The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-07-17
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81 dc, not like reading" said little Johnny
to his mother one day Il wish you would
not, send me to school, 1t viii be time
enough to learn when am great boy"
well" said his mother IF YOU do no,
like going to school, what do You like? DO
you like to hear stories which people that
can read find in book n ..-
"Yes, mother, you know like to hear
Mem."
"Well, as it is not yet school. l.tine, If you
will bring your little stool, will tell you u
story and then you must go TO school vii
lingly. When you are elder and wiser you
will know the use of learning now what
you have chiefly to learn is 10 believe that |
know better than you, aud to do everything
| wish"
Z "Yes, mother, will 90 willingly and now
! have got my little stool, aud there is room
for You to rest your feet on one corner, while
you nurse baby, and shall have plenty Of
room TO sit Also
"Well, John, some years ago clergyman
who was travelling in Ireland met blind
man, who partly guided his steps with n
large stick, and partly by the aid of Il little
ucsf "htSA nSiI ny ~ SlIliiH
You arc-very old, my poor friend, said
the clergyman.
"Ay, SIR replied the old man | am near
hundred years old, aud a good thing it is
for me that have lived TO be old butt he
added in a low tone, twas q bad thing for
Solomon -fr
why so T. said the clergyman.
"'Why SIR the blind man replied, If Sol
omon had died before lie was old he would
have been now remembered as one of the
holiest men that ever lived. But il / had
died before was old, should ut this time
be in hell. Solomon lived TO disgrace him
self, and have lived to obtain eternal glory.
"'Why do you expect TO obtain eternal
glory = said the clergyman. q"
"'Because,' replied the blind man, Il trust
for my salvation to the blood of Jesus Christ,
shed for poor sinners likeme. Aud l know
that the holy spirit of God dwells in me, and
has brought NE 10 the knowledge of heaven
ly things"
"'Wl,om have you heard speak of these
things 7" said the clergymnn.
"'No one replied the blind man.
Then how came you by tho knowledge
of Scripture which you possess!
Sir replied the old man, about a year
ago began TO be quite blind. ! took this
as a warning that was drawing near the
grave, and | thought it time to prepare my
soul for another world. knew of no one
who could teach me but one of my little
grand children had gone to school aud learn
ed 10 read. ] thought if bought a Bible !
could make my little grandson read to me
constantly. did so; the little boy read
willingly, and through hearing tho Scriptures
the Lord opened my heart to feel his love,
to know myself sinner, aud to know that
my sins were forgiven Here the old man
broke forth into many expressions Of praise
to God for his goodness.
Now, my dear Johnny said the mother,
"if that little boy had not gone to school, and
if he had not learned TO read, his poor grand
father would have had nobody to tell him Of
Gods love in sending Jesus to die for siuners.
Perhaps the poor old man would have gone
to the grave ignorant and wicked. Instead
of that, the grandfather learned the way to
heaven through the lessons of his little grand
son the little boy himself, in reading to his
grandfather, learned from a child those holy
Scriptures. which are able to make him wise
unto salvation, through faith that is in Christ
Jesus, and ] dare say grew up 10 be good
man.
10 mother! motherw cried johnny, al
know why you told me that story. You
want me to be useful little boy, and read
to Other people when can read myself Aud
so viii. | will 60 to school directly, aud
hy to learn like good boy. Here's my
hat and bag. Good bye, mother ! good
bye, baby I'm gone Good bye, till dinner
timew