Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-11-20

OesI Olu latHeI! III nls Klnuly, CleTl-
cal way lie always made a joke Of his
good deeds; but not one of Gods naked
or hungry creatures ever went uncared
for away from the parsonage gate.
He little thought now how true it was
what he last had said, that Pentateuch
might prove Gan angel unawares." !
shudder even now when think how diff.
ferent it would be with all of us had not
God sent the negro boy to our gate that
day.
So Pentateuch followed us into the
house; and he liked his dinner so we'll
that he remained about the place all the
afternoon and got his supper.
Then, almost as matter of course, he
was permitted to remain over night, and
at break the next morning; and then
somehow, Pentateuch liked US so we'll,
AID we became so interested in him, thai
it was decided he should remain at the
parsonage for the present, doing wha,
chores and errands we could find for him
in return for his board.
That was the way Pentateuch became
member of our family.
have not time to tell you very much
about Pentateuch, save of the one thing
that he did, not long after we first knew
him, and on account OF which we have
always been so thankful! that we knew
HIM at all.
Perhaps it is enough to say that he
was very much like great many Other
young negroes of whom you have read
who have come to live with families here
ut the North, full of carelessness and in.
dolence and mischief, and yet at times
devoted, generoua, and kindheartcd.
He certainly had one trait which is,
am sorry to say, quite common among
youngsters Of his race-he did not seem
to have the remotest idea of any such
thing as moral obligation.
He would do all sorts of things, and
tell I'LL sorts of stories, without any re-
gard whatever to what was right or true
and it was quite impossible to make him
regret his misdoings save by Furnishing
him in some way.
We were all more or less troubled
about the moral obliquity of P entateuch's,
and my father felt particularly anxious
about him.
But mother once said, hopefully,
"There must be some good IN HIM
somewhere. He is always willing to put
himself out, and to do what he can to
please US. 1t was only this morning
that he searched for more than an hour
to find the Ratchet for me-"
I eyes," father answered bitterly, and
then laughed in spite Of himself; land
he knew where it was all the time, saw
him hide it under thr wood-ptle last
night, to get rid of cutting the kindlings,
I suppose"
But let me come at once to my story.
One evening just after tea-it was late
in November, and the nights were cold
we were sitting about the old-tashioned
fireplace, variously occupied, when father
who was looking over the evening paper,
and was reading aloud now and then
any items Of interest that caught his eye,
suddenly uttered an exclamation of sur
prise.
We all looked up, expecting to hear
something of Importance, but he remained
silent.
"What is it," I presently asked.
"Oh, nothing" father answered, and
then looked quite confused, knowing that
he was not telling the truth. "That is,
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lu ud t she ran,;nd. NJ ! ras 10 ~ da,
- NJ s1 Eil;s,a to-n;oht Ka+;e ch G%a
w ~ n,s von fetch nv ceat1, ''
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