The Portland daily press., 1866-02-17
Sunday Reading.
THE WAY TO SPEAK TO BOYS.
For Clergymen.

MANY wears ago certain minister was go
ing one Sunday morning to his school he
walked through a number of streets, and as ne
turned corner he saw assembled round
pump party of little boys playing at marbles.
On seeing him approach, they began 10 PICK
up their marbles and run away as last as
they could. One little fellow not having seen
him as soon as the rest, before he COLD sue
coed in gathering up his marbles, the minister
had come close to him. and placed his hand on
his shoulder. They were face to face, the
minister of God and the poor little ragged boy
who had been caught in the act of playing
marbles on Sunday morning. And how did
the minister deal with the boy? That is
what want you to notice.
He might have said to him, what are you
doing here? You are breaking the Sabbath
Don't you deserve to be punished"
But he did nothing of the kind. He simply
said: "Have you found all your marbles?"
"No," said the boy, II haven't"
"Then," said the minister, "Pll help you y
whereupon he knelt down and began to look
for the marbles; and as he did SO he remark
ed. 81 liked to play at marbles when L was a
little boy, very much, and l think can beat
you; but" added he, 81 never played marbles
on Sunday"
The little boys attention was now arrested.
He liked his friends face, and began to wonder
who he was. The minister said:
"Pm going 10 place where I think you
would like to be; will you come with mew
Said the boy: "Where do you live?"
ain such and such place." was the an
swer.
"Why, that's the minister's house p exclaim-
ed the boy, as if he did not suppose that kind
man and minister of the Gospel could be
the same person. -.f q. I'd
"Yes," said the man, Il am the minister
myself, and if you'll come with me, think
can do you some good" 1---a-
Said the boy: "My hands are dirty, I can't
CO." 5!
@But," said the minister, "Here's pump
why not wash ?"
Said the boy: "Tm so little can't wash and
pump at the same time"
"Well, if you win wash, I will pump. said
the minister.
He at once set to work, and pumped, and
pumped and the boy washed his hands and
face till they were quite clean. ~ sI
Said the boy: "My hands are wringing wet
and don't know how to dry 'em."
The minister pulled ont a clean pocket
handkerchief and offered it to the boy.
Said the boy: "But it's Clean" 'a.
"Yes, but it was made to be dirtied" was
the reply.
The boy dried his hands and face with the
handkerchief, and then accompanied the min
lister to the door of the Sunday School.
Twenty years after, the minister was walk
ing in the street of large city, when tall
gentleman tapped him on the shoulder, and
looking into his face, said, "You don't remem-
Der me-" 1i4
'No," said the minister, "I don't" 5tr.
"Do you remember, twenty years ago, find
ing little boy playing marbles round pump?
Do you remember that boys being too dirty
to go to school?" ~
aaa"Oh," said the minister, II do remember"
"Sir," said the gentleman, II was that boy
I rose in business and became leading man. I
have attained good position in society; and
on seeing you to-day in the street, felt bound
- to come to you and say that it is to your kind
ness, and wisdom, and Christian discretion
to your having dealt with me persuasively,
that l owe, under God, all that have attain
ed, and all that am at the present day.
1.-THE Unitarian Herald.