Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-12

at was the shortest and most effective
sermon | ever witnessed-didn't hear it."
The gentleman who gave voice to the
above remark stood chatting with num-
Der of friends last evening in the foyer of
Hooley's Theater, awaiting the close of the
last act of "The Charity Ball"
'Let us have it," said one of the listen
ers. Anything in the shape of a sermon
which could interest you must indeed be
one Of paramount interest"
"Oh, it won't take long to tell it. There
was not word said in the sermon-iust a
motion, that's all. Boy made the motion
was the preacher"
"Well, tell us about it, why don't your"
"While waiting for a grip-car on the
corner of Ashland avenue and Madison
street this evening"" he began, II noticed a
number of little chaps hopping on and off
the cars whenever the conductors lack
was turned. 1t looked like dangerous
play, and l felt like catching one of
them and giving him good old-fashioned
spanking. Beside myself there was a
gray-haired, kindly-faced old gentleman,
rather sadly.
Suddenly the old gentleman in a
shrill voice cried out to the youngsters
Boys, Toys, don't Jump on those cars.
Some of you will surely get hurt But of
course the rascals paid no attention to
him in fact, they laughed as they con-
tinued their sport at every opportunity.
l had missed several east-bound grips,
so interested was / in what was going on.
"Again the old fellow called the lads
Boys, come here a moment and let me tell
you how foolish you are and what danger
you are placing yourselves in by leaping
on and off those cars The boys scrambled
up to the curbstone near the walk where
the old man was standing and prepared to
listen to what he might have to say.
"'Did you ever hear your papas read of
the many accidents which happen to little
fellows like you while playing with NOV
ing trains? Did you ever see any person
who had been hurt by his carelessness on
a grip train?
"There was no answer, except that the
young rogues looked at each other and
sort of grinned and wondered why the old
gentleman took such an interest in them
and their sports, and evidently grand
father read their thoughts, for he hastily
added: i have a little grandson who
played about those cars, though forbidden
to do so by the conductors as well as his
parents. He does not do so now, does he,
frankie p asked the old man, as he turned
to faxen-haired, blue-eyed little fellow
who stood beside him.
"'No, grandfather answered the boy.
"'And will you tell those foolish little
fellows why he does not p?
"Now, here's the Sermon" said the man
in the foyer. "The boy made no answer
he Just showed out the stump of what had
once been his right leg and burst into
tears. That was all. The kind old grand
pa kissed his pretty but crippled grandson,
and with his hand on his shoulder the two
slowly walked up the avenue.
"Well, sir, those little rats stood stock
still for moment or so and gazed with
wide eyes at the crippled boy as he moved
away. Then with very earnest faces they
quietly turned corners and went their
various ways to their homes as thought
fully as though they were going to their
own funerals That's the sermon, the
most impressive and effective that l ever
witnessed, for there was nothing to hear
about it."-ChicdgO Nal.