The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-10-26
A LITTLE CHILD.
A Four-Year-Old Worker in the Temper
ance Army.

anco Army.
At our State convention last year
little Willie Hatch, four years old.
was made an honorary member of the
convention, and donned the white
ribbon. Before the meeting closed he
said: 1--we got to work for Temper
ance, too, mamma, for l raised my
hand when the others didr'
Recently attended the soldiers re-
union at the Weirs, where | went to
look after the distribution Of Temper
ance literature. l found Willie's
mother there, and at once put the lit
erature in her hands to distribute
among the soldiers and others who
thronged the encampment Having a
few hours before tho train should
come that would carry me to other
duties, started out to make a tour Of
the grounds with Mrs. Hatch.
!. As-we toa2E. &he leaflets and tracts
for distribution Willie said:
Mamma. let me give them to the
men," 1t occurred to US that the
little child, yet in dresses, might
reach the heart of manhood better
than we could, and we gave over our
literature to his tiny hands, while we
assumed the possibilities of ''rear
guard" to our brave little soldier.
Faithfully he offered his goods" to
every man he met, and not once was
he repulsed. Curiosity, If nothing
else, compelled the men to reach down
and take whatever those little hands
were Offering them among the crowds
OF hucksters, peddlers and advertising
agents that thronged the grounds.
Presently a man said, as he took q
leaflet without looking at it: "And
who are you working for, my little
fellow?"
What was our establishment to hear
the sweet clear voice of the child. as
he looked up into the face of the rran,
answer: I'm working for AuGtie
Knox and the Lordn'
Dear little Willie! He taught ur a
lesson then and there. by his artless
words, and we began to realize, As
never before, that we were 'co-labor-
ers together with God" The stranger
knew nothing OF the first name, 50
familiar to the child from a three
years residence in the same town, on
the same street, but he reverently
took the printed page when he heard
the name of Him who came to seek
and save the lost, and who shall say
what influences may grow therefrom?
A little later and another man took
q leaflet, glanced at it, stood hesitat-
ingly, then, passing q dime into the
child's hand, said: "See here, little
boy, l was just going to take that
money and buy me drink, but l won't
do it. You take it and go and buy you
a whip, | shall be better off without
it," and with sober face tho man
turned away, and we know that his
heart had been touched.
Still another. as he took the leafet
assigned to him, inquired: what is
this, anyway" To which Willie re-
piled: at tells you so yru won't do
wrong, and so you'll be better!"
Thus one and another received a
warning that he needed, and many a
one stopped to look second time into
the pure, sweet face OF the little mis-
sionary that was working better than
he knew.
AS for myself, when the train whis-
tied in, and Willie, looking up, whis-
pered to me: Il want to kiss you be-
fore you 60" could only think what
another once said: Il love God and
little children. Mrs. N. H. Knox, in
Union Signal.