The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-02-04
ONLY 4 POOR WoR.uM.
An Humble Missionary ThimbIe-rIggIng
for the Poor Heathen-

An Humble missionary Thimbie-riggIlsg g
for the Poor Heathen-
On the train, the other day, very
solemn-looking man. dressed in black
and carrying hat-box, came along and
dropped into my seat.
" 1t is fine day" I remarked, desir-
ing to be friendly.
cit is fine day, but young man, how
is it with your soul?" he replied, rolling
up his eyes and looking still more sol
emn.
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 I was jogging along
peacefully-like, paying my debts, saving
little money, aud dropping something
into the contribution box as it passed.
Sc That won't do-ah," he said, as he
folded his arms and closed his eyes,
"you're a sinner. ah, a baneful sinner.
There is no mansion laid up for you In
the land beyond the skies-ah. Do ycu
ever pray-ah p
Once IN a great while, y I told him.
The devil is in your heart-ah," he
went on. You pray not, neither do
you sing. Like a fower 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 Z?
1 asked, feeling little weak.
am but q poor worm myself" he
answered meekly, "like unto a puny
insect"
ga cocEroach, for instance" I put
in, as he paused.
"Only a poor struggling wor'um, -
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,
am trying to save few benighted heath
ems, trying to redeem few souls"
"In what particular way?" inquired.
Partly by my prayers, and partly
by collecting money and buying Bibles
to ship them, that they may have the
word of Iife."
There was a pause for a moment, and
then he laid his hand on my arm and
continued
Young man, the Lord lo7eth a
cheerful giver Out of your abund-
ance contribute something for the cause
of the benighted. Even though you
are not good Christian, your good act
will be put to your credit in that land
where all is Joy and bliss"
I asked him if he could change q $40
bill and give me back 1885, and he
turned away and seemed weary.
We rode on in silence for about q
mile, and then he took 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 benighted."
" Which the same is true" I muir.
INJURED.
"On the part of the heather and my
cause, desire to bet thee five to three
| that thou canst not put thy finger il
| the loop that will catch" he said, smil
ing sweetly.
'' It's the old string game-seen i
forty times" 1 answered.
"Solely on account of the benighteC
| heathen do I wish to bet five to three
| that thou canst not locate the joker,
he went on, producing three thimblei
and pea.
So ''Played it in the army for foul
| years." I replied, turning away with {
mournfuI heart.
"Then you are willing that the heather
shall struggle on like the beasts of th'
field and birds of the air." he asked
putting up his thimble.
Yes, truly" I answered.
"'Iis sad that one so young should
be so SINFUL" he murmured, and wen
to the other end of the car, and sue
ceeded in fleeing an old man out 0
$34 and watch on the check game
for the cause of the heathen in Africa