Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-05-30
The Preacher at the Pump.

MANY wears ago a certain minister was
going one Sunday morning to his school
room. He walked through number OF
streets, and as he turned corner he saw
assembled around pump party of little y
bows PLAYING marbles. On seeing him ap-
proach they began to pick up their mar
bles and run away as fast as they could
One little fellow not having seen him as
soon as the rest before he could succeed
in gathering up his marbles the minister
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
how That is what l wanted you to no
tice.
He might have SAID TO him, What are
you doing there? You are breaking the
Sabbath. Don't you deserve to be pun
ished?"
But he did nothing of the kind. He
simply said, Have you found all your
marbles?"
mo- said the boy, 81 haven't"
"Then," said the minister, I'll help
YOU" Whereupon he stopped down and
began to look for the marbles; ald as he
did so he remarked II liked to play mar
bles when | was a little boy very much,
and think l can beat you; but, he
added, II 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 l think you
would like to be; will you come with mey"
Said the boy, "Where do you live?"
"In such place." was the answer.
"Why, that's the minister's house" eX-
claimed the boy, as if he did not suppose
that kind man and a minister OF the
Gospel could be the same person.
yes" said the man, 81 am the minis
ter myself; and if you'll come with me
think can do you some good"
Said the boy, my hands are dirty
can't 60"
But" said the minister, "here's
pump; why not wash themP
Said the boy, I'm so little l can't wash
and pump at the same time"
We'll" said the minister, "if 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.
Said the boy, "My hands are wringing
wet, and don't know how to dry 'em."
The minister pulled out a clean hand
kerchief and offered it to the boy,
Said the boy, "But it is clean"
Eyes" was the reply, "but it was made
to be dirtied.'T
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
walking in the street of large city when
a tall man tapped him on the shoulder,
and looking into his face, said, "Yoa
don't remember mef"
No" said the minister, 81 DON'T
'Do you remember, twenty years ago,
fnding a little boy playing marbles near
a pUmpS Do you remember that boys
being too dirty to go to school, and pump
ing for him, and speaking kindly to him,
and taking him TO schoolY"
"Ohp said the minister, 81 do remem-
ber."
"Sir," said the gentleman, II was that
boy. | rose in business and became a
leading man. l have obtained position
in society, and on seeing you today in the
street felt bound to come to you, and say
that it is TO your kindness and wisdom
and Christian discretion-to your having
dealt with me persuasively-tha owe
under God, all that have attained and
what am at the present day-Suaddy
School Worker.