The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-08-11
"NoNE OF MY BUSINESS. :"
roafk's Comssnioa.

foafh's Companion.
In hourishing inland city, there is
a large and wealthy church; il matters
not Of what denomination. The clergy
man in charge teaches his people to
love God and their neighbors, and the
people have, apparently, endeavored to
learn the lesson. They are generous
in their gifts TO churchwork, to the
poor, and to charitable organizations.
II is a congregation, too, in which
there is much refinement of taste, cul.
ture and kindly feeling, and hence but
little gossip.
A few months ago young lad came
to this city from the country, and found
employment in a -four and feed store.
He had no friends, had brought no
letters OF introduction. His first week
in town was lonely enough. He work.
ed all day, slept and ate in a cheap
clearinghouse with twenty other lads,
all ga little fast"
When Sunday came, in accordance
with promise to his mother, he went
to church-his heart full Of homesick.
ness-remembering, with a thrill of
pleasure, the pretty little village chapel
where all the friends and neighbors
worshipped side by side, and the cor
dial greetings among them when service
was over.
Doubtless it would be the same in
in the city church. The people of God
were alike everywhere. Somebody
would notice the poor, strange lad, and
would hold out friendly hand to him,
possibly ask him to his house and make
life seem little less bare, and duty
easier for him.
He went, but nobody seemed to see
him at all. though the crowds Of we'll.
dressed people, when service was over,
smiled and spoke to each other as they
passed from the doors OF the sanctuary.
He was a stranger in strange land,
and felt it more bitterly in this house
Of God than in his boarding house,
Among the crowd were kind, fathcrly
old men, sweet faced n.atrons, with
sons of their own. He watched them
eagerly, but they brushed past him in
silence.
Nobody even asked him to come
again. But he did go again, occupy
ing the same seat during the winter
Slbbaths. Some OF the members OF the
church noticed him at last, and asked
who he was. One even said, "Some-
body should ask h.: 20 join a church
society,"" but added TO himself, "Brothcr
A will see to it. It's none of my
business. Brother A had the same
vague idea, but left it to Brother D.,
it being none of his business.
The lad, finding no welcome in the
church made acquaintance with the
boys an his boarding house, went with
them on Sunday to the park, TO boat
race, and at last to dog.hght. In
the fall. one Sunday. group OF drunk
en- young men gathered in front OF the
church: among them was our country
lad, his face pale, his eyes dull from
the effects OF liquor. his steps unsteady.
"ls not that the young man who
used TO sit near TO us ?" said one lady.
''Poor fellow he's on the downward
road ! II somebody would speak to
him, even now, i, might do some good"
She hesitated. The boy looked at
her wistfUlly, thinking she was little
like his mother. Blu, she hurried into
church, thinking that really it was none
OF her business after all.
In how many churches are such
things done3
What should be the motto written
over their altars-,he words of Jesus,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy
self ?" or the words OF Cain, "Am my
brothers keeper?''