The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-15
4 Good Samaritan.

4 Good Samaritan.
The lesson was over, but few
minutes yet remained before the bell
rang. The boys had all recited well,
and there had been an earnest talk
between teacher and scholars now
they sat for a little in thoughtful
silence. 1t was the beautiful story o'
the Good Samaritan, hearing to us, as
to the men of old, its plea tor human
fellowship and love; for those who
seek to learn L deeper meaning-more
than Il story-leaching fellowship
which stetches beyond humanity.
Harry LenoX raised his head.
Miss Eliot, how can he like q
good samaritan all the fellows !
know have got somebody TO take care
of them already.
Miss Eliot paused before replying.
"Dear, when you see your compan-
ions disobeying their parents, choos'
ing evil associations or using bad Ian
guage, it is just as if they had fallen
among thieves only those things
hurt tire soul, and the thieves could
only touch the body" II think
understand what you mean, Miss
Eliot you mean if I go away and dom
say anything, then Pm like the
Levite, but if try to get him away
and help him to he good, Id he 9
little like Samaritan anyway,
guess, wouldn't I, Miss Eliot :"
And Just then the bell rang, so theil
talk was over.
Harry did not forget-all that even
ing he was very serious. The ma
that went up to Jericho dwelt in hi:
mind very fiXedly. Somehow he
could not help connecting it with
Percy Granham.
Percy sat next to him in school, ant
was in his arithmetic class: and very
clever he was, too, about those hard
examples, in partial payments, they
had been having lately.
Altogether, he was a particularly
nice boy, not afraid of anything, and
could make such wonderful things
with a pen-knife.
Besides, he rode into school every
day on a delightful brown horse tha
was b very own, and he always le
Harry and some other boys have
ride on it at recess.
And yet Harry could not help think
ing of times-alas u good many times
when he had heard Percy speal
words that actually senta chill through
him, and he had pretended not Il
hear, and taken no notice, but hat
gone on playing just the same.
"I think I'll try to begin being
good Samaritan tomorrow"
That was Harry's last thought befor'
he went to sleep that night.
Just as he got to school, the
rang, and 80 they had to 60 in. ]
was a disappointment, just as thei
own set of boys arrived, to have tina
tyranulcal old bell ring!
Percy was there, too, and joinet
Harry as they all trooped in.
AS he slipped his arm in Harry's n
muttered to himself an oath to express
his displeasure at going in.
Harry remembered his resolution 0
last night, and, pausing as the!
reached the door, said: percy, olt
chap, won't you come up to Jones
with me at recess ? / have got some
thing important TO talk to yo'
about" ~.
Gall right" said Percy. What
the racket"'
When recess came the two boy
strolled Off from the others, and arm
in-arm they walked along until they
came to Jones' old deserted mill.
"Percy, it's just this its about thai
swearing business, you know"
Harry grew embarrassed, but wen
bravely Oil, while Percy stood il
silence.
II say. old fellow, every time yol
say things like that; it's just as !
somebody was to strike you and leav
mark on your body. Miss Eliot says
when boys do things they Oughtn't to
their souls are hurt just rs badly a
the man who went up to jericho AM
fell among the thieves"
Percy looked up in astonishment.
Harry, what are you talking about
What have thieves and Jericho got t.
do with swearing? What thieves d
you mean, anyway"
Percy did not seem to resent Harry
reproof; rather he seemed Interested
in what he said.
So Harry's heart grew stronger, ant
he went on and told Percy, in his owl
boyish fashion, about he traveller
wounded, beaten, robbed, left bleeding
by the wayside, scOrDed and neglected
till the good Samaritan came ant
ministered unto him.
Then how Miss Eliot had told then
there might he wounded traveller
even i'm these days, and each bo!
might he a good Samaritan or 1
naughty Levite, as he chose. How
when boys start out to school and play
with nobody to watch over them
they are like the man who went up Il
Jericho; and bad habits and tempta
tions are the thieves which beset thel
pathway.
And that prayer was the oil ant
wine to be poured upon WOUNDED
soul.
"And I say, Percy, old chap, if we
were to 60 inside the mill, nobody
would see us. and we could knee
down and say little prayer and ask
Christ to help US from falling among
thieves. He was boy once Himself
and guess He'll know"
Percy had not spoken once, but h'
had listened with real attention, all.
when he met Harry's wistful glance
he nodded and followed him in
There, in corner of the empty gloomy
mill, the two boys knelt down, and
after pausing second, Harry whisper
ed little, earnest prayer. When ht
had dane Percy joiued i'm the Amen.