The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-01-29
ONLY A POOR WOR'UM.
An Humble Missionary T'EimbIe-rlgging
for the Poor Heathen.


| tor the Poor Heathen-
On the train, the other day, a very
solemn-looking man. dressed in black
and carrying a hat-box, came along and
dropped into my seat.
1T is fine day, I remarked, desir-
ing to be friendly.
1t is fine day, but young man, how
is it with your soul?" ne replied, rolling
up his eyes and looking still more sol
emn.
7 I asked him what he meant, and he
answered:
"Where would you go to if you died?
How does your record stand in heaven?"
I told him that was jogging along
peacefuIly-like, paying my debts, saving
q little money, aud dropping something
into the contribution box as it passed.
''That won't do-ah," he said, as ne
folded his arms and closed his eyes,
"you're sinner, ah, q baneful sinner.
There is no mansion laid up for you in
the land beyond the skies-ah. Do ycu
ever pray-ah q"
"Onoe IN & great while" 1 told him.
"The devil is in your heart-ah," he
went on. "You pray not, neither do
you sing. Like a flower you shall be
cut down, and the stem shall wither and
decay, and be seen no more among the
fields"
What would you advise me to do?
I asked, feeling little weak.
81 am but a poor worm myself" he
answered meekIy, "Hke unto puny
insect"
CA cookroaoh, for instance" 7 put
in, as he paused.
"Only a poor struggling -wOr'unn,". >.
he went on, never minding me, "yet I
am trying TO do my appointed work.
Away over the sea, in Africa, millions
are living in ignorance and vice, know
ing nothing Of heaven, having no good
in their hearts, living like the beast of
the field. in my poor humble way, I
am trying to save a few benighted heath
ems, trying to redeem few souls"
"In what particular way?" I Inquired.
Partly by my prayers, and partly
by collecting money and buying Bibles
TO ship them, that they may have the
word Of life"
There was a pause for moment, and
then he laid his hand on my arm and
continued
"Young man, the Lord Ioveth 8
cheerful giverl Out OF your abund-
ance contribute something for the cause
of the benighted. Even though you
are not a good Christian, your good act
viii be put 10 your credit in that land
where all is Joy and bliss"
asked him if he could change a $40
bin and give me back $19,95, and he
turned away and seemed weary.
We rode on in silence for about
mile, and then he took a string from his
pocket, laid it On his knee in way TO
make two separate loops in it, and then
he said:
Young man, thou art sinner, and .
thou wilt not freely contribute TO the
cause Of the benighte6."
'' Which the same is true" I mur-
INJURED.
"On The part Of the heather and my
cause, [ desire to bet thee five to three
that thou canst not put thy finger in
the loop 5hat viii catch, he said, smiI-
ing sweetly.
tits the old string game-seen it
forty times" I answered.
"Solely on account of the benighted
heather do wish TO bet five to three
that thou canst not locate the joker"
he went on, producing three thlmbles
and pea.
Played it in the army for four
years." [ replied, turning away with
mournful heart.
Then you are willing that theheathen
shall struggle on like the beasts of the
field and birds of the air." he asked,
putting up his thimble.
eyes, truly" I answered.
cts sad that one SO young should
be so sinful" he murmured, and went
to the other end of the car, and sue
seeded in fleeing an old man out OF
S34 and a watch on the check game
,or the cause Of the heather IN Africa.