The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-04
OUR SUNDAY COLUMN.
Original and Otherwise-Pre-
pared by Mark.
NO. 80.

Ahero arc soHo young persons, and
people OF riper years, who delight in
playing severe, practical jokes on other
people. This is wicked. Cruelty with.
out provocation is never magnanimous.
tests that injure tho body and worry
the mind and wound tho heart are not
jestS, but curses. When was bow |
read of somo bad boys tying the grass
across the path of 4 milk maid, and the
ia OF the young girl resulted in serious
injury besides the loss Of milk to tho
POI dependent family. l have in
mind many severe and cruel practical
jokes perpetrated on othors that have
resulted in trouble, bodily injury, d.
visions of families, alterations Of
friends, and in some instances, mau-
slaughter and murder. There is
more excellent way to amusn
ourselves. We can do it not
at the expense Of another, but at the
glad surprise and profit of others. This
reminds mo of l. thoroughly practical
joke perpetrated on an old laboring man
by young university student. The
young student was taking q walk with a
professor who was commonly called tho
students friend, such was his kindness
to the young men whom it was his Of
lice 10 instruct While they were walk
ing together, they saw a pair of old
shoes lying in the path which they
supposed to belong to poor old man
who was working not far away, and
who had nearly finished his days work.
The young student turned to tho pro-
fcssor and said: Let us play tho old
man trick. Let US hide ourselves be.
hind these bushes and watch to see his
perplexity and trouble when he comes
from his work ard cannot find them"
My dear friend" said the professor,
we must never amuse ourselves
at tho expense of othors-espe-
cially tho poor But you are
rich, and may give yourself d much
greater pleasure by means of this poor
man. Put crown piece if you havo
thor, in each shoe, and then wo will
hide ourselves and watch" The stu
dent, luckily having two crown pieces,
did SO, and then placed himself with
the professor, behind tho bushes hard
by, through which they could easily
watch the laborer and see what wonder
and JOY he might express. The poor
old man soon finished his work and
came across the field to the path where
he left his coat and shoes. While he
put on his coat he slipped ono foot into
one of his shoes. Feeling something
hoiU ho obOOptiQ QOWH anu the
crown. Astonishment was upon his
countenance. He gazed upon the crown.
turned it over and over in his hand and
looked at it again and again. Then he
looked around on all sides, but could
see no one. Now he put the money in
his pocket and proceeded to put on the
other shoe, but what was his as.
constituent when he found the other
coin? His feelings oveIcamo him. He
fell upon his knees, looked up to
heaven and uttered a loud and fervent
thanksgiving, in which ne spoke of his
wife, sick and helpless at home, and
| his dependent little children, who by
some unknown hand would be saved
from want. He thanked the good Lord
for providing for him in such an emer-
2ency and he asked Gods richest bless
ing upon the unknown friend who ad
been prompted to put the money in his
old shoes. The young student stood
there concealed behind the bushes, hear.
ing the grateful PRAYER of the poor man
lie was deeply affected, tears dropped
from his eyes like rain. II was a Joke
big with blessing both for tho poor man
and his young benefaotor. The student
had never done so much with so little
money (about 50 io) in all hia life be-
fore. Now" said the professor. "are
JOu hSO Octler pledStu lnan IL
You had played your intended
trick on the poor man?" "Oh. dearest
sir answered tho youth, "you have
taught me a lesson that | will mover
forget. | feel now the truth OF the
words which | mover before understood:
1T is moro blessed 10 give than to re.
ceive.'"
Go thou and do likewise. All, there
are many opportunities of doing good
in Roanoke. And many OF the poor and
needy are receiving bcnefactio like
unknown hands. A year or SO ago a
Roanoke pastor Re ceived tho following
noe from q wellknJwn business man
in Roanoke on tho eve of his departure
with his fam ly TO: t,ur in Eur D ::
ROANOKE, VA, May 25, 1891
DEAR DIR ---: Enclosed please
find check for SEQ to use az you think
best in your work OF mercy in visiting
the sick. Yours truly,
1t was not tho fl rst time that pastor
had received check from tho Same
bcnefector Tor similar work. No. was
the benefac.or 4 communcant in the
church OF this pastor. This made the
benefac lion all the moro significant.
Go thou and do likewise. Let us all
begin 10 amuse ourselves by playing
practical jokes on the poor and the
needy.
"Thc quality OF mercy Is not strained
II droppcth as the gentle rain from Heaven
pom tho place beneath; Ii l. twice blessed: