Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-03-17


giyeth . cup of ccH water to disciple,
shah net lose his reward Icznnot de-
ppise myself Of this promised Blessing, or
incur the condemnation Of ese wicked so
/ shall 90 to the relief Of the. sick man. and I
you can 60 home Il you choose. So
Tommy fearless turned resoiuteay towards
the hut while Harry Heaftless lesi otf Tom
my Careless, laughing and tasasing Eofn-
my as they ran.
Now" thought Tommy, they say this
is very terrible and dangerous disease
may take it and give it to my parents,
and brothers aud sisters, and if they die, | |
shall be the cause of their death. If [ die |
myself, that is nothing, because the Good /
Shepherd will take me into His Heavenly
fold, whe1f obey His voice. But ought
to endanger others-what ought to do"
And now Tommy remembered that his
good Sunday school teacher had told him
always to pray when he needed guidance,
and that God would hear him, and direct
hissteps Alright. SoTommy kneeled down,
and prayed the Good Shepherd to guide
him in this hour Of peril and doubt. Nj
the while the little boy was comrluning
with his Saviour, the shrieks of the suffer-
ing sailor were piercing his ears and heart.
Tommy rose from his knees convinced that
he ought to disregard his own safety, and
obey she injanetions of his divine Saviour.
He was walking firmly towards the hut,
when, the door being wide open, the sailor
saw him approaching.
Little boyy" he cried out, = stop stop
where Yca are; ard listen to me. | would
not for the woFd endanger your precious
life for my own relief; therefore listen and
will tell you how you can give me all !
require without danger togycuseh.- And
may Ged bless and reward yon for your
compassion and bravery. Take your tin
bucket; go to yonder riiI; fill it with wa
ter; then walk in carefully, touching moth
ing as you come. | will hold out my mug,
and do you pour the water in and return
to the woods as speedily as possible and rub
the soles> OF, your shoes we'll into the fresh
earth before goinghome. After'this there
is no danger, and surely you shall not lose
your reward in timeand eternity ,-my brave
little boy" .
) Trusting in his divine Redeemer, Tom
: my followed the careful directions of the
sick man, and relieved. his burning thirst
amid the outpourings Of his, grateful heart
and the comfortable assurance Of his Mas
ter's favor. The face of the sailor wa
hideous from the disease quite enough tc
frighten less pious and brave boy from a
benevolent purpose; but with such mo-
tives, and under such guidance, the little
Christian is as brave as lion. So Tom
s mK's courage did not fail, and his heart
was filed with holy Joy.
The sick man informed Tompay that hC
: was placed there by the authorities of the
); town, under the charge of a, nurse, who
had cruelty left him all day alone, anC
might not return at all $; for he, was mar
fond of drink, and such are not to be de
t pended upon.
I u. will 90 home and ask my mother t.
- let me return and take care of You through
the night" said Tommy. But the saiIo
s. assured him there would be no neceSsit,
for this exposure Of himself. to the fell dis
IS ease; as it was near the hour for the usu
e al visit of the attending physician, VIII
S would provide him another nAfse immedi
% ately.
V $50 now," added the sick man, give m
u another draft of water, and few of thos
le cool heneysuckle apples of which al
81 81 very fond then hasten home, lest you
u parents should be apprehensive of you
danger; and remember, that he who give
III cup of cold water to disciple of th
blessed Jesus will surely not lose his-rt
,e ward. So, with the blessing of the sic
y sailors Tommy departed, taking care to 70
~ low all his directions for his safety.
Perhaps my little readers may suppos
n that Tommy kept this adventure from hi
re parents; but not so: his Sunday -schoc
ng teacher had instructed him to submit h
conduct entirely to. his. parents judgmen
OF and never forop momentto deceive then
"a For although, thrrough their ignorance
the precepts Of Christianity, they may Do
ia understand or appreciate. such motive
;. they will excuse the action in consider
!, ton of the child's confidence and truth t
IS wards them Besides, Tommy knew
o. was following the, com1hands of his divil
SIT Master and Redeemer, who could dire
IN the unruly wills of all sinful men.
As Tommy approached his fathers hous
ed be saw one of his little sisters standing b
'ls fore the door, and as soon as she perceiv
'af him, she ran in, crying So 60 away
'm away, Tommy, you will kill US all-O,
away"
o. o5 But Istamy stopped. and waving
! AL hand to her, said, Tell my mother to COZ
no to the door, if she pleaSes."
oP His mother Immediately made her a
:, pearance to the door. pale with alright.
ith mother" said Tommy, the boys ha
told you where | have been; do not
my alarmed, mother, have not touched t
'all man, though have seen him, and Civ
l him water So Tommy told his mott
lad how carefully the sick man had instruct
'no him to avoid the dreadful disease, and h
IA cruelty the other boys had run away a
OF left him.
:. Now Tommy's motheh though not
'he ligious woman, was sensible as well as r
!. on, sonable, and did not severely reprove
yea little son, though she could not refrain fir
expressing her disapprahation and fe.
sin, ,, and when Tommy explained his mott
Will and good Christian feelings, she not o
eat Ill not condemn him hnf SCANNED 10,
ana moved at the sufferings of the sailor.
no the truly Christian conduct of her Ii
not son.
,hes Yet although matters proceeded thu:
IL to smoothly with our little hero, there
a severe trial awaiting him. His +;