Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-12-22
Into such like service, parson was the

you buried my boy. though alnt pew
holder nor professor, sir.
'"He wasn't bigger'n that little cove,
Johnny wasn't, sir.
| Thought ont yesterday. and my wife
SITS sight by you. She perfesses. So
thought d run up and get the letter. sir,
this morning, and between US and the
police sir, We would find the young ones
How they walk! Kinder tuckered out
with the cold. YUM. Wall, guess
we'll wait right here.''
They waited silently: only now and then
the carrier vummed little below his
breath. when Pease slipped down, or Pop
~ stopped to put his bare, cut hand to his
sore throat. az il it hurt him more than be
expected.
The minister stood with one hand across
his eyes. He was pale man, with gen.
tie face. In his other hand. which shook
little. he held a piece of paper, soiled,
wat, blnod-stained. crumpled. It was
Popsy $ letter. II was open, and this was
how it read:
s.DEAr LORD jesus christi sweat Psas
is my LILLE Sister and she Is cold
WE havnt knny Fur nor diner an mar
ma Is ded Nor emmy Body els esthER
thorJ You'd Like III no
PLEAS send ME SumBody and Sum
Super FOR my lite sister
yours Treuly Popsy''
The minister stood in the binding sun,
the carrier just behind him. Tho tiny
toiling figures OF the children came near
er, drew closer, and stopped. 1t was dead
ly cold at that corner by the letter box,
but Pease forgot to cry.
Popsy stepped up to the carrier. He had
on his grand look. Peass turned her face
towards him corfidingly. She was sure
she had never seen him look quite 50
grand. Z
whats your nameY" asked the carrier.
"My name is Popsy. My mamma is
dead. This is my little sister. Her name
is Peace. She's very little. l take care Of
her. l wrote letter for her. Is there any
answer for meI"
| This gentleman'll answer that vummed
letter" said the carrier. The .rrier looked
embarrassed.
Popsy went up to the minister. who had
not spoken, but stood silently regarding
the children. 1t was dazzling bright where
the minister stood, with snow and ice
about him and behind him, Popsy thought
he shone. The child took off his old thin
cap.
Are you the Lord Jesus, sir ?" asked
Popsy.
You're Lord Zlesus 20 echoed Peace.
But the minister. too, took off his hat :
he and the child stood bareheaded tozeth-
er under the wintry heavens.
II an His servant, my poor bly," said
the minister, in y low voice; II am His
servant"
"Seruant?"
Popsy looked puzzled for minute
ibid lie send you on a message ? Did
He told you-did he ARK you-to answer
folkses' letters %
IL think he did. We will hope He did,
said the minister, but lower yet. Come
with me, and we will fiud out what He says
about you, if we can"
But Popsy said
"We're pretty hungry, and my froat is
sore. But l arxpected Him to answer. l
thought He would.''
Now when he turned he saw that the
carrier, too, had lifted his fine gray cap,
and the servant of the great United STATES
ana the servant Of the great Lord Jesus
stood both unc ,vered before the child.
II want som, zhohny -cake!" said Sweet
Peass unexpectedly. IL want zhonny-
cake because I'm co-o-ld!''
1t Was Sunday, and the church was full.
1t was always full, but this Sunday it
flowed over. For the story Of tho chill
dren had slid from lip to lip-fast ~ kind
thoughts and loving deeds do, thank
Heaven! though in world where children
freeze and mothers die-and it had gone
abroad that the minister would preach
to the psople about Pease and Popsy, and
he did.
The carriers wife was there to hear; and
the carrier sat beside her. He felt strange
without his gray uniform, in his old-fasb-
toned Sunday coat that he hadn't worn
since he could rem -mbsr.
The post Office clerk who held the letter
for insufficient p stage. was there, too
and one or two other clerks, and friend
"r 30 of the carriers besides. and half-a-
d zen friends of Mrs. Carriers land in fact,
great many people who did not 60 TO
oh ur rob mr. n 70
hear that sermon about the little b ~ who
wrote letters to the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thought the United States mail service in
daily communication with the court of
Heaven.
Popsy was not there for his throat was
too sore; he Was in a warm bright room in
the Children's Hospital, drinking hot
chicken soup when the church bell rang.
And Pease was not there, for she was
not big enough, Mrs. Carrier said and
Mrs. Carrier ought to know, for she had
promised to take Care of her for week.
Sweet Pease, in fact. was at home ny the
fire with the Carrier children eating ''zhon-
nv-cake,' when the long prayer began.
1t was short sermon, for the minister
could not say great deal, he felt and
thought so much about Pease and Popsy
But when he told the story, just as it had
happened, and when he asked the people
what he should do about Popsy. and when
he said,-
20 my people. have been thinking how
proud you Will be that you can be chosen
Co Carry the Masters answer to the little
boY!''
And when he prayed
''Lord, give us faith like the faith of
this child whom thou has brought among
u.s. there Was stir upon the still air of