paused to unlock the door. The stranger 
 used his bunch of keys to open every 
 door ; this alone gave to Buster the idea 
 of confinement. This was just what was 
 needed to make him feel that though 
 kindly cared for, he was still to be under 
 wise control. 
 
 The door of the large dormitory was 
 thrown wide o|oen. Cool breezes came 
 in through the windows, and from white 
 scoured floor to white ceiling the air was 
 pure and sweet as if it was fresh from 
 the mountain-side. Everywhere small 
 white beds were standing in long rows 
 across the room. "These are the beds 
 
THE STONE BUILDING. 35 
 
 for the boys. Here is to be your place, 
 number 373. That's to be your num- 
 ber. I shall hope to hear every thing 
 good of 373," said Buster's companion. 
 
 Buster looked curiously at the bed, and 
 slowly turned down the spread, examin- 
 ing every article of the covering; then 
 he exclaimed, "You don't mean I am to 
 sleep in there ! why, I sha'n't never want 
 to get up. My! but it's soft." Buster 
 sat down suddenly on the edge of the 
 bed, and looking up into the face of his 
 friend, he said, "What makes you do 
 so ? What makes you get us boys and 
 serve us so, instead of lickin us all to 
 pieces, or shuttin us up in the jug, or 
 just kickin us and lettin us go ?" 
 
 "Buster," began the stranger, "listen 
 to me and I will answer your question 
 truly." The boy's attention was caught, 
 and his heart softened. He listened — ■ 
 listened with tears in his eyes, as he 
 
36 BUSTER AND BAB.Y JIM. 
 
 heard the story of the Saviour's love, 
 how He came to seek and to save that 
 which was lost, and had bidden his true 
 followers to go and do likewise. 
 
 "And you do it. You go into it 
 strong," said Buster as his companion 
 ceased speaking. Eough and unsuitable 
 as seemed his comment, he yet had felt 
 and understood what had been said to 
 him. 
 
 ' ! You will try, my boy, to learn to be 
 better, wont you ?" said the gentleman. 
 
 "I wish Baby Jim was in that 'ere 
 bed, long side o' mine. Then I could 
 turn in, and feel about right," said Bus- 
 ter, following out his own train of thought. 
 
 "When you go to bed every night, 
 kneel down by that bed, and say, ' God 
 bless me, and help me to be a good boy, 
 for Christ's sake. God bless my brother 
 Jim, and help him to be a good boy ;' and 
 may -be it will all come out right before 
 
THE STONE BUILDING. 31 
 
 you expect it. The great God who sees 
 you and me, sees your little brother, and 
 can watch over him and keep him from 
 evil." 
 
 "I was n't thinkin about keepin him 
 from evil ; he takes to that most too nat- 
 'ral. I wish I had him though, there in 
 that bed, and I 'cl tell him I 'd thrash the 
 skin off from him if he clicl n't mind just 
 what you say ; for I hold to it, you are 
 the right kind of a man, just uncommon 
 different from any I ever come across 
 before. Eh, do you think it 's about time 
 for them bo} r s to be lajdn in with the 
 bread and milk ? 1 7 m ready." 
 
 Buster folded his hands that evening 
 with more than three hundred boys, 
 while the blessing of G-od was asked on 
 the simple bountiful meal before them. 
 Very heartily prayed his friend that poor 
 Buster might be fed with the bread from 
 heaven, and lay hold on eternal life. 
 
38 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 THE HON. MR. B . 
 
 It was hard for Buster to accommo- 
 date himself to the regular life of his 
 new abode. To eat and sleep, go out 
 and come in, study and play, lie down 
 and rise up, work and stop working, by 
 the clock, were new things indeed, after 
 the wandering habits into which the poor 
 boy had fallen. Yet to all this he be- 
 came by degrees accustomed, and even 
 this outward training took from him 
 somewhat of the wild, reckless air which 
 had marked him before. In the work- 
 room and in the class, Buster showed 
 any thing but stupidity, and yet the 
 friend who had placed him in this kindly 
 asylum was still anxiously watching for 
 some more satisfactory signs of improve* 
 
THE HON. MR. B . 39 
 
 ment. In vain he inquired, week after 
 week, for good news about Buster. The 
 boy often proved turbulent and unman- 
 ageable, and more than once he had un- 
 dergone the severest punishments in use 
 at the institution. Buster was, through 
 the force of circumstances, slightly al- 
 tered ; but it was plain that he needed 
 but to be exposed again to temptation, 
 to fall back into all his evil practices. 
 
 Buster had been for several months at 
 the asylum, when the boys were one day 
 summoned to the chapel at an unusual 
 h®ur. In they marched to the sound of 
 music, keeping time, and stepping as 
 truly as well-trained soldiers. Leading 
 one of the long files came Buster, his 
 head erect and his great black eyes wan- 
 dering hither and thither as if asking 
 what was the provocation for this extra- 
 ordinary assembly. 
 
 The boys were hardly seated when the 
 
40 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 superintendent introduced to them the 
 
 Hon. Mr. B of Ohio. At a given 
 
 signal they all rose and politely acknow- 
 ledged the introduction. 
 
 Mr. B— — was a splendid specimen of 
 Christian manhood. His tall and strong- 
 ly built figure at once attracted Buster's 
 attention and won his unqualified appro- 
 val ; nor could the boy help owning to 
 himself that the face of the stranger was 
 as attractive as his well-knit form. 
 
 The many voices of the children blend- 
 ed in a cheerful hymn of praise, and as 
 
 Mr. B listened to the holy words 
 
 they so sweetly sang, the unbidden tears 
 clouded his eyes. Bank upon rank, line 
 upon line, rose the heads of the singers. 
 
 In thought Mr. B. wandered to the 
 
 scenes of vice and misery from which 
 these poor children had been rescued, 
 and angels' work indeed it seemed to 
 him to have gathered these neglected 
 
THE HON. MR. B . 41 
 
 outcasts and taught them even with the 
 lips to praise the God of heaven. In a 
 kind of touching recitative rose those 
 beautiful words of commendation which 
 the Lord is said to address to those on 
 his right hand at the day of judgment. 
 When the children came to the closing 
 sentence, "Inasmuch as ye have done it 
 unto one of the least of these my breth- 
 ren, ye have done it unto me," Mr. 
 
 B could almost imagine the Saviour 
 
 bodily present among them and speaking 
 himself the sacred words that came from 
 the lips of the singers. 
 
 A Saviour near at hand he seemed ; 
 
 and when Mr. B rose to call upon 
 
 him in prayer, he spoke to him as One 
 in the midst of them, yearning with his 
 almighty heart of love fully to take to 
 his bosom these the least of his Hock, yet 
 precious above all price in his eyes. 
 
 When the prayer was over, Mr. B 
 
42 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 knew that lie was expected to make an 
 address to the children. In many public 
 places and before many critical audiences 
 had his eloquent voice been heard, yet 
 now there was a sense of choking in his 
 throat, and a growing feeling of inability 
 to say what he wished to the young hear- 
 ers before him. Like the Syrophenician 
 woman, he humbly prayed in silence, 
 "Lord, help me." He felt that the mes- 
 sage must come from God, if it should be 
 blessed to do the work for which he was 
 yearning. 
 
 The superintendent glanced at Mr. 
 
 B , and saw by the working of his 
 
 fine face that just now he was too much 
 moved to give vent to his feelings in 
 words. 
 
 "Boys," began the superintendent, 
 " let me tell you that the gentleman who 
 is to speak to you to-day has spoken to 
 thousands of men, of grown men, and 
 
THE HON. MR. B . 43 
 
 they have listened with delighted atten- 
 tion. In the State he comes from, he is 
 looked up to more than if he were the 
 governor. I like to show him to you as 
 a Christian gentleman, one to whom God 
 has given health, talent, and wealth, and 
 he delights to use them all to work for 
 his heavenly Master. Boys, listen to Mr. 
 
 B . It may never fall to your lot to 
 
 hear such a man again." 
 
 Mr. B stepped out beyond the 
 
 desk which stood upon the raised plat- 
 form where he had been sitting. With 
 his powerful figure in full sight, and his 
 strongly-marked kindly face looking lov- 
 ingly upon them, he began. 
 
 "My lads, your superintendent has 
 spoken in my praise. Let us grant that 
 what he has said is true, true as far as 
 the world knows any thing of me ; yet in 
 my closet I must bow the knee and cry 
 like you, 'God be merciful to me a sin- 
 
44 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 ner.' Boys, I will tell you a story. I 
 knew a child once, a poor, wandering, 
 homeless child, who had no mother to 
 rock him on her knee, no father to earn 
 him daily bread. His little tender hands 
 soon learned to steal, his "baby lips could 
 speak an oath and laugh while he was 
 speaking. "What wonder that he grew in 
 wickedness as he gained in years ? I will 
 not tell you how he went from step to 
 step, till his young heart was hardened 
 in sin. Perhaps some of you may know 
 too well the evil path he trod. That path 
 ended, as it must surely end, in misery. 
 He found himself shut up within damp, 
 gloomy prison walls. No pleasant sun- 
 shine to cheer him now ; no friendly 
 voice to bid him take courage. Two 
 long years he was to spend in dreary 
 confinement. He bowed his head upon 
 his hands and cried as if his heart would 
 break. There were no rough compan- 
 
THE HON. MR. B . 45 
 
 ions round him now to laugh at his bitter 
 tears. There was no gentle hand to wipe 
 those tears away. Alone, alone in his 
 guilty misery sat the wicked orphan-boy. 
 So the wretched days and weeks came 
 and went. One morning there was a vis- 
 itor in his lonely cell. A kind motherly 
 face was bending over the poor hardened 
 boy. He would not answer her gentle 
 words ; he would not look into her lov- 
 ing eyes. Yet she came again and again. 
 Sickness seized upon the weak frame of 
 the prisoner. She nursed him as tender- 
 ly as if he had been one of the sweet chil- 
 dren of her own comfortable home. She 
 made him love her; he could not help it; 
 and when by and by she talked to him 
 of the precious Saviour who had sent her 
 to his side, he learned to love that Sav- 
 iour too. 
 
 "One long year passed, and then an- 
 other, and at last the prisoner was free 
 
46 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 once more. He might go where he would, 
 and find for himself a home. Did lie' turn 
 back to the wretched alleys he knew? 
 Did he seek the old sinners who had led 
 him astray before? No; he had his Bi- 
 ble in his hand and his God overhead. 
 There was no such path for him now. 
 Straight for the open country he went. 
 On, on he walked, till the city was far 
 behind him. He used his right hand for 
 honest labor by day, by night he contin- 
 ued his journey. In the wide West he 
 found a resting-place. No one knew him 
 there. There he began his new life. 
 God had forgiven him for Christ's sake, 
 and he could cheerfully bear poverty 
 and hard work, knowing that he had a 
 sure home in heaven. 
 
 " God blessed that poor lad, and gave 
 .him friends and a home and wealth, and 
 even some share of this world's honors. 
 He stands before you now, and thanks 
 
THE HON. ME. B . 47 
 
 his heavenly Father for all his mercies. 
 I have been telling you my own life, my 
 boys. I know what it is to be poor and 
 homeless and tempted and wicked. These 
 are strong enemies, but G.ocl is stronger. 
 He can help you, if you will but fight on 
 the right side. God can cleanse you and 
 strengthen you and bring you off con- 
 querors. He will forgive you for the 
 sake of his dear Son who died on the 
 cross for you. He will help you to lead 
 a new life. You will have a hard strug- 
 gle for it, but you will win if you fight 
 bravely. The coward gains no battle. 
 He who is afraid to begin, will never end 
 with honor. My clear boys, let this clay 
 be, at least for one of you, the most im- 
 portant day you have ever known. Go 
 in secret to the great God of heaven. 
 Ask him, for his Son's sake, to blot out 
 all your sins, and help you to live a new 
 and better life. 
 
48 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 "May the Holy Spirit Mess to you 
 these words of mine ; and when you shall 
 have triumphed over sin and shame, may 
 you take poor wandering children by the 
 hand, and lead .them to the feet of Jesus. 
 Let us pray." 
 
 As sincerely, humbly, earnestly, and 
 trustfully as when he first knelt at the 
 feet of Jesus, Mr. B now sought for- 
 giveness for himself and the children in 
 whose name he spoke. One young heart, 
 at least, went with him. For the first 
 time, Buster prayed, "God be merciful 
 to me a sinner. Cleanse thou me, and I 
 shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall 
 be whiter than snow.' 7 
 
 To Buster it now seemed possible that 
 even for such as he there was an upward 
 path. God helping him, from this day 
 forward he would leave his evil de^ds 
 behind him, and strive to be a true ser- 
 vant of Christ. 
 
PARTING. 49 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PARTING. 
 
 We have seen the beginning of a Chris- 
 tian life, the tiny grain of mustard-seed 
 taking root in poor Buster's heart. This 
 was the commencement of a good work, 
 but it was truly only the commencement. 
 
 Mr. B had rightly said the struggle 
 
 was a hard one. Old habits and old 
 temptations would rise again when they 
 seemed almost conquered, and new faults 
 sprung up where others had been sub- 
 dued. Yet Buster persevered. 
 
 Two years Buster continued at the 
 Asylum, before his kind friends dared to 
 trust him away from their watchful eyes 
 and timely counsel. At length there 
 was a new party of boys starting for the 
 West, to find homes among the farmers 
 
50 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 of the fast growing states. Busters name 
 was on the list. As Buster he still was 
 known, but in solemn baptism he had 
 taken the Christian name of Paul. He 
 chose to be called after the great apostle, 
 who, though counting himself the chief 
 of sinners, had yet through the grace of 
 God become among the chief of saints. 
 
 Again Buster was to take a journey, 
 far, far longer than the ride in the swift 
 cars that had brought him to his late 
 home. What a change had been wrought 
 in him since, rough, wicked, and reckless, 
 he entered those sheltering walls. The 
 friend who had then been his guide was 
 now with him to bid him farewell. 
 
 Buster took the hand that was stretch- 
 ed out to hinij and grasping it in both of 
 his, he exclaimed, "God will bless you, 
 sir. I can't thank you. I don't know 
 how to say what I feel. I owe every 
 thing to you. I '11 try to do you credit. 
 
PARTING. 51 
 
 May-be you 7 11 hear of me one of these 
 days. 7 ' 
 
 " I trust I shall see you at the right 
 hand of God, rejoicing among the re- 
 deemed, 7 ' said his companion with great 
 earnestness. " Be watchful and humble, 
 my lad. Hold fast to your Bible. Be 
 faithful in prayer. Eesist the very be- 
 ginnings of evil, the angry look, the pro- 
 fane word, the touching of the slightest 
 trifle that is not your own. God bless 
 you, and bring you off conqueror." 
 
 "Thank you," said Buster, humbly. 
 "But Oh, sir, you will keep a watch for 
 him? May-be he'll turn up yet. Ee- 
 member, blue eyes, and curly brown hair, ' 
 small and slender, and an old, smart look 
 in his face. That 's he, that 's Baby 
 Jim.' 7 
 
 What was it that unnerved the great 
 strong boy ? His hands trembled as they 
 gave that final grasp at parting. Ah, the 
 
52 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 Christian brother but yearned the more 
 tenderly for the companion of his child- 
 hood, and longed to know him snatched 
 from those evil paths whose end is death. 
 
 " I will pray for him, and watch for- 
 him, my boy. Trust him to the Lord, 
 and labor to be a brother who shall be 
 a fit guide and example for him when we 
 shall have found him." 
 
 Buster heard the parting words, and 
 answered, "Aye, aye, that 's what I will." 
 Then with another "good-by," he sprang 
 into the cars that were to bear him away 
 to the scene of his future life. 
 
A WESTERN PARMER. 53 
 
 CHAPTER VII, 
 
 A WESTERN FARMER, 
 
 a Among the thirty lads who were start- 
 ing for the West, there was not one more 
 full of hope than was the tall stout boy 
 whom we have known as Buster. As 
 mile after mile was left behind him, he 
 breathed more and more freely. Sepa- 
 rated from the scenes of his early guilt, 
 he felt it to be more and more possible 
 for him to lead the life he desired. 
 
 Where would his lot fall ? What home 
 would be his? To these questions Bus- 
 ter could give no answer ; but he found 
 vent for the feelings of his heart by sing- 
 ing in a low voice the hymn, 
 
 " Father, whate'er of earthly bliss 
 Thy sovereign will denies, 
 Accepted at thy throne of grace, 
 Let this petition rise 
 
54 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 " Give me a calm, a thankful heart, 
 From every murmur free ; 
 The blessings of thy grace impart, 
 And let me live to thee. 
 
 "Let the sweet hope that I am thine 
 My life and death attend ; 
 Thy presence through my journey shine* 
 And crown my journey's end." 
 
 Buster's hymn attracted no attention 
 amid the Babel of sounds made by the 
 excited, rejoicing boys. The kind friend 
 who had charge of them did not check 
 the natural outburst of their feelings, but 
 sat among them enjoying the various 
 ways in which they chose to manifest 
 their glee. 
 
 Somewhat sobered down by the long 
 journey, the boys at length reached their 
 first stopping-place, at a small town in 
 the centre of a rich farming country. 
 They were expected, that was plain; for 
 many rough wagons were tied along the 
 principal street, while their owners join- 
 
A WESTERN FARMER-. 55 
 
 ed the deputation of the citizens who 
 were at the depot to give the young 
 strangers a welcome. 
 
 On the large public square an agricul- 
 tural fair had lately been held, and the 
 seats provided for the ladies were still 
 standing. On these the boys were placed, 
 while an abundant luncheon was passed 
 round for their refreshment. Then fol- 
 lowed some singing by the children, and 
 a speech from the gentleman who had 
 them in charge. He simply stated the 
 plan of the institution from which they 
 had come, and offered to the farmers as- 
 sembled an opportunity of sharing in the 
 Christlike work of redeeming these poor 
 wanderers from a life of want and crime, 
 and training them in honest homes. 
 Wherever they went, they were to be 
 received as members of the family. 
 They were to be encouraged to show by 
 their conduct what they were, forgetting 
 
56 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 whence they came and what they had 
 been. 
 
 While the gentleman was speaking, 
 many scrutinizing eyes were fixed upon 
 the eager faces of the boys. Up and 
 down before the rising seats walked a 
 small short man, with his head on one 
 side as he looked systematically at every 
 boy, allowing to each his fair time to 
 make an agreeable impression. It was 
 evident that the good man was seeking 
 a new member for his household, and 
 meant to be careful in the selection. 
 The process seemed to be an exciting 
 one, for he soon took off his homespun 
 coat and threw it over his arm, and 
 pushed his felt hat back on his head, so 
 that his wide forehead might have the 
 full benefit of the breeze. There was 
 shrewdness in his small clear blue eyes 
 and long, sharp nose ; but the quizzical, 
 kindly expression about the mouth was 
 
A WESTERN FARMER. 5? 
 
 sufficient to reassure the stranger who 
 might at first be afraid to find him close 
 at a bargain. He soon became a great 
 favorite among the boys, and cries of 
 'J Take me," "I'm the chap for you," 
 sounded out from the lines as he pursued 
 his methodical examination. 
 
 Before Buster the little farmer at 
 length made a decided stand. " Would 
 I suit you? Do you think you could 
 close hands with me ?" he said confiden- 
 tially. 
 
 Buster reached his big hand over the 
 heads of the little boys below him, and 
 gave the inquirer a hearty grasp as he 
 replied, "First-rate." 
 
 "All settled," said the farmer, going 
 back to the crowd and listening as faith- 
 fully to the concluding remarks of the 
 speaker as if he intended to report them 
 for the county newspaper. A report of 
 the speech he knew he would have to 
 
58 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 give to one person at least, and that a 
 party whom he was far more anxious to 
 please than the uncertain public, who 
 might applaud to-day and decry to-mor- 
 row. 
 
 "My Mrs. Jillard," as he was wont to 
 call his wife, would demand a circum- 
 stantial account of that day's proceed- 
 ings, he was sure, and he meant to be 
 prepared upon at least one department 
 in which he would be examined. 
 
 No objection being made to Mr. Jil- 
 lard's selection by the gentleman in charge 
 of the boys, the worthy farmer seemed 
 inclined to carry off his prize at once. 
 
 "Then we may as well be moving," 
 he exclaimed, taking Buster protectively 
 by the arm. Buster was a full half head 
 taller than his new acquaintance, and 
 would have been a dangerous enemy for 
 him in a pitched battle ; and the big boy 
 could hardly help smiling at the tender, 
 
A WESTERN FARMER. 59 
 
 careful way in which he was taken in 
 hand. 
 
 Mr. Jillarcl had proposed the move, 
 and yet he lingered and kept fumbling 
 meditatively in his coat pocket. It was 
 plain that he felt he was making a bar- 
 gain in which the advantage was too 
 much on his side, and yet he did not 
 know how to mend the matter. At length 
 he broke out, "It seems as if I ought to 
 do something. I do n't like to pay mon- 
 ey. That looks ugly, as if I bought the 
 boy. But see here ; may n't I give you 
 something to go to clothing and feeding 
 some poor little chap that 's just picked 
 out of the gutter, and isn't fit to be let 
 loose on honest folks ? Hicks Jillarcl 
 would like to have that ten dollar note 
 put to that account. ' Will that be all 
 right?" 
 
 Mr. Jillard's contribution was cheer- 
 fully received, and he had the promise 
 
60 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 of a letter describing the boy for whose 
 benefit it should be used. 
 
 "Now for it," said the farmer* and 
 starting off at a round rate, he soon 
 made Buster realize that he would have 
 to be a fast walker if he kept up with 
 him. 
 
 At a post where two quiet farm-horses 
 were tied, Mr. Jillard stopped. "Were 
 you ever on a horse, boy ? What 's your 
 name ?" 
 
 "Never, but I should n't mind trying," 
 said Buster, his eyes sparkling. 
 
 "What's your name?" repeated the 
 questioner. 
 
 "Buster I've always been called; but 
 I was baptized Paul just before I left 
 home," said the boy. 
 
 "Baptized; I like that," said Mr, Jil- 
 lard. "A good beginning. Hold to it, 
 and don't go backwards. Breaking is 
 dangerous in boys as well as horses. 
 
A WESTERN FARMER 6] 
 
 Paul Jillarcl, that's your name. Can 
 you write ?■' 
 
 "Yes, sir," said Buster promptly. 
 
 "Then write Paul Jillarcl in your 
 books. Do n't cut P. J. now everywhere, 
 as if you owned all the world and want- 
 ed to put your mark on it. I don't hold 
 to that. Knives have their uses ; but this 
 cutting of letters round is putting good 
 tools to a bad job. Yes, Paul Jillard is 
 your name, but I shall call you Buster, 
 because you are used to it; my Mrs. 
 Jillard may do as she pleases. Now get 
 up on to that horse as quick as you can. 
 She '11 be expecting us." 
 
 Buster made several vain attempts to 
 mount from the ground, while Mr. Jillard 
 looked on laughing till his eyes were full 
 of tears. "There, now, why can't you 
 do as I do?" said the farmer, hopping 
 lightly to the back of the other tall horse. 
 
 Buster watched the operation closely, 
 
62 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 and managed to follow at once with a 
 tolerable imitation. 
 
 "Here, so," said Mr. Jillard, telling 
 Buster how to hold the reins. ''Sit 
 steady. Do n't be afraid." 
 
 "With no further preface or prepara- 
 tion, Mr. Jillard started off his horse at 
 a round trot, and its "match" briskly 
 kept it company. Buster had his own 
 qualms as he felt himself fairly borne 
 along without the exercise of his own 
 will; but he was determined to acquit 
 himself bravely, and did not once call 
 out for quarter during the five minutes 
 in which the unmerciful trotting was 
 kept up. 
 
 " Now we '11 take it slower," said Mr. 
 Jillard, slackening his own pace. "You'll 
 feel easier for finding you can ride fast 
 without falliug off. We 've ten miles be- 
 fore us, so we must n't tire out too much 
 at the start." 
 
A WESTERN PARMER. 63 
 
 By the time the ten miles were over, 
 Buster felt as if he and Mr. Jillard were 
 old acquaintances. All dread of meeting 
 the farmer's wife had been overcome by 
 various remarks concerning her which 
 the proud husband had let fall during 
 the ride. In his heart Buster already 
 thanked God that the lines had fallen 
 unto him "in pleasant places." 
 
64 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 MRS. JILLARD. 
 
 Mr. Jillard's farm had no fanciful 
 name. It had never been called Wood- 
 land, after the primeval forest that tow- 
 ered just beyond the wheat-fields, nor 
 Clear-springs, for the bright water that 
 welled up on every hill-side and danced 
 its way to the valleys below. Mr. Jillard 
 was content to talk about "our house," 
 without having the great red wooden 
 building photographed to put at the head 
 of his letters or to frame and hans; in his 
 clean parlor. 
 
 It was just sunset when Buster's first 
 ride on horseback was over, and his 
 "gallant steed" walked quietly into a 
 barn-yard and held up his head at his 
 accustomed post. Buster would have 
 
MRS. JILLARD 65 
 
 found dismounting a stiff and awkward 
 business, if Mr. Jillard had not come to 
 him, saying, "I'll help you to-day; next 
 time you must get clown as spry as I 
 do." 
 
 Just as Buster stood fairly on the 
 ground, his attention was fixed by a fig- 
 ure which came round the corner of tho 
 barn. Mrs. Jillard had been milking 
 and in each hand she held a full bucket, 
 which showed her abundant success. 
 Thus doubly balanced, she could move 
 but slowly, a gait which well suited her 
 tall, comely figure. Her round face was 
 pink with the flush of health, and the 
 kindly dimples were dotting her cheeks 
 as she exclaimed, 
 
 "Home again, Hicks. You are a 
 punctual fellow. And this is the boy. 
 You are right welcome, my lad. Here, 
 take the buckets, Hicks, and let me shake 
 him by the hand." 
 
86 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 Buster stood aghast as that kind hon- 
 est face beamed full upon him. He too 
 well remembered it. The scene at the 
 street corner rushed back upon his mem- 
 ory. The cry, "Butter and eggs," the 
 race, the arrest, all, all were present tc 
 him. 
 
 "Bashful, I suppose. Poor boy," said 
 Mrs. Jillard to her husband, as Buster 
 hung down his head and did not offer to 
 take the outstretched hand. 
 
 "There 's no accounting for boys," said 
 the farmer in a low voice. "Why, we've 
 been just like chums all along the way. 
 I never saw anybody either that did n't 
 take to you before. I believe he 's tired 
 all to pieces, and just feels it getting off 
 the horse. Supper '11 make him all 
 right." 
 
 Neither supper nor Mrs. Jillard's kind 
 efforts to draw him into conversation 
 could bring all right with poor Buster 
 
MRS. JILLARD. 61 
 
 He was glad when he was sent off to his 
 sleeping quarters, to get rid of his sup- 
 posed fatigue and consequent shyness. 
 
 "This is to be your room, Buster," 
 said Mrs. Jillard, as she opened the door 
 into a small chamber, the very picture 
 of neatness and comfort. ' ' Stay in it as 
 much as you please, when you are not at 
 work ; but leave your boots at the door ; 
 that will keep the floor clean, you see. 
 Good-night, my boy. Do n't forget your 
 prayers. May God bless you in your 
 new home.''* 
 
 Poor Buster! every added word of 
 kindness was as a dagger sending anoth- 
 er pang to his bleeding heart. 
 
 Mrs. Jillard set the candle down on 
 the small bureau, and withdrew. Buster 
 turned the button which was the only 
 fastening to the door, and then he bowed 
 his head upon his hands, in utter misery. 
 Here, where he had hoped to begin a 
 
68 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 new, an honest, and an honored life, his 
 sins had found him out. In the home 
 where he had been so warmly received, 
 he must ever be reminded of his guilty 
 career. It could be no pure and perfect 
 home to him. In the bitterness of his 
 spirit, he longed for those heavenly man- 
 sions where sin and sorrow are known 
 no more, and where nothing can be laid 
 to the charge of God's elect, who are for 
 ever clothed in the white robes of the 
 righteousness of Christ. Faint-hearted, 
 he sank down in despair. He could not, 
 through long years, bear the burden of 
 his sin and shame, and the deep cry of 
 his soul was, "Oh that I had wings, like 
 a dove! for then would I fly away, and 
 be at rest," 
 
 Slowly, very slowly, comfort came to 
 Buster. In grateful humility, he was at 
 length enabled to see that it was little, 
 comparatively, that he should here be 
 
MRS. JILLARD. CO 
 
 even branded as having once belonged 
 to a gang of young villains, while his 
 eternal punishment had been laid upon 
 One who had for his sake been willing* 
 to be nailed to the cruel cross. Relying 
 on that Saviour, he would go forward on 
 his pilgrimage, striving to bear patiently 
 his appointed trials. 
 
 But would Mrs. Jillard tolerate him 
 under her roof? It was plain she had 
 not yet recognized him. Was he so al- 
 tered that she might never remember to 
 have seen him before ? Would it be just 
 and right to be daily receiving her kind- 
 ness with such a secret in his heart ? It 
 had been specially agreed that no ques- 
 tions should be asked of the boys as to 
 their past lives: why should Mrs. Jillard 
 be an exception ? 
 
 It was'in vain that Buster so reasoned 
 with himself. There was a something 
 within him which prompted him to tell 
 
70 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 the whole truth, and abide the conse- 
 quences. The party which he had ac- 
 companied to the West were to remain 
 For some days at the neighboring town, 
 and there would still be an opportunity t 
 for Mr. Jillard to make another selec- 
 tion, and for Buster to obtain another 
 situation. Such a home it was not likely 
 would be again open to him. Perhaps 
 Mrs. Jillard would not cast him out. He 
 could but try the effect of a plain state- 
 ment of the truth, and this he determin- 
 ed to do, as soon as the morrow should 
 dawn. 
 
 What a privilege it seemed to Buster, 
 that night, to speak to his merciful Sav- 
 iour, who knew both his sins and his re- 
 pentance; who, pure himself, could yet 
 love his wandering children with an ever- 
 lasting love. 
 
 Poor Buster saw, ere he slept, that 
 much of human ambition had mingled 
 
MRS. JILLARD. 71 
 
 with his desire to lead a new, unsullied 
 life. He had hoped to make a great and 
 honorable name in the West; now he 
 should be thankful if as a forgiven pen- 
 itent, he might have the loving shelter 
 of a retired, kindly, Christian home. 
 
72 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE CONFESSION. 
 
 Buster's sorrowful, anxious thoughts 
 did not prevent him from having sound, 
 refreshing sleep. The glimmer of early 
 dawn recalled him to himself, and to the 
 anticipation of the painful duty before 
 him. Earnestly the poor boy prayed 
 that morning that he might be sustained 
 by the consciousness of the continual 
 presence of the loving Saviour, and so 
 bear whatever measure of deserved hu- 
 miliation, and sorrow might be in store 
 for him. 
 
 "What, up already?" said Mr. Jillard, 
 as he heard a stirring in Buster's room 
 as he passed. "That's a good sign. 
 When you are dressed, come down stairs, 
 my lad, and we '11 have prayers at once. 
 
i THE CONFESSION. 73 
 
 Mrs. Jillard has got our breakfast read}', 
 I '11 warrant. She 's the early bird." 
 
 In the large clean kitchen Mr. and 
 Mrs. Jillard were sitting when Buster 
 made his appearance. They were side 
 by side, and together looking over the 
 pages of a great Bible, as if to decide 
 where to begin in their morning reading. 
 "Have you ever read the Bible through, 
 my boy ?" said the farmer, as if to call 
 the new inmate into the family counsel. 
 
 "No, sir, not all through; but I know 
 the place where it tells a fellow to speak 
 the truth, and that's what I want to do, 
 right, straight, no matter what becomes 
 of me." Buster was evidently excited. 
 His shy and awkward manner of the 
 evening before had gone, and a strange 
 haunting memory of something in the 
 past flitted across Mrs. Jillard's mind, as 
 she looked full into his troubled face. 
 
 "Speak out, and never fear," said the 
 
74 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 kind host. "This is your home, and the 
 very place to tell what 's troubling you." 
 
 Mr. Jillard spoke warmly, but there 
 wag a sad misgiving at his heart that he 
 was going to hear something that would 
 give him a disagreeable surprise. 
 
 We will not follow Buster through his 
 short, painful story. He did not hide 
 the fact that though he did not steal the 
 purse, he had been familiar with deeds 
 of the kind, and merely chanced that 
 time not to be the real culprit. The re- 
 membrance of the boy he had been was 
 full upon him, and he could not too 
 strongly express his sense of his worth- 
 less, guilty condition. "It can't hurt 
 Baby Jim now, ma'am, for me to tell the 
 whole truth out here. He 's likely clone 
 worse than that by this time, and has, 
 may-be, had no friend to show him bet- 
 ter. I 've told you all, just what I was 
 when you saw me and I saw you. It is 
 
THE CONFESSION. 75 
 
 right you should know. I think you 'd 
 find me another fellow now, but you 
 must make your choice. I can go back 
 and join the boys there, and may-be 
 somebody else would choose me ; but I 
 know no other place could be like this." 
 Buster stopped. "Poor boy!" ex- 
 claimed honest Mrs. Jillard. "My heart 
 ached for you when I turned my back 
 on you, for I saw they were not going to 
 let you off. It feels tenderer still to you 
 now. Go away from here! Indeed you 
 sha'n't. You shall stay, and be an hon- 
 est western farmer. It was just think- 
 ing of those little fellows I saw when I 
 was in the city that made me tell Hicks, 
 When that'lot of boys comes through here 
 you must take one, and we '11 do by him 
 as if he were our own, and God will add 
 his blessing. That was what I said, 
 was n't it, Hicks ? We '11 stand by it, 
 wont we ?" 
 
76 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 Hicks Jillard had been perfectly silent 
 while all this was going on, but now it 
 was his turn to speak, and he stood up 
 to give his words their full force. "I 
 had a good mother, a real pious, smart 
 woman. She set me right when I first 
 put my two feet on the floor, and told 
 me what was what and which way to 
 walk. She folded my two hands, and 
 made me pray at her knee before even 
 I knew what the good words meant I 
 had the best kind of a bringing up ; but 
 the Lord have mercy upon me! where 
 would I be if, at the judgment-day, the 
 wickedness of my boyhood was to stand 
 against me? Many a wrong thing I did 
 which it cuts me to think of now, I who 
 had the right way just chalked out for 
 me, and nothing to do but let her that 
 loved me lead me along in it. It little 
 becomes me to be hard on you, my poor 
 boy. God bless them that took you in 
 
THE CONFESSION. 17 
 
 and made you with His help what you 
 are. May we be just a father and mother 
 to } T ou. That's all I have to say. Your 
 name I told you was Paul Jillard. I be- 
 lieve you'll do credit to it yet; and if 
 you should n't, I'll never be sorry I gave 
 you my right hand and called you my 
 son. Here, let me hear if you can say 
 'father,' and 'mother' too. A'n't she a 
 woman any boy might be proud to call 
 mother ?" 
 
 Poor Busier almost shrunk away as he 
 said, "I a'n't fit. You are too good to 
 me." 
 
 " We a'n't any of us fit. "We all have 
 what 's too good for us. We ought all to 
 be on our knees thanking God for the 
 least of his mercies to us, and asking him 
 to help us do our duty to one another. 
 Let us pray." 
 
 That was a real prayer, a true, faith- 
 ful speaking to God on the part of every 
 
78 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 member of the kneeling group. When 
 Buster rose, it was as if a great load bad 
 been rolled from bis soul. 
 
 When he went off to bis work that 
 morning, Mrs. Jillard called out cheeri- 
 ly, "Good-by, my son ; look out for your 
 father, and do n't let him drink out of 
 that cool spring "when be 's overheated." 
 
 "Aye, aye, mother," was Buster's re- 
 ply- 
 
 Mother ! What a thrilling, lingering, 
 soothing echo that word called up in the 
 heart of the once wandering orphan-boy. 
 
LETTERS. T9 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 LETTERS. 
 
 Buster had been three months at the 
 farm, when Mr. Jillard called him to his 
 side one evening, and said, " I got a let- 
 ter when I was up in town yesterday. 
 May-be yon 7 d like to have me read it 
 to you. It is from the gentleman who 
 brought you boys out here. So sit down 
 there and listen." 
 
 Hicks Jillard had not wasted his time 
 at school, and he was not ashamed to 
 read before any body ; indeed, it was 
 rather a pleasure to him, he thought he 
 did the thing so well. In a clear voice 
 he began : 
 
 "ME. JILLAED: 
 
 "Dear Sir — You may perhaps remem- 
 ber the ten dollars you gave me to use 
 
SO BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 for purposes connected with our society." 
 "I wish it had been twenty," interposed 
 the reader. "I want to tell you how it 
 has lately been appropriated. A few 
 weeks ago, one of our citizens was awak- 
 ened at night by some one entering his 
 open window, which was at the back of 
 the house. He drew a pistol from under 
 his pillow, and shot at once at the spot 
 from whence the noise proceeded. There 
 was a sound of something falling into the 
 little yard below. The gentleman sprang 
 up, summoned the police from the front 
 window, and then hastily dressing him- 
 self, went to the yard. There he found 
 the apparently lifeless figure of a little 
 boy, who had been employed by older 
 villains to climb the light grape-trellis 
 under the window, that he might either 
 steal for them, or give them an entrance 
 into the house. The guilty rascals ran 
 off, leaving the poor little fellow to his 
 
LETTERS. 8] 
 
 fate; one of them, however, was after- 
 wards taken, and through him the police 
 are on the scent of the whole gang. The 
 boy was baclly injured. His right arm 
 had to be amputated, as inflammation set 
 in when he was wounded ; and in addi- 
 tion his whole frame was so jarred and 
 bruised by the fall, that he will be a sad 
 cripple for life. He does not sit up at 
 all yet. We have him at the asylum, 
 and are doing all we can to bring about 
 a cure of mind and body. Your kind 
 donation has been applied to his benefit, 
 and I am sure you will feel a special in- 
 terest in him and give him the help of 
 your prayers. We do not k^iow his name. 
 When asked to tell it, he said he never • 
 had any ; folks called him just what they 
 liked, and changed it pretty often too. I 
 am glad to hear that Buster is doing so 
 well. We never sent out a boy in whom 
 we had more confidence. Tell him his 
 
82 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 last letter was read to all the boj T s, and 
 they were greatly interested in it. He 
 must let us know from time to time how 
 he is getting on. 
 
 "Yours very truly." 
 
 Mr. Jillard had had a very attentive 
 listener, and when he closed, Buster burst 
 forth, "Oh, Mr. Jillard, if that should be 
 Baby Jim! That was what they were 
 getting him ready for; I knew it very 
 well, though they never said it in words. 
 Wont you write and ask just how he 
 looks? I sha'n't rest till I know certainly 
 about it." 
 
 The very day after the arrival of Mr. 
 Jillard's letter, Buster himself had one 
 from the friend who understood better 
 than any one else his deep anxiety for 
 his brother. It was as follows. 
 
 "Dear, Buster — I believe we have 
 found him. I have been on the watch 
 for him ever since we parted. I think 
 
LETTERS. 83 
 
 we have Baby Jim with us, though he 
 will not own to the name. He was bad- 
 ly wounded, as you heard through the 
 letter to Mr. Jillard, and if he ever re- 
 covers he will be without his right arm, 
 and crippled otherwise. I wish I could 
 tell you something hopeful about his 
 mind. He seems hardened and indiffer- 
 ent, and all the kindness we have shown 
 does not appear to have moved him at 
 all. Don't be discouraged, my boy; 
 God has so far answered your prayers : 
 persevere, and he may yet give them a 
 perfect fulfilment. You will wonder why 
 I am sure that it is Baby Jim. He cor- 
 responds to your description, and when 
 I first called 'Baby Jim' in his presence, 
 he started and was much confused. The 
 poor child seems constantly fearing de- 
 tection, and afraid to speak out frankly. 
 I told him we once had a boy here named 
 Buster, whom we all loved. You should 
 
84 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 have seen his eyes open and glisten, when 
 I spoke of you. Yet he was perfectly 
 silent, and has never asked me a ques- 
 tion about you. Perhaps it would be 
 well for you to write to him." 
 
 Buster did not need to have it twice 
 suggested to him that he should write to 
 his long lost brother. Again and again 
 he wrote, but received no word from 
 Baby Jim. 
 
 Buster heard that he listened in silence 
 while his brother's letters were read to 
 him, keeping his face covered with his 
 only hand so that no one could see the 
 working of his poor pale features, but 
 never offered to send even a message in 
 return. This was a hard time for Bus- 
 ter. He longed to go at once to see 
 Baby Jim, and strive to bring up in his 
 eyes that pleasant old look of other days. 
 He knew the thing was impossible, and 
 did not dare to speak out the yearning 
 
LETTERS.* 85 
 
 that was daily increasing, until it was 
 almost uncontrollable. 
 
 "Our Buster is worth two common 
 boys,' 7 said Mr. Jillard one day, while 
 talking with a neighbor. "I never saw 
 the lad like him for work; so steady 
 too." 
 
 This praise, spoken in his hearing, was 
 very welcome to Buster ; it had for him 
 a double value. That evening he said 
 to Mr. Jillard, "Do you really think I 
 am a good worker ?" 
 
 "Indeed I do," was the hearty reply. 
 
 "May-be I could do the work of two 
 boys, if I were to try. I 'd be willing. 
 I 'd get up early and keep on after night. 
 If I could do for him and me, and had a 
 place where I could keep him and see 
 him sometimes. The loft in the barn 
 Baby Jim would think plenty good. No- 
 body need be troubled with him. If we 
 could only get him here." "Pshaw, Bus- 
 
86 BUSTETR AND BABY JIM. 
 
 ter, you'd kill yourself for that boy," 
 said Mr. Jillard. "My Mrs. Jillard 
 would n't rest with a poor cripple sleep- 
 ing in her barn, while she was on the 
 feather-bed her mother gave her when 
 she was married. Be industrious, my 
 boy, and there 's no knowing what you 
 may be able to do when you are a man. 
 We '11 see ; we '11 see." 
 
 " When you are a man!" That seem- 
 ed a dreary distant time to Buster. Who 
 could understand the impatient yearning 
 of his impulsive young spirit? 
 
THE TEMPTED. 87 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE TEMPTED. 
 
 Mr. Jillard had been selling some of 
 his fine cattle. He had been paid in 
 gold. Buster had seen the mpney. count- 
 ed out on the kitchen-table. He knew 
 where it was locked up for safe keeping. 
 He knew where the key of the corner 
 cupboard was hidden in a tea-cup on a 
 high shelf in the pantry. Sad, sad know- 
 ledge for Buster. Why was it that it 
 haunted him after he lay down to sleep? 
 Why did the glimmer of the gold contin- 
 ually glitter before his eyes? He jumped 
 up and thrust his head out into the cool 
 air to calm his fevered brain. He but 
 saw how low was the window, how easy 
 to jump from it and be far away before 
 the morning light. With that bag: of 
 
88 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 gold, what might he not do for Baby 
 Jim ? Once his own master, he would 
 take charge of his little brother, and 
 teach him to lead an honest Christian life. 
 
 So whispered the tempter, and Buster 
 listened, listened till in fancy he had the 
 treasure in his hands and was speeding 
 over t^ie fields with his ill-gotten gains. 
 The sins of his youth had risen up to claim 
 Buster as their victim. Would he fall? 
 
 Ah, there was One stronger than the 
 great adversary on the side of the tempt- 
 ed boy. There was a power mightier 
 than the force of old habits, or the deceit- 
 ful allurement of doing evil that good 
 might come. One who had suffered be- 
 hig tempted, was able to succor him when 
 he was tempted. He had a High-priest 
 who is touched with a feeling of our in- 
 firmities, and he therefore dared to come 
 boldly to the throne of grace to find help 
 in his time of need. 
 
THE TEMPTED. 89 
 
 Buster turned quickly from the win- 
 dow and threw himself upon his knees. 
 "God be merciful to me a sinner. Christ 
 save me. Help, or I perish," he cried in 
 the anguish of his spirit. 
 
 Deep and sincere was his repentance 
 for having allowed his mind to be sul- 
 lied even for a moment by such guilty 
 thoughts. Now for the first time he real- 
 ized how great had been his want of faith 
 in feeling that he must take charge of his 
 brother in person, or else all would go 
 wrong. He saw that safer far would be 
 Baby Jim in the keeping of a merciful 
 Saviour, than under the most watchful 
 care of his weak and tempted brother. 
 To that Saviour he now committed him 
 in perfect trust. Having cast his care 
 on Him who is ready to bear all our bur- 
 dens, Buster lay down to sleep, more 
 calm and hopeful than he had been for 
 many a long day. 
 
90 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 BUSINESS IN TOWN. 
 
 Buster was roused the next morning 
 at an early hour by an unusual stir in 
 the house. Mrs. Jillard might be heard 
 flying hither and thither, and there was 
 a lumbering sound, as of heavy articles 
 being moved, while the farmer and his 
 wife were deep in earnest conversation. 
 
 "Now, Buster, up with you, and be 
 down as quick as you can," said Mr. 
 Jillard's voice at the foot of the stairs. 
 "We must be off for town as soon as we 
 can. I have business to do there, and 
 shall want you with me." 
 
 Buster was not to go on horseback 
 this day. Mr. Jillard's long wagon was 
 put in requisition for the trip, and Bus- 
 
BUSINESS IN TOWN. 91 
 
 ter was promised the pleasure of driving 
 a pair for the first time in his life. The 
 bag of gold was brought out, and Buster 
 soon concluded that to deposit this treas- 
 ure in the bank was the object of the 
 trip. Mrs. Jillarcl favored her good hus- 
 band with many parting injunctions, such 
 as, "Be careful. Remember you are not 
 a woman." This last caution Buster could 
 not help thinking was particularly inap- 
 propriate, when he remembered how easy 
 it had been to rob a certain honest woman 
 on her first trip to the city. 
 
 It was no temptation to Buster now to 
 see the bag of gold counted over once 
 more before his eyes. He did not covet 
 one single dollar of it. He was thankful 
 that the miserable suggestions of the con- 
 quered enemy were not again presented 
 to his mind. He had placed his little 
 brother in the care of One who can com- 
 mand the riches of the earth for his wise 
 
92 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 purposes, and make even kings do his 
 bidding. 
 
 Mrs. Jillard at the last moment came 
 staggering under the burden of a mon- 
 strous bundle, which she rolled in on the 
 clean straw in the wagon. 
 
 Buster wondered much what it could 
 contain, but he asked no questions, sure 
 that Mr. Jillard would only give him a 
 mysterious joking answer. Hicks Jillard 
 did not like to have even his Mrs. Jillard 
 too curious as to his plans and projects. 
 
 Straight to the bank drove the farmer, 
 as soon as he entered the town. When 
 the money was deposited, he turned his 
 horses' heads towards the railroad de- 
 pot, and then stood anxiously awaiting 
 the arrival of the train, 
 
 11 Company coming to our house?" Bus- 
 ter ventured to inquire. 
 
 "May-be," was the laconic answer. 
 • There was the welcome whistle at last, 
 
BUSINESS IN TOWN. 93 
 
 then the black locomotive was seen far 
 down the narrow valley through which 
 the road was built. Hicks Jillard jump- 
 ed into the wagon, untied the bundle and 
 arranged some pillows and bed-quilts to 
 his satisfaction, and then was down again 
 in a moment, so as to be at his place when 
 the train fairly stopped. 
 
 Anxiously he passed his eye along the 
 line of cars ; at length he seemed to see 
 the object he desired. At a side-door a 
 strong man appeared carrying a crippled 
 boy. Buster needed no prompting now. 
 He sprang to receive the precious bur- 
 den in his arms, exclaiming, "Baby Jim! 
 I should have known him anywhere. 7 ' 
 
 The poor little fellow dropped his head 
 upon Buster's shoulder, and cried like a 
 baby. 
 
 "You know me, don't you? You 
 know Buster? You ha'n't forgot me?" 
 said the big brother in appealing tones. 
 
94 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 "All right," murmured little Jim, 
 clinging the closer to the stout arms that 
 held him. 
 
 "Here, lay him in here. I Ve got it 
 all ready," said Mr. Jillard, moving tow- 
 ards the wagon. " I thought you ; d like 
 the job I had for you, Buster." 
 
 That meeting of the brothers had been 
 worth more to Hicks Jillard than the bag 
 of gold he had laid by that morning He 
 charged his memory to store away a per- 
 fect picture of it for Mrs. Jillard. 
 
 Baby Jim did not want to lie on that 
 good soft bed. He liked best to be held 
 firmly by the only being in the wide 
 world who had ever loved him. It was 
 not until he was in a sound sleep that his 
 head was gently placed on the pillow, and 
 he was covered up as carefully as if he 
 were the heir apparent of a throne. 
 
 Buster had no words in which to thank 
 Mr. Jillard for his kindness, though he 
 
BUSINESS IN TOWN. 95 
 
 vainly tried to express the deep grati- 
 tude he felt. 
 
 "Don't say a word, boy," said the 
 honest farmer ; "I meant it from the first, 
 but I did n't dare to tell you, for fear it 
 could n't be. I was n't sure he could be 
 moved, or there 'd be any body to bring 
 him. The Asylum folks, however, stick 
 at nothing that 's for the good of the 
 boys. God bless them." 
 
 "You '11 have a blessing too, sir, that ? s 
 sure," said Buster warmly. 
 
 "I hav'n't done any thing. It was 
 more Mrs. Jillard. She's hankered after 
 that little chap ever since she heard 
 about him. She 's an idea that her Dol- 
 ly's sweet milk will fetch him up, and 
 straighten him out ; and I do n't know but 
 she thinks his arm will grow right on 
 again, if she once gets the care of him. 
 The nights she talked about it to me, 
 and planned over it ! Why, she 's got a 
 
96 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 mattress all fixed up for the settee in the 
 kitchen, and she means to have him there 
 all day, where she can look after him, 
 she says. A'n't she a woman, now ?" 
 
 "And to think she lets me call her 
 mother! I wish I might be a right son 
 to her," said Buster. 
 
 "And so you will. And so will he 
 too. He '11 serve her for a daughter in 
 the house, where she can see him all the 
 time and have somebody to talk to. My 
 Mrs. Jillard likes a good listener, 7 ' said 
 Hicks, with a funny quirk of his mouth. 
 
 Buster thought of his moment of temp- 
 tation the night before, the terrible strug- 
 gle that had sent him trembling to his 
 knees. Ah, if he had yielded, where 
 now would have been the cheerful pros- 
 pect that was opening before him? What 
 sorrow and disappointment he would 
 have brought upon the friends who had 
 so kindly sheltered him. How sure 
 
BUSINESS IN TOWN. 01 
 
 would have been his own utter falling 
 back into wickedness and misery. 
 
 With devout thanksgiving, Buster si- 
 lently praised the God who had watched 
 over him in his hour of peril, and brought 
 him off conqueror, though the enemy of 
 souls had striven to drag him down to 
 eternal death. 
 
«?>. BUSTER AKD BABY JIM. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 Suffering and weakness made Baby 
 Jim seem even smaller and younger to 
 his brother's eyes than when they parted. 
 Rough companions and hard usage had 
 been his lot since then. His life had 
 been risked as of little value, where older 
 villains would not willingly trust their 
 own necks. No ledge along a house was 
 thought too narrow for him to find a 
 footing, no trellis too slender for him to 
 climb. He was told that if he fell, there 
 would be nobody to cry ; and if he suc- 
 ceeded, a golden reward was promised 
 him, still promised him, though as yet he 
 had barely daily bread. "While Buster 
 was at his side, even grown men would 
 not so have treated Baby Jim. The boy 
 
CONCLUSION. 39 
 
 knew it, and often and longingly had his 
 thoughts turned towards the lost com- 
 panion of his childhood. Baby Jim had 
 found the way of transgressors hard in- 
 deed, with few rays of sunshine to cheer 
 the dreary path. 
 
 Now he was to be nursed and petted 
 as if he were some precious thing. He 
 had fallen among God's true children, 
 who count every sufferer as tfoe peculiar 
 charge of Christ, to be loved and cared 
 for as if sent by the Crucified himself. 
 "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one 
 of the least of these my brethren, ye 
 have done it unto me," were heart- 
 appreciated words to Mr. and Mrs. Jil- 
 lard, and they rejoiced that a way was 
 yet left them of ministering to His neces- 
 sities, who while on earth had not where 
 to lay his sacred head. 
 
 All clay long Baby Jim would lie quiet- 
 ly on his easy couch, taking a sort of re- 
 
LOO BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 fleeted comfort from Mrs. Jillard's kind, 
 cheerful face ; but when the farmer and 
 Buster came into the kitchen, he claimed 
 a little more attention. He raised him- 
 self at once to be taken into Buster's 
 arms, where he chiefly loved to find him- 
 self; and it was thus that he took his 
 place at the table, where the tenderest 
 morsels and the fairest fruit were always 
 selected for him. 
 
 For Mr. Jillard's quizzical smile and 
 playful greeting, Baby Jim had a quiet 
 twinkle of the eye, that told that the far- 
 mer's fun was welcome, though it won no 
 spoken response. 
 
 Jim gained slowly but constantly in 
 bodily strength, though as yet he gave 
 no sign of that true, inward progress 
 which was most at his brother's heart. 
 When approached on religious subjects, 
 he was pertinaciously silent, and Buster 
 at length despairingly said to Mr. Jil- 
 
CONCLUSION. 101 
 
 lard, "I don't believe he'll ever comt 
 right. I am all discouraged about him.' 
 Mr. Jillard's reply was prompt and plain. 
 " You do act, Buster, as. if you had to 
 be on the ridge-pole, or else the house 
 would blow down. You Ve got nothing 
 to do with making Jim a Christian 
 You 've asked the Lord to do it, and 
 are sure he'll hear you; but it will be 
 in His time and way. What more do 
 you want? Here your brother has all 
 day long a Christian woman to watch; 
 where will you find her equal ? He sees 
 the working of the thing. Then the Bi- 
 ble is read in his ears every morning, 
 and our prayers are going up for him, 
 where he can't help but hear them. You 
 and I must do what we can by way of 
 making our religion show it is the real 
 thing in us, and that will be sure to tell. 
 I do n't mind your now and then trying 
 to persuade him ; that is all natural and 
 
102 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 right, if you believe you are on the true 
 track : but do n't keep at him all the- 
 tirae. Do } r our duty and trust the Lord. 
 The sun don't dart up like a shooting- 
 star ; the wheat do n't make the air whiz 
 with its fast growing. The best works 
 go on slowly. I 've great hopes for that 
 boy. He 's been brought through a great 
 deal, and I believe there 's a white robe 
 for him and a place in the many man- 
 sions, though we can't see it yet." 
 
 Buster profited by Mr. Jillard's plain 
 talking. He remembered the Baby Jim 
 of .old — keen and cautious, slow to come 
 to a conclusion; but once fixed, not to 
 be easily turned from his purpose. He 
 could not expect, in one so differently 
 constituted, the same religious experi- 
 ence he had himself passed through. 
 He would pray, and be patient. Yet 
 when Buster felt Baby Jim's clinging 
 arms around him, and saw the small face 
 
CONCLUSION. 103 
 
 looking up lovingly to his, in his heart 
 he yearned to have his brother seek the 
 Saviour's bosom, and look up to the eyes 
 which "closed in death to save him." 
 Such yearnings are in themselves of the 
 nature of the truest prayer, the soul ap- 
 pealing to the present God for the choic- 
 est blessings for its dear ones. 
 
 Through the long winter Baby Jim 
 was but as a tender house-plant, needing 
 the most unwearied care and attention ; 
 but as the breath of spring touched the 
 tre.es and flowers, he too seemed to re- 
 vive. His eyes grew brighter, and a 
 new strength awoke in his young frame. 
 When Mrs. Jillard's boasted hyacinths 
 were in blossom on the sunny side of the 
 house, little Jim was able to get out to 
 look at them, and as he lingered on the 
 door-step the very pride of them all was 
 placed in his hands. There he sat look- 
 ing at the rows of full, pink-tinted bios- 
 
104 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 soms, while- Mrs. Jillard glanced from 
 him to the flower, her eye falling on them 
 both with equal satisfaction. 
 
 "I'm not pretty, like it," said Baby 
 Jim, expressing involuntarily his feeling 
 of wonder that Mrs. Jillard should gaze 
 so lovingly at him. 
 
 The poor bent, crippled boy, with his 
 pale, thin, old-looking face, was in truth 
 very unlike the pure sweet flower in its 
 perfection of beauty. 
 
 "You dear fellow, it does my heart 
 good to see you out in the fresh air once 
 more," said Mrs. Jillard, and she sat 
 down beside Baby Jim and put her kind 
 motherly arm about him. 
 
 Jim leaned against her as he whisper- 
 ed, "I a'n't fit to live here with you, 
 after where I've lived, and what I've 
 seen, and done myself too. I a'n't like 
 this," and he pointed again at the flower. 
 
 "It grew up out of the dark, dirty 
 
CONCLUSION. 105 
 
 ground. God made it so sweet and beau- 
 tiful, and I do n't mind if it has an ugly 
 old root all covered up in the earth. I 
 do n't care where my Jimmy has lived. 
 I love him, and I think God is making 
 him one of his own dear children. Is n't 
 it so, Jimmy ? Tell your mother." 
 
 Baby Jim pressed his one hand against 
 Mrs. Jillard's, and slowly bowed his head 
 two or three times. She kissed him a 
 fond loving kiss as she murmured, "Bless 
 you, clear, God bless you." 
 
 Baby Jim rose up slowly, and moved 
 in his unsteady way round the corner of 
 the house. Mrs. Jillard did not follow 
 him. He could go about safely by him- 
 self now, though he never strayed far 
 from the kind face that had beamed so 
 cheerily upon him through the long win- 
 ter. 
 
 Mrs. Jillard's clean parlor was rarely 
 opened. The green paper curtains shut 
 
106 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 out the light, and within all was neatness 
 and darkness. At the side windows the 
 lilac bushes held their undisturbed reign. 
 They had grown until they nearly reach- 
 ed the roof, and in the centre of the clus- 
 ter of bushes was a shaded spot which 
 Mrs. Jillard thought only visited by the 
 robins who had their nests in the shrub- 
 bery. Other feet however found their 
 way to this hidden retreat, for hither 
 Baby Jim quietly crept. He pushed his 
 way through the outside undergrowth, 
 and then was lost from sidit. 
 
 "Mother," said Buster coming quickly 
 up to Mrs. Jillard, who was still busy 
 among her flowers, "Mother, father wants 
 his new knife. He has broken his old 
 one." 
 
 "Go into the parlor and get it, my 
 boy; it is in the little chimney cupboard, 
 on the left-hand side." 
 
 Buster fumbled about in the dark 
 
CONCLUSION. 107 
 
 room, then stepped to the window to 
 give himself more light. Sunshine and 
 joy indeed burst upon him,- such joy as 
 angels know in heaven. There in his 
 chosen retreat knelt Baby Jim, his face 
 uplifted with the sweet, loving, tender 
 look in it which Buster knew so well. 
 
 From the depths of his softened heart 
 little Jim was thanking the Lord who 
 had mercifully brought him to such a 
 home, and praying that he might be made 
 worthy of the loving care bestowed upon 
 him. 
 
 Buster mechanically snatched the knife, 
 and then quickly left the room. In an- 
 other moment a strong arm was round 
 little Jim, and the brothers knelt side by 
 side. It was Buster's voice that spoke 
 the deep gratitude of his soul as he drew 
 the "lost and found" still closer to his 
 side. 
 
 Buster could not linger, duty called 
 
f08 BUSTER AND BABY JIM. 
 
 him away. Fast over the fields he was 
 soon speeding with a springing, joyous 
 step, and forth on the air sounded his 
 hymn of praise : 
 
 " For good is the Lord, inexpressibly good, 
 And we are the work of his hand ; 
 His mercy and truth from eternity stood, 
 And shall to eternity stand." 
 
 Love, true Christian love had sought 
 the poor wandering wicked brothers, and 
 brought them to the feet of Jesus. 
 
 And can the depraved children of the 
 city be so reformed and made useful 
 members of society — of the communion 
 of Christ's church on earth, and of the 
 redeemed in heaven? The Holy Spirit 
 of power can wash away the darkest 
 stains, and purify the foulest heart. 
 ' ' With God all things are possible." But 
 has this great and wonderful work ever 
 been accomplished ? Go ask the benev- 
 olent men who labor for such institutions 
 
CONCLUSION. 109 
 
 as we have described, and hear their 
 cheering reply. Yes, blessed be God, 
 many such wanderers have been reclaim- 
 ed: some are adorning earthly homes; 
 some, we trust, are shining in heaven. 
 
 The eternal mansions are opened wide, 
 the Master's feast is ready. To us comes 
 the message, "GJ-o out quickly into the 
 streets and lanes of the city, and bring 
 in hither the poor — that my house may 
 be filled.'"' 
 
Beauflftd ®@@ki 
 
 FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. 
 
 Flowers of Spring-time. Combining amusement nn<] 
 Instruction in most attractive forms. One hundred and 
 fifty Engravings. Quarto size. 
 
 Home Scenes. An elegant small quarto for the family, 
 with fourteen photographic pictures, fac-similes of fine 
 Engravings. 
 
 Views from Nature. Forty scenes in nature and art 
 Finely printed in tint. . 
 
 Hours with Mamma. By Mrs. S. E. Dawes of Bos- 
 ton, Mass. Charming reproductions of Bible narratives, 
 for young children. These pictures of persons and scenes 
 of never-failing interest are sketched by a practised hand. 
 Thirty-three fine Engravings. 
 
 Songs for the Little Ones at Home. Attractive as 
 over. Beautifully illustrated. 
 
 Lullabies, Ditties, and Tales. Original short Poems 
 for the Children, containing Tales, Songs, and Dialogues. 
 With eighty-four Engravings. 
 
 Home Pictures. 72 pages. A fine Cut on each page. 
 
 My Picture-book. 64 pages. Sixty-one Engravings. 
 
 Fireside Pictures. 64 pages. With a Cut on each 
 
 sage. 
 
 The Illustrated Tract Primer. The Children's favor* 
 ito. Finely Illustrated. 
 
 Published by the American Tract Society, and for 
 sale at tlie Tract House, 150 Nassau-street, JVev? 
 Yorli, by the Society's agents, and by booksellers.