Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-08-13
The Way to Speak to Boys.
FOR cLERGYMEN,


FOR CLERGYMEN.
Many years ago certain minister was
going one Sunday morning to his Sum
day School room. He walked through a
number Of streets, and, as he turned
corner, he saw assembled round pump,
party of little boys, playing at marbles.
On seeing 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, be-
fore he could succeed in gathering up his
marbles the minister had come close to
him and placed his hand upon his shoul-
der. They were face to face, the minister
and the little ragged boy who had been
caught in the act of playing marbles on
Sunday morning. And how did the min
lister deal with the boyf That is what
wanted you to notice.
He might have said to him, What
are you doing there You are breaking
the Sabbath Don't you deserve to be
punished?
RI But he did nothing of the kind. He
simply said, Have you found all your
marbles ?"
No." said the boy, l have MT"
"Then," said the minister, I'll help
you.' Whereupon he knelt down and
began to look for the marbles; and as he
did so, be remarked, 81 liked to play at
marbles when / was little boy very
much and I think I can beat you,'
"but," added he, never play marbles
on Sunday" syfis
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 am going to place where l think
you would like to be; will yea come
with me 20 aad #s
Said the boy, Where do you lvef"
I'm such and such place" was the
answer.
"Why, that is the minister's house !"
exclaimed the boy, as he did not suppose
that q kind man and minister of the
Gospel could be the same person.
xs" Yes" said the man." am the min
lister myself, and if you'll come with me,
/ think / can do you some good.
Said the boy, My hands are dirty, l
can't CO." 8
But" said the minister, here's .
| pump-why not wash Z" ods'
| Said the boy, I'm so little can't
wash and pump at the same time"
/ Well," said the minister, " if you'll
wash I'll pump" w
He at once set to work, and pumped,
and pumped, and pumped, and the boy
washed his face and hands till they were
quite clean. h ass lgi3a
Said the boy, "my hands are wringing
wet, and don't know how to dry EN-" /"
The minister pulled ont . clean pocket
handkerchief and offered it to the boy.
Said the boy, but its Clean"
"Yes," was the reply, "but it was
made to be dirtied." ~
| The boy dried his hands and face with
the handkerchief, and then accompanied
the minister to the door Of the Sunday
school. is y
Twenty years after, the minister was
walking in the streets Of . large city
when a tall man raped him on the
shoulder, and looking into his face, said,
"You don't remember mef"
"No," said the minister, /" don't"
| "Do YOU remember twenty years ago,
finding little boy playing marbles round
pump? Do you remember that boys
being too dirty to 60 to Sunday School,
and you pumped for him, and spoke
kindly to him, and took him to Sunday
school Z" r..F ..lf ~
/ "Oh!" cried the minister. " 1 do re-
member"
! "Sir," said the gentleman. "I was
that boy. rose in business and became
a 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 discre-
tion-to your having dealt with me per
suasively, that owe, under God. all that
have attained, and that am at the
present dav."-Unitarion Hevold.