Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-03-13
The Proud Boy.

Mother" said Willie Ross, "mothen
when we were out doors playing, only
think! that ragged little Joe Smith came
and wanted to play with usp'
"And what did you do about it, Will
lie?p
"Why we told him to go and get.more
patches on his clothes; and Johnny Ware
asked him IL his father wasn't man;
and Dicky Law told him that he was too
shabby to play with white boys. So we
all laughed at him, and he began to cry
and soon ran away"
"Ts Joe bad boy7 Does he fight OF
use wicked words?"
No, but he is dressd so queer--his pam
falcons are too short for him, and have
great big patches all over them-his coat
is too big for him and is darned all over
and his.hat has got the rim half torn Of
He don't look it TO play with u.s."
my son." said Mrs. Ross, ''do you
know why Joe Smith is not dressed as
we'll as you are?
IL expect that his mother is too poor to
buy him new clothes"
"Yes, his mother Is widow-his faith
er died some time ago, and left hardly any
property; and Mrs. Smith has to work day
and night TO get bread for her children
Poor Joe has to work too; and 1t is not
often that he gets chance to play at ALL
Was it not very cruel then in you to laugh
at him, and drive him away? Suppose
that you had been in his place; would you
have liked to be treated SOP
"But such boys as he, ought to play
with other ragged boys. and not want to
play with u.s."
"You haven't answered my question
Willie, and I know that 1t is because you
feel guilty. Tell me now. who made this
little boy whom you despised so to-day?"
"Why, suppose that God did, for he
makes everybody.
ayes, and God, who made both you
and Joe Smith, gave him to his mother
and you to me. He gave us our nice
home. and handsome clothing. and gave
them only little hovel, and coarse and
threadbare clothes. Instead Of being
proud then, we ought to be thankful; and
instead Of dcspising the poor, We ought 10
pity them. and try TO make life as pleas
ant to them as we can. When you drove
poor Joe away from the playground, he
had no pleasant yard to 60 to, and no
beautiful toys and play-things to amuse
himself with, as you have. II you treat
good boys so just because they are poor,
you will compel them to 60 and play with
wicked boys, and perhaps they will learn
to swear, and steal, and get drunk-and
all because you despised them. Think oi
this my son; and also think what Jesus
would have done IL he had been on the
ground with you to-day. He would
not have been proud, as you were, and
driven the poor little boy away. But he
would have been kind to him, and have
done all that he could 10 make him enjoy
the little time that he got for play"
And Mrs. Ross took her Bible, and read
to Willie great many places whore 4
tells about Christs humility and gentle.
ness Of spirit, and about his kindness to
the poor and despisod. And Willie wa
very much ashamed OF what he had done
and sorry for Il, and ! don't thinkthat hs
will abuse any little boy again, because
he Is not a. we'll dressed a. himself.
Now children, ! wish that you would
hunt up the verses in tho Now Testament
where wo lcayn that Jesus was not proud
and copy them and send them to me-
And remember that Jesus was just n
good when he was boy, as after ho DO
camo man, and that oil children shoe
be like him.