Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-11-27
Readiuq fur tile Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATH AN.
THE PREACHER AT THE PUMP.

! Many years ago, a certain minister was
going one Sunday morning to his schoolroom.
lie walked through number Of streets, and
as he turned corner, he saw assembled
around pump, a party of little boys playing
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, before he sue.
ceedcd in gathering up his marbles, the min.
istcr had come to him and placed his hand
upon his shoulder. They were face to face,
the minister of God and the poor little ragged
boy who had been caught 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? p
"No," said the boy, 81 haven't"
"rhen," said the minister, "I'll help you"
Whereupon he stopped down and began to
look for the marbles; and as he did so he re-
marked, 81 liked to play marbles when was
little boy very much, and | think can beat
you but" he added, II never played marbles
on Sunday"
The little boys attention was now arrested.
He liked his friends face, and began to won
der who he was The minister said: "I'm
going to place where think you would like
to be; will you come with me?'
Said the boy: "Where do you liver
"In such place." was the answer.
"Why, that's the ministers house," exclaim-
ed the boy, as if he did not suppose that a
kind man and minister of the gospel could
be the same person.
EYES," said the man, II am the minister
myself; and if you will come with me l can do
you some good"
"My hands arc dirty" said the boy, II can't
Co."
"But," said the minister, "here's pump,
why not wash them?"
Said the boy, "I'm SO little can't wash and
pump at the same time.''
"Well," said the minister, eff you'll wash,
I'll pump"
He at once set to work, and pumped and
pumped and the boy washed his hands and
face till they were quite clean.
"Now," said the boy, "my hands are wiring
ing wet, and don't know how to dry 'em." I"
The minister pulled out clean handker-
chief and offered it to the boy.
"But," said the boy, cit is Clean"
eyes," was the reply" but it was made to
be soiled."
The boy dried his hands and face with the
handkerchief, and then accompanied the
minister to the door of the Sunday-school.
Twenty years after the minister was walk
ing in the street of large city when a tall
man tapped him on the shoulder, and looking
into his face, said, "You don't remember me ?"
"No," said the minister II don't"
"Do you remember, twenty years ago, find.
ing little boy playing marbles near pump?
Do you remember that boys face being too
dirty to 60 to school, and pumping for him,
and speaking kindly to him, and taking him
to school ?"
"O!" said the minister, 81 do remember"
"Sir," said the gentleman, 81 was that boy.
l rose in business and became leading man.
| have obtained position in society, and Oh
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-th that
l owe, under God, all that have attained
and what am at the present day."