Iron County register., 1885-05-28
THE RIGHT SPIRIT.


Hrs. Sarah f.. Eastman, in Golden Days.
THE RIGHT SPIRIT.
How George Began Learning to Do Mis-.
sionary Work at Home.
Rap, rap, rap!
1t was Uncle George Watkins pound.
ing on the sole Of shoe he was mend
ing, and it was young George Watkins
who, on his way to school, halted, one
noon, at the little shop where his uncle
presided. Uncle George was a funny
looking shoemaker. The top of his head
was bald, and it shone as if it had been
polished. At the sides were two tufts
of gray hair that stuck out like little
wings. He always wore spectacles
when at his work. They were gold
bowed, and had been given him by his
Bible class
You don't often see a shoemaker S
eyes in gold-bowed spectacles," Uncle
George had said; 'sand they may think
I'm millionaire shoemaker, but they
are all I've got. Fact is, though wear
ing gold bowed spectacles, | can't af-
ford to buy silver ones. So l must
wear what I've got"
Uncle George had shaven face, and
clear, fresh, youthful complexion; and
altogether, when you saw the. shining
gold, the little wings, the round face,
you thought of a cherub that had been
detained here after flight to our earth,
and had grown a bit old. And wasn't
Uncle George a good man! l do be-
lieve the cherub was inside, though
only a shoemaker was outside.
''Well, George, are you gong to school
this morning?'
eyes, uncle"
''When you get all through studying,
and are grown up, what are you going
to do then@'
Il think I'll be a missionary. l
would like to be one now, and 60 off,
said George in tone of great humility
and self-sacrifice. This was one of his
fancies. He had wondered his mother
had not seen it, and sometimes re-
marked: II think my son will be a
missionary to China
'.Well, if you were going off to-mor-
row, would your missionary work at
go?''
my missionary work:?'
.'Yesr'
Il don't know"
''Didn't see your mother bringing,
this morning, wood from the shed?'
''Well, she said she would"
.'Did you take your fathers dinner
to him at noon?"
Mother said it was only across the
street, and she could go.'
s"Did YOU get the mail?'
''The post-office is only at the corner,
and she thought she could run there"
'-And the groceries, did you order
them for home?
'.She didn't ask me-"
''You must not wait to be asked. You
must offer to do. Missionaries don't
wait till people beg them to act. Only
think of missionary waiting to be
asked!"
'When [ come to think of it, uncle,
I remember mother thought she could
do it tonight Just as well. -
Your sister Nelly is sick. Did you
go upstairs to see if she wanted any
thing?"
''Mother she was going in
minute
.Seems to me that those who mean to
be missionaries must show a mission
ary, self-sacrificing spirit, and help at
home all they can. | call that one kind
of missionary work. Why, those who
are missionaries are really helpful at
home"
81 don't know but that out West,'
continued Uncle George, ''the mission
aries do the washing for their wives
Some OF them, poor fellows! scrub
round fearfully. Boys that are going
to be missionaries ought to help at
home all they can; and if they will,
they can"
Rap, rap, rap!
The would-be missionary left his
uncle's shop with humiliated air.
George was a sensible boy. He knew
what his uncle meant. He was well
aware that he had been selfish at home.
He was not naturally a very generous
boy, but then he had a conscience.
There are two kinds of generous people
in the world; those who by nature real
ly enjoy giving and doing, and those
who must make it a duty to give and
do. 1t is not an easy thing for the lat
ter class; but spurred on by good
conscience, they accomplish much in
the end. George was one of the con-
science-givers and conscience-doers,
and his sense of the right did not fail
him now.
When he went home, he said: "I'n
be missionary tonight, and help all
can He reached the house. He
entered the kitchen. His mother sat by
the window, and she was knitting.
Cares had given little stoop to her
shoulders, and years had touched her
dark hairs with gray. George looked
at his mother, and she seemed tired.
He looked at the wood-box, it was
empty!
II guess, mother. I will get you some
wood" said George, cheerfully.
''You are real good. feel so tired.''
When the box had been filled George
said: 'I'n go up and see how Nelly is.
She may want something"
Il wish you would, George. l was
going myself in minute"
Nelly wanted water and the last Sun
day-school paper.
20 mother! there is the post-office,
and don't you want something at the
store?''