Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-10-02

Mother" said Willie Ross, "when
we were out doors playing, only think
that ragged little Joe Smith came and
wanted to come and play with usl''
"And what did you do about it,
willie2" t.'.
"why, we told him TO 90 and get
more patches on hisclothes; and John
nv Ware asked him if his father
wasn't rag-man; and Dicky Law,
told him he was too shabby TO play
with white boys. So wo all laughed
NJ him. and he began to cry and soon
ran away.
ais Joe bad boyg does he fight or
use wicked words?'
mo, but ne IL dressed so queer
his pantaloons are too short for him,
and have great big patches all over
them-his coat Is too big for him and
IA darned all overland his hat has
got the rim torn of, lie don't look
tit 10 play with u.s.
sMy son" said Mrs. Ross, "do you
know why Joe Smith IA not dressed
as we'll as you arey
aI suppose his mother Is too poor
10 bay him new clothes"
"Yoa, his mother il q widow--his
father died some years ugo, aud loft
hardly any property; and Mrs. Smith
has 10 work day and night togct brcad
for her children. Poor Joe has 70
work too; and h not often hc gets a
chance toplay ut all Was u not worry
cruel, then, In you 10 laugh at him,
and drive him away suppose that
you had been in his place would you
have liked TO be treated soy"
"But such boys as he ought 70 play
with other ragged boys, and not wish
toplay with u.s.
tYou haven't answered my qucs-
tion, Willie, and know IL Is because
ycr feel guilty. Tell me now who
maize this little boy whom youdispisc
tc-Say?"
"Wby, I supposc God did, for he
max everybody
Eyes, and God, who inadc both you
and Joe Smith, gave him 10 his moth
or, and you TO me. He gave us oui
nice home, and handsome clothing
and gave them only a little hovel and
coarse and threadbare clothes. In,
stead ofbeing proud, then, we ought
TO 10 thankful; and instead OF dcspis
ing the poor, we ought 10 pity them
and 10 make lite us pleasant TO them
as we can. When you drove poor
Joe away from the .graund, h,
had no pleasant yard 90 20 TO, and M
beautiful toys aud playthings tc
amuso himself with, as you have. |
you treat good boys so just becaus,
they are poor, you will compcll then
TO go and play with wicked boys, ant
perhaps they will learn To swcarc, ant
steal, and get drunk-and all because
YOU dispisc them. Think OF this, my
son; and also think what Jesus woul,
have done IL he had been on the play
ground with you to-day, iIc woul'
not have been proud as you were, an,
driven the poor boy away. But h'
would have been kind 10 him, an,
done all he coufo- 20 make him cnjo,
the little time he got 10 play"
And Mrs. Ross took her Bible an'
read 10 Willie great many place
where II tells about Christ's humilit,
and gentleness Of spirit, and his kind
ness 20 the poor and dcspised. An'
Willie was very much ashamed 0
what he had done, and sorry for u
and | don't think he viii abuse an,
little boy again, bccausc he IL not n
we'll dressed ~ himself.
Now, children, wish you woul,
hunt up the verses In the New Tcsta
mcnt whore we learn that Jesus wa
not proud; and remember thpt Jcsu
was just as good when he way u boy
as after he bccamc man, and that Il
children should be like him