Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-09
Ghildreu's department.
JOHN IN SEARCH OF A PLACE.
"Well, John, have you succeeded to.da.

"Well, John, nave you succeeded To-Day
my son?"
"No, mother; 1 have been nearly all over
the town, and no one will take me. But
think if you had been with me should have
stood better chance. You look so thin and
pale, mother, somebody would have felt sorry,
and so have taken me but nobody knew me,
and no one saw you"
1t was cold, bleak night, and John had been
out all day "looking for place" He had
tried hard, until it was quite dark, and then
gave up, thinking his mother must be tired
of waiting for him.
Johns mother was widow, and very poor.
She had kept herself by needlc-work till a
severe trial of sickness had confined her to
her bed, and she was unable to do more. She
told her little son to sit down by the fire
while she got him some food. The fire and
the supper were very scanty; but John knew
they were the best she could provide, and he
felt that he would rather share such fire and
such supper with so kind mother, than sit
at the best filled table with anybody else who
did not love him as she did, and whom he did
not love as he did her.
After few moments Of silence, the boy
looked up into his mothers face, and said,
"Mother, do you think it would be wrong to
ask my new Sabbath school teacher about a
place."
"No; my child, not if you have no other
time, and I think he would be a very proper
person at least, 1 should think that he would
be interested in getting you good place"
"Well, tomorrow is Sabbath, and when the
class breaks up I will ask him."
After reading portion of Gods holy word,
the mother and her little son kneeled down
together to pray. She asked God to bless
them with the Holy Spirit, that they might
truly repent of sin, and through faith in Je-
sus Christ obtain pardon. She prayed that
God would care for them as a father, give
them His rich grace and do that which He
knew to be best for them, for Christ's sake.
81 feel happier now," said John, 81 was so
tired when l came in, that l felt quite sad.
Did look 50, mother ?"
The mothers heart was full, and she gave
her boy kiss which was sweeter than many
words
The next morning was the Lords day.
Johns breakfast was more scanty than ever +;
but he said not word about that for he saw
that his mother ate very little Of it. But one
or two sticks of wood were left outside, where
it was kept, and he knew that both food and
fire might all be gone before night. They
had earned no money to buy anything, for
several days. The sun was shining bright
and clear, but the air was very cold. The
child had no overcoat; but Fastening to the
school, he was in his seat just as the superin-
tendent and his teacher entered.
"Who is that pale-faced boy in your class p
asked the superintendent of the teacher.
Ellis name is Jones-I intend to visit him
this very week. He is well-behaved boy"
II should like to know more about him., y
said the superintendent, "and / will speak to
him after school,
The superintendent did not forget him, and
when the class broke up, seeing him linger be-
hind the other scholars, went up and spoke to
him kindly.
"You have been here to school several Sab
baths, have you not, my boy?'
Eyes, sir, I came one month ago, today
"Had you ever been to school before that
time?"
eyes sir, before my mother was taken sick
I used to 60 to another school, but that was a
great way of, and when mother got we'll, and
you opened this new school, she brought me
here"
"Well, did not see you yesterday looking
for place in Water street"
81 was down there, sir, looking for place. Z"
"Why did you not take that place which
the gentleman had for you in the large shop?'
Because sir, they kept open shop on a
Sabbath, and mother would not wish ME to
work on the Lords day."
"You did not keep the piece Of gold money
that you found on the floor as you were COM
ing into the street; why did you not?''
because it was not mine, sir; and thought
that the gentleman of the shop would find the
owner sooner than should"
"He did, my boy-it was my money. Did
you not get place yesterday?"
"No, sir; all the places we're full, and no.
body knew Inc"
"Well, my boy, you may 60 now and tell
your mother that you have place Come to
me very early in the morning-your teacher
will tell you where live"
John went home with his heart and his eyes
so full, that he could hardly see the street or
anything else, as he went along. He knew
that it would cheer his dear mother very much,
and so it did, That Sabbath evening John
and his mother knelt down together, and with
tears of joy, they gave thanks to God, who
had not forgotten the fatherless and the wild
ow in their distress.