The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-01-29
TOR TIE SEs1 aLS.

TOR TIE SEs1aE
On the train the other day a very solemn
looking man, dressed in black, and carrying
hatbox, came along and dropped into half
my seat.
ut is fine day." 1 remarked, desiring to
be friendly.
at is fine day. but, young man, how is
it with your soul ?" he replied rolling up
his eyes and looking still more solemn.
/ asked him what he meant, and he an
swercd:
Where would you &C to if you died |?
How does your record stand in Heaven 3''
told him that / was jogging along
peacefully like. payin.; my debts, saving
little money, and dropping something into
the oontribution-box as it passed.
''That won't do-ah." he said, as he fold
ed mis- hands AMI closed his eyes. You're
sinno :, ah, a balefuj sinner. There is NO
mansion hid up for you in the llnd beyond
the skies-ah. Do you ever pr4y-lh?'
Once in a gro.t while,'' told him
''ihe 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? ?" 1
asked, feeling little weak.
Il am but poor worm myself :" he an
swered meekly, "lke unto puny insect
"a cockroech, for instance 1 put in as
he paused.
"Only a poor, struggling wor-um," he
went on, never minding me, yet L am try
ing to do my appointed work. Away over
the sea in Africa, millions are living in
ignorance and vice, knowing nothing of
Heaven, having no good in their hearts,
living like the beasts of the field. In my
poor humble way, L am trying TO save
few beniShted heathen-trying to redeem
a few souls
I'm what particular way" 1 inquired.
Partly by my prayers, and partly by
my collecting money and buying Bibles to
ship to them, that they may have the word
Of Hfe.''
There was a pause fer moment and
then he laid his hand on my arm and con-
tinued:
Young man, the Lord loveth a cheerful
giver Out of your abundance contribute
something for the cause of the benighted
Even though you are not Christian, your
good act viii be put to your credit in the
Land where all is joy and bliss"
I asked him if he could change a $50 bill
and give me back Sl9,95 and he turned
away and seemed weary.
We rode on in silence for about a 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 a sinner, and thou
wilt not freely contribute to the cause Of
the banighted."
(Which the same is true" I murmured.
"On the part Of the heather and my
cause, desire to bet nee fye 10 three That
thou canst not put thy finger in the loop
that viii catch" he slil, smiling sweet1y.
ITS the Old string game-seen it forty
times" 1 answered.
"Solely on account Of the benighted
heatLen do 1 wish TO bet five to three that
thou cinst not locate the ioker," he went
on, producing three thimbl.s AMI pea.
"Played it in the army for four years.
I replied, turning away with a mourrful
heart.
"Then you are willing that the heathen
sh4ll struggle on Ike the beasts of the field
and the birds of "a, au - he asked, putting
up his thimble.
''Yca, truly 1 answered.
"'Tis sad that one SO young should be so
sinful he murmurci, and went to the
other end of the car and succeeded in feec-
ing an old man out of s34 and watch on
the check game-ror tue cause of the heath
en- ia Africa.