Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-15
WHAT KINDNESS DID.


vises how to secure the confidence of the
young, so as to put them on the path Of
duty and success but also is lesson to the
young, showing the advantage of follow
ing the kind advice of teacher and friend:
Many years ago, n certain minister in
the United States of America was going
one Sunday morning from his house to his
school room. He walked through num-
Der Of back streets, and as he turned cor
ner, he saw assembled around q pump a
party of little boys who were playing at
marbles. On seeing him approaching, they
began to pick up their marbles and run
away as fast as they could. One little fell
low not having seen him as soon as the rest,
could not accomplish this so soon ; and be-
fore he had succeeded in gathering up his
marbles, the minister had closed upon him,
and placed his hand upon his shoulder.
There they were, face to face the minister
Of God and the poor ragged boy who had
been caught in the act of playing marbles
on Sunday morning. Aud how did the
minister deal with the boy for that is what
l want to observe. He might have said to
the boy, "What are you doing here? You
are breaking the Sabbath: don't you deserve
to be punished for thus breaking the com
mand of God?" But he did nothing of the
kind. He simply said.
"Have you found your marbles?"
"No," said the boy, 81 have not"
'Then will help you find them;" where
upon he kneeled down and helped look for
tie marbles, and as he did SO he remarked,
81 liked to play at marbles when little
boy very much, and think could beat
you but added he, Il never played mar
blos on Sunday
The little boys attention was arrested.
He liked his friends face. and began won
dering who he vas. Then the minister
said:
81 am going to place where think
you would like to be; will you come with
me2"
'Where do you live?"
"Why, live at such and such place.
was the reply.
''Why, that is the minister's house !" ex-
claimed the hoy, as if he did not suppose
that kin1 man and a minister of the gospel
could be the same person.
"Why, am the minister myself, and if
you will come with me, think l can do
you some good"
'NIy hands are dirty; I can not CO."
"Here is the pump; why not wash2"
81 am so little that l can't wash and
pump at the same time"
"lf you'll wash, I'll pump" He at once
set to work, and pumped and pumped and
pumped and as he pumped, the little boy
washed his hands and his face till they
were quite clean.
"NIy hands are wringing wet, and don't
know how to dry them"
The minister pulled out of his pocket a
clean pocket handkerchief and offered it
TO the boy.
But it is clean"
eyes" was the reply, "but it was made
to be dirtied"
The little boy dried his hands and face
with the handkerchief and then accompa-
MED the minister to the door of the Sunday
school.
Twenty years after, the minister was
walking in street in one of the large cit
les of America, when tall gentleman
tapped him on the shoulder, and looking
into his face said;
"1ou don't remember me?"
"No," said the minister, II don't"
"Do you remember, twenty years ago,
finding little boy playing at marbles
around pump? Do you remember that
boy being too dirty to go to school, and
your pumping for him, and speaking
kindly to him, and taking him to school?7
"Oh" said the minister ~ do remem-
ber."
"Sir," said the gentleman, 81 was that
boy. rose in business, and became alead-
ing man. l have attained good position
in society; and on seeing you to-day in the
street, felt bound to come and tell you
that it is your kindness and wisdom, and
Christian discretion-to your having dealt
with me lovingly, gently, and kindly, at
the same time that you dealt with me sug-
gestively, that 1 owe, under God, all that
l have attained, and all that am at the
present day"