Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-06-19
The Preacher at the Pump.

MANY years ago certain minister was
going one Sunday morning to his school
room. He walked through a number of
streets and as he turned corner he saw
assembled around pump party Of little
boys 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
boy? That is what | 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?'
'No,'' said the boy, Il haven't"
Then" said the minister, "Ill help
you" Whereupon he stopped down and
began to look for the marbles; and as he
did so he remarked, II liked to play mar
bles when I was a little boy very much,
added, II never play marbles on Sunday"
rested He liked his friends face, and
began to wonder who he was The min
| lister said:
I'm going to place where think you
would like to be; will you come with me?'
Said the boy, "Where do you live?"
an such place." was the answer.
| "Why, that's the minister's hOusen' eX-
claimed the boy, as if he did not suppose
| that kind man and minister of the
| Gospel could be the same person.
E. Yes" said the man. II 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 go.n
But" said the minister, there's a
| pump; why not wash them?'
Said the boy, I'm so little l can't wash
and pump at the same time"
"Well,' said the minister, eff you'll
wash, III 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
Ntl, dIltl L ooll klloW HOW W UIf ell.
The minister pulled out clean hand
| kerchief and offered it to the boy.
Said the boy, But it is 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
Twenty years after, the minister was
| walking in the street of large city when
tall man tapped him on the shoulder,
| and looking into his face, said, you
| don't remember me?"
No. said the minister, Il don't"
"Do you rememher, twenty years ago,
finding little boy playing marbles near
| pump? 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 SCHOOL,"
"Ohn' said the minister, II do remem-
Der"
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 to-day 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-that I owe,
under God, all that l have attained and
what | am at the present day.-Smpdoy-
School Worker.