Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-08-03
Poor Jack.

A Gentleman going late one eve
ming from st. Martins Lane to
Bloomsbury Street, London, saw a
number of ragged lads-beggars,
thieves'or both-standing in knot,
talking, laughing and swearing.
just as he passed, one of them
shouted some jeering piece of i'm
pertinence after him. He turned
round and said kindly to the one
who had spoken, Did you speak to
me, my boyP He shambled little
away, muttering, No, sir
The gentleman then stepped into
the middle of the dirty group, say
ing, Boys, listen to me: l have some
thing to tell you-a short story
They were all silent in an instant;
and then, in the plainest and short
est manner, he told them of Gods
piety and love for them. After
which he spoke to them of the life
and suferings and death of Jesus
Christ. He said nothing of the
punishment or of hell. He only
tried to tell them all about Jesus,
using the words of the Bible as
much as possible. AS he told them
how weary and tired and hungry
the Savior often was, all was silence.
Then, as the end came nearer, try
ing to make the last awful scenes
seem true to them, he heard an oc-
casional shuttle, as one and another
pushed nearer to hear how the good
Lord had suffered for him. They
listened with faces of awe, dirty
enough, but solemn, to hear of his
agony and bloody sweat, his cross
and passion; and by and by he heard
and God heard too-llttle vulgar
sobs. of uncomfortable emotion.
Dirty hands wiped dirty faces; and
their round eyes never moved from
his lips as he told them that now,
while he spoke to them, Jesus was
standing among them, and that he
loved them just as much as when
he died on the cross for their sakes.
The story ended, no one spoke.
Suddenly the gentleman said, 'sNow,
lads, he loved us very much: ought
not we to love him? Who loves
him2 Let every one that wishes to
love him hold up his hand. Il do;'
and he held up his. They looked
at one another. Then one held his
up.
A little mass of rags, with only
one shoe, and little srimy face.
half hidden in shock of hair.
scarcely confined by an old battered
hat with no rim, held up his dirty,
little hand, 1t was touching sight. |
One and another followed, till all
the hands, twelve in number, were
up.
The gentleman then said, slowly.
"You all wish to love him. Now,
dear boys, hear what he says to those
who love him: IF you love me,
keep my commandments Then,
going straight up to him who had |
first held up his hand, the gentle
man, holding out his, said, Shake
hand on it, that you will promise
me to try to keep. his command
menents.' At once the little black
hand was put in his; and the gen
tleman shook it hard, saying, God
bless your So he went round to |
all. He then gave them three shfl-
lngs, to be shared among them for
bed and bread, and said, Good
night So they parted. /
About three weeks after this, the
same gentleman was going under
st. Clement Danes arehway. AL
little ragged shoeblack was kneel-
ing at one side. After the custo-
mary Clean your boots, sir? the
boy made dive forward, and stood |
grinning with delight, right in front |
Of the gentleman and his friend.
The former had not the least no
ti5rEho he was: SO at last he said,
ny boy, you seem to know
bwho are your
sir, Pm Jack
50 Jack whoY
fOn1y Jack, sir please, SIR,
All at once it came across him
who the lad was.
: l remember you now,' he said.
Have you tried to keep your prom
ise to love the Lord Jesus, and show
how much you love him by obey
ing him?
Yes, sir, 1 have; indeed 1 have
he answered, with the greatest earn
estness.
Beecher is said to be a Darwinian
but in small doses.
Ten out of every twelve adult
male men in Sacramento chew to-
bacco. t,E- !