The Press., 1885-07-02
"A CUP OF COLD WATER. .'
(From Rev. !. F. Hawey's Address on sChildren's
 Day, at the Stafford Springs Cong'l Church)
{ (Matthe,0 X, A. )

a s
 tFrom Rev. J. P: Hawley's Address on .children's
 Day, at the Stafford Springs cong'l Church.)
 (1aatthet0 x, 42)
 Tip Screen did not at first tell his moth- CT, Mrs. Screen, that his Sunday school teacher, Miss Guy, had said to him that she wished he might get religion, or, in other words, that he might lbe C ,me Il chris tian.
 Now Tip was boy some ten years old, and knew but little about what being a christian meant, and the term s'g4tting re- ligion" was of doubtful import to him. He had heard bis Sunday school teacher speak of it, and the minister had preached about it, but yet he understood but little of what either of these had said in regard to it.
 He had Il vague idea that if he became 8 christian it would not be quite right to help himself without leave from the square white Jumps Gan occasional lnxury) in his mothers sugar bowl, or tie his sisters bright colored ribbons around the dogs neck, or attach bunch of fire crackers to the same animal on the 4th of July. h. deed there was feeling within him that some of his boyish pranks would have to be diminished in frequency, if not entirely dismissed
 He imagined somewhat dimly that hav- ing religion consisted mainly in going to meeting on Sunday, in hearing the sing ing, in listening t0.a part of the long pray CT, and in keeping still by falling asleep. He realized, too, that he must attend the Sunday school, and appear somewhat so- Der when the superintendent looked that way and not quite so sober, perhaps, when he did not, and especially so when his teacher back was toward him, or she was otherwise b,lsily engaged; and, in- deed, he felt 8 sort of sense of duty to ven ture an answer now and then to part of his teachers questions.
 But the last Sunday, moved by some new impulse, Miss Guy had asked him if he would not try to be christian?
 1t was strange question to him, so he thought; at least nobody had ever asked him such question before. He hardly knew what the word religion meant. He had supposed it something alone for grown mp folks-not for girls and boys no bigger than himself
 He knew his mother had talked about having religion, and so had Uncle George and Aunt Kate, but they were old and big like his father and mother. Should, he get religion? and, if so, how? Young as he was he knew it was not thing to he dug from the garden, or bought at the store. To tell the truth, Tip had no spe- cial desire to get religion and be chris tian, but lie admired his teacher because she was both good and good looking, and had the sweet ways which SO quietly and quickly gain full possession of. young hearts. Finally Tip decided about as any other one of similar age and experience would have done, to carry the important question to his mother
 Tips mother was good sensible wo- man-one quite poor, health not good, and a good deal of work to do; no time or but little to read. She did instruct her chil- dren somewhat she taught them their prayers, and kept them clean, aud by con- tinued work, early and late, succeeded in giving them sufficient food of plain quality to appease their hunger.
 It was no light task. however, for there were the three children, Tip the oldest, Teddie next, and the wee Maggie, not much more than a baby. Besides these was the husband land father, but he could not as other husbands and fathers, do much to aid in getting food and clothing for his family. Indeed, a good share of the time he was unable to leave the house, and for many days, now and then, he was confined to his bed As time passed on he could work only less number of hours, was at his home more and more, and confined in bed for longer periods.
 MT. Screen had not been idle or intem- perate. Their poverty with it's attendant burdens had come to them in spite of their best endeavors Ia their more prosperous days 8 small sum had been laid by in the savings bank. But at the time of which we now speak that sum had been expend- ed, and the future seemed very dark.
 Hardly ray of hope was shining in up- on them. There was one however, the as- surance of the doctor, that Mir. Screen might recover, and indeed be quite well again. But this assurance rested upon a condition which rendered the hope's re- alization we'll nigh an impossibility. He must attempt no work of any sort for six months at the least, have the air in his room always at about such temperature, and eat of good substantial food, and have enough of it.
 Such conditions were rather grim com forters in the way of giving hope, because of the seeming impossibilities involved. Such is brief outline of the family and the surrounding conditions, when the mo- matter of Tips getting religion Wuo bAC Ill leiS
 But Tips teacher had told him that it would be good thing for him to get re- ligion, and he thought he would get some inst how much he hardly knew, but enough at least to satisfy Miss Guy. Tip knew enough to know it was not weighed by the scales or measured by the yard stick, but he had some Idea that there was a difference both i'll quality and quantity.
 Tip and Teddie attended the day school in the village, almost city, where they lived. It was quite long walk from the home to the school and from the school to the home, for their parents occupied a small cottage on the skirt of the town, be- becanse in so dolng they could get bet ter tenement and at a less price per month than one in the center of the place, and besides here they conld have small gar den, from which they obtained considerable food in the way of fresh and health-giving vegetables.
 It was now Thursday in the week. Tip had thought great deal for small boy upon the question of the Sunday before. And now on his; hoineward walk from school he resolved to ask his mothers ad- vlce in the matter.
 It was the last week of school the long was at hand, and it would be a good time, Tip thought, to get religion, that is if it took any nnusnal time in which ;o do it. So Tip went home, and on enter ng the room of all work and all things he