Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-05-31
THE MINISTER AND THE BOY.

ono day walking to his Sabbath school,
ON turning the corner of little mar
row street, he saw a number of poor
boys-Arabs Of the streets-engaged
at game of marbles. They saw
him as he came and therefore the
greater number Of them got up from
their ma: bles, and in a moment wore
off like shot, before he could catch
them.
Ono little boy did not happen to
SEQ tho minister at first, and before
he could get his marbles, or muster
his strength to make off, the minis
ter had laid hold or him. Then came
the grand questions, What was to be
saidI What was TO be donc2 There
were confronted, face to face, the
minister of Christ ani tho little igno-
rant, benightcd child. Now, many q
ono would have said: "Oh, you lit
tie Sabbath breaker, you deserve to
to be punished ;"-or, "you are found
out in your bad ways you must come
along with me-"
This good minister was not a man
of that kind. lie was one of those
who know that kindness, tenderness,
and affection, are tho way to get at
the heart and he said to the little
boy
"uave you found all your marbles ?"
"No, sir" SAID tho child "there is
one Ihave not found"
"Then said the minister, ri will try
and help you to find it,"
So they both stopped down and
searched, and they found the marble
at last.
care you fond of play,og marbles,
my boy !" was the next question.
eyes,. s;r, LAM"
$50 used to be- said the minis
ter, sand l think could play still.
1 think could beat you myself if we
wore to have game; only meyer
play on the Sabbath"
Tho poor little boys countenance
expanded, he looked with confidence
at the kind man who spoke to him,
and who liked marbles, and be thought,
~ have found friend, and not Ian
enemy, but friend"
eff you will como with me, my boy"
said the minister, ~ will bring you
to place who're you will see some
thing better tan playing marbles,
and hear something you would like to
hear"
lie was told it was the Sabbath
school; and after little hesitation ho
said he would 60, but that he was go
dirty he was not fit to go.
"Then," said the minister, "hero is
a pump, at which you can. can wash
your bands and face"
ButIcannot pump and wash" said
the boy. '.
So the minister pumped, and wash
ed; and he gave him his handkerchief
to dry himself with, which the boy
took after hesi,ating on the gronnd
that it was 80 clean. He then took
tho minister's hand, and they proceed
ed to the sabbath school.
When they got near it, the busy
hum of. voices through the windows
startled him and no was afraid to 20
in, saying that the boys would laugh
at him andsmake fun Of him.
"Apotber time will 60, Sir, lut no.
"I promise you," eaid the minister,
"that if you come in they shall not
laugh at you or turn you to jest.
Take my hand, and come" -,
He didso, and the minister brought
bin 70 one Of the most experienced
teachers in the school, and told him
the story. The boy was treated kind.
try. he came regularly afterwards, and
learned to read and study the Scrip
lures: His father and mother, were
poor, drunken proaigste people, and
were glad that the boy Was noticed,
so: they did~not object. By-and by he
beeame ono of our elevsrist~ boys in
school, was afterwards apprentiecd,
and after some time the minister lost
'fsight''of him, and did"not see him
+ again for twenty years.
r One day, as he passed along the
street, he aawa gsntleman:like man,
who stoppad him and said,-- -,
u assir, do yoa not know msa
r. *9qo I do not.
!, ~~Aa1 dsse>Sa lf' got RENE maher TWEEN,
'Itpt, -ss aga andiag a ittls boy ,ia,ths
playing marbles, aud then