The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-11
A Birds Lesson.

Times were very naru Wlln poor olu
Jack Donaldson. In fact, they had
been 80 ever since he left the beauti-
full cliffs of his beloved Scotland, and
came to America. To be sure, he
found freedom here, and he saw that
it was great and glorious country,
but it seemed as if there was 10 place
for him.
He was skillful sail and rope men
der, and he hired a little loft close to
the great river, where he would be
handy to the shippers. But it did
small good. Either the sailors must
have had extra good luck with theil
ropes and sails, and did not need any
mending done, or else some other man
got oil the work to do.
Old Jack sat in his lonely little sail
loft, and looked through his small
window to see the great ships come in
so proudly, while day by day his slen'
der stock Of money grew less and less,
and still he could only sit in enforced
idleness.
If he went into the streets, he met
many workers like himself, and noted
their gloomy faces and heard their
talk of "strikes" and "boycots" and
knew that in so many homes there
was suffering and want, and his heart
sank lower. >,
He saw too the rich and proud roll
by in their costly carriages, and have
so much while others had so little,
and the bitterness in his bosom swell
ed until his eyes were dimmed with
hot tears.
He went back to his little loft, and
began idly to mend some worn pieces
of rope which lay on the corner.
Even the poor loneliness up there was
better than the want he met in the
streets, and this useless work prefera-
BILE to sheer idleness.
Suddenly, as he sat working and
thinking, a tiny sparrow darted in
through the open window, and perch
ing upon q pole which leaned against
the window frame, began to pour out
its little soul in trill and roulades ol
happy song, free and fearless, as though
it was sitting besides its nest, on its
own part icular woodland bough.
Old Jack stopped his work and look
ed attentiveIy at the tiny singer, who
did not seem to mind his presence q
single bit.
poor little thing?" said the kind
hearted old sail mender. "Well it's q
small portion old Jack has for him,
self these times. But, such as it is,
he'll divide with you!"
He lett his bench and went to the
cupboard and took out part of Loaf
of bread. Breaking small piece, he
crumbled it fine and scattered it upon
the window sill. And the little bird
hoped down and went busily to pick
ing up the crumbs, now and then
turning up its pretty head to peep at
old Jack with one bri ght eye, as if to
say, "Thank you for feeding very
hungry bird, my good sir" ,
AS old Jack watched the tame little
creature, into his mind there came the
verses he had read so often: "Are not
two sparrows sold for o farthing? and
one of them shall not fall on the
ground without your Father" Matt
IL: 29.) Fear We not therefore ye
are of more value than many spar
rows. Matt. 10: 3D.
"Why, Lord, forgive my migrate
fulness n' breathed the old man, fer
vently. "I'Il take heart again, fol
he'll not forget me He'll send me
work before the last loaf is quite gone
His words are always true, and III
not doubt him ?"
So, with q useful lesson learned
from the tiny sparrow, old Jack took
up his rope again, not doubling bul
that God would provide for him
And he did 80, for before the day end
ed, Jack had work to employ him fol
a whole week.-M. B. D. in the Sun
light.