The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-10-27
The Pocket-Book.

Tom Jackson says he does not believe
there is God he says he never saw him;
and don't know that / believe-l never
saw him." sid John Clary, just come in
from company of Tom Jackson.
81 do said his mother; and she said
nothing more.
A week or more after this John burst
into the kitchen with Tom at his heels.
"See mother" he cried, what have
found-such handsome pocket-book !"
Where did you find it?' asked his
mother
6" In Pine Grove; now who do you sup
pose it belongs to?"
Il dare say it grew there, said his
mother.
Grew there !" exclaimed John, lifting
up his eyebrows with great surprise ;
I" a pocket book grow in the woods !
Who ever heard of such thing 1t
could not be.
why not? she asked.
"Why not T. replied the boy d" the
pocket book was made on purpose. Look
here J. opening it; " here is place for
bank notes, and here is little out-of-
the-way spot with a snug fastening for
gold, and a memorandum book, and
pencil case and beautiful gold pencil.
Look, mother, with pen and lead, both;
it was made for q man to use"
Some continuance here, certainly"
said his mother, putting down her work
and taking it into her hands for further
examination. alt is one of the most
useful pocket books l ever saw if it did
not grow there perhaps it made itself"
Both boys stared at her more and
more.
why, mother, you talk foolishly,"
said John, with a sober and puzzled
look, there must have been man with
mind to have made this"
"a man that knew how-a pretty
neat workman added Tom jackson.
How do you know you never saw
him"
mo, but l have seen his work, and
that's enough to convince me- am Just
as certain that somebody made it as if l
saw him."
"You are p said Mrs. Clary, how
so ?"
"Why, mother, said John, very much
in earnest, "you see the pocket book had
to be planned to answer a certain pur-
pose now, it must have had planner,
that's the long and short of it and I
know it just as well as if l saw it planned
and done by the man himself"
"That is, said his mother, st shows
wise contrivances and it must have had
wise contriver. Somebody must have
made il, and thought beforehand how to
make it.
"Just SO /" exclaimed both boys at
once "It would be foolish to think
otherwise" added John.
think so, said his mother "And
it is Just as foolish" she continued, with
great deal of meaning in her eye, as
she looked into the boys eyes, when
you see the wonderful contrivances in
the beings and things around you, the
end for which they were made, and the
skill with which they were put together,
for you to doubt or deny that there is a
God who made them. Who planned
your eyes to see with, your ears to hear
with 2 Can eyes make themselves? Can
man make bird Who created the
sun, and planned night and day Did
your mother or father plan your fingers
and make them grow? You never saw
who does all these things, but you know
perfectly well that great Somebody
thought beforehand, designed and con-
trived the eye, and the ear, and sun, and
your fngers-all things and all beings
which are around you. And that great
somebody is God, the eternal Mind and
great Maker for us all. 10
The boys did not expect to be con.
demned from their own mouths in this
way.
See, mamma ~ exclaimed little Cir
as she looked out of the window during
snow-storm. See the popped rair