Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-24
The Preacher and the Boy.
An OLD STORY BEHOLD.

Many years ago certain minister was
going one Sunday morning to bis school
room. He walked through number Of
streets, and as he turned q corner be
saw assembled round pump a party OF
little boys, playing at marbles. On see-
ing him approach, they began to pick up
their marbles and run away as fast as
they could. One little fellow, not having
seen him as soon as the rest, before be
could succeed in gathering up his mar
bles, the minister had come close to him,
and placed his hand on his shoulder
They we're 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 boy2
That is what want you to notice
He might have said to him, "What are
you doing here2 You are breaking the
Sabbath Don't you deserve to be pun
ishedY'
But be did nothing of the kind He
simply said: Have you found your
marbIes?
mo" said the boy, " haven't"
"Then," said the minister, I'll help
YOU" whereupon be kneeled down and
began to look for the marbles; and as
he did so he remarked, :" / liked to play
at marbles when was little boy, very
much, and think can beat you; but,
added be. never play marbles on
Sunday"
The little boys attention was now ar
rested. He liked his friends face, and
began to wonder who he was. The min
lister said:
I'm going to place, where think
you would like to be; will you come with
me
Said the hoy Where do you liver
In such and such place" was the
answer.
"Why, that's the ministers housed"
exclaimed the boy, as if be did not sup
pose'th q kind man and minister OF
the Gospel could be the same person.
Yes, said the man, 81 am the min
lister myself, and if you'll come with me,
think l can do you some good"
Said the boy: My hands are dirty;
cant 60"
But" said the minister, here's
pump-why not wash2''
Said the boy: Pm so little can't
wash and pump at the same time |"
"Well," said the minister, if you'll
wash I'll pump"
He at once set to work, and pumped,
and pumped, and pumped = and the boy
washed bis hands and face till they were
quite clean.
Said the boy: {" My hands are wing
ing wet, and don't know how to dry
EN-"
The minister pulled out clean pocket
handkerchief and offered it to the boy.
Saidthe boy: But it's CLEAN"
yes was the rely, shut it was
made to be dirtied."
The boy dried his face and hands with
the handkerchief, and then accompanied
the minister to the door Of the Sunday
School.
Twenty years after, the minister was
walking in the street OF large city,
when tall gentleman tapped him ON
the shoulder, and looking into his face,
said, " You don't remember me"
"No," said the minister" q do mt"
ado you rem mber, twenty years ago,
finding little boy playing marbles
round q pump? Do you remember that
boys being too dirty TO go to school, and
your pumping for him, and your speak
ing kindly TO him, and taking him to
SCHOOL,"
20" said the minister, do remem-
ber."
"Sir," said the gentleman, ST was
that boy. Irose in business and became
leading man. have attained good
position in society, and on seeing you to-
day on the street, felt bound to come
to you and say that it is your kindness,
and wisdom, and Christian discretion
to your having dealt with me persuasive
ly, that owe, under God, all that have
attained, and all that am at the pres
emit day"