The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-10-18
The Quaker's Gift.

A friend writes that when he was a
youth his father said to him one day
" Henry, can you make up your mind
to live at home and be farmer?"
al would rather be a tanner than a
farmer" replied Henry.
"Very WE'LL" responded his father,
who was willing to let Henry follow his
own tastes, as he was now seventeen
years old. very well, my son, 1 will
try and find place for you.
Very shortly after place was found
for Master Henry with a good Quaker.
When the youth presented himself at the
tannery the honest Quaker said,-
" Henry, if thee will be good boy, l
will do well by thee; if not, 1 will send
thee home again. All the bargain that
I will make by thee is that thee shall do
as well by me as 1 do by thee"
" Very well, sir, said Henry, " 1 will
try what 1 can do"
Henry now went to work with hear
ty good will. He worked hard, read
his Bible, was steady, honest, and good
natured. The Quaker liked him. He
liked the Quaker. Hence the Quaker
was satisfied. Henry was happy, and
the years of his apprenticeship passed
pleasantly away.
Just before Henry became of age, his
master said to him.
Henry, 1 think of making thee nice
present when thy time is out.
Henry smiled pleasantly at this scrap
of news, and said, l shall be very hap
Ply to receive any gift you may please to
make me, sir"
Then the Quaker looked knowingly at
Henry, and added, 81 cannot tell thee
now what the present is to be, but it
shall be worth more than a hundred
pounds to thee !"
" More than hundred pounds !" said
Henry to himself, his eyes sparkling at
the thought of such costly gift. what
can it be?"
That was the puzzling question which
buzzed about like bee in Henry's brain
from that time until the day before he
was of age. On that day the Quaker
said to him.
Henry, thy time is out tomorrow I
will take thee and thy present home to-
day."
Henry breathed freely on hearing these
words. Dressing himself in his best suit,
he soon joined the Quaker, but could see
nothing that looked like gift worth
more than hundred pounds. He puz-
zled himself about it all the way, and
said to himself, Perhaps the Quaker has
forgotten it.
AT last they reached Henry's home
After he had been greeted by his friends
the Quaker turned to him and said =
Henry, will give thy present to thy
father"
AS you please, sir" replied Henry,
now on the very tiptoe OF expectation.
Well, said the Quaker, speaking to
Henry's father, Thy son is the best boy
| ever had" Then turning to Henry,
he added, at This is thy present, Henry
A GOOD NAME"
Henry blushed perhaps he felt lit
tie disappointed because his golden Wis
ions were so suddenly spirited away.
But his sensible father was delighted,
and said to the Quaker, who was smiling
little waggishly:
" would rather hear you say that Of
my son, sir, than to see you give him all
the money you are worth for good
name is rather to be chosen than great
riches"
Henrys father was right, and the
Quaker was wise man. l have no
doubt that Henry's good name did him
more good than hundred pounds could
have done. 1t proved him to be the
owner of good character, which is worth
more than all the gold pearls, diamonds,
and precious stones in the world Chris
tin71 T-ensl97I