Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-11-05
A FRIEND.

! Jack was 10 years old, one OF seven
children and his parents were poor.
One night the father came home from
town with news that the biggest merch-
ant in town wanted Jack to work in his
store. 1t was large department store,
wholesale and retail, and every boy in
town would have gladly accepted the
offer, so Jacks father was proud and his
mother happy, while his brothers and
sisters looked on him with a kind of awe.
This may all seem trihing but it was big
significance for Jack. 1t was full OF
touching events too, but as this only
aims to relate one of them we will hurry
past them all and find Jack after his first
day in the store, standing in his neat
. little bedroom over the store after having
put il the most eventiul day of his life
| He had never been a day away from
home before and this was to be his first
night away, and remember he was only
child. He opened the window and
looked off across the roofs and through
the church spires glistening in the
moonlight in the direction of the cottage
that contained everything and everyone
he loved. His little brother bed fellow
would sleep alone tonight for the first
time in his life, and he knew he was
! thinking of him; his gentle mother and
loving sister he knew we're thinking of
him; and he realized too that he had
left childhood and boyhood forever. So
there was lump in his throat and a
great sob in his heart which he bravely
kept down as he turned from the
window. He took off his shoes and
then as lie had done before every night
of his life, he knelt down by the bedside
to say his little prayer, and somehow
that night Jack felt little nearer to
God than he ever was before. While he
was still on his knees he heard footsteps
approaching the door; they stopped for
a minute. then the knob was turned and
the door partially opened. Jack never
stirred, but finished his prayer in some
way, got up, and there with lamp in
his hand, stood tall, gray bearded man
whom Jack had not seen before.
"You are the new boy" he said as he
approached Jack and put his hand on
his sho ulder. eyes SIR" said Jack.
''Well my boy, I was passing and seeing
your light I was afraid you had gone to
bed and lett it burning so opened your
door, and am very glad L did. l see
you have had the right training, and my
boy, never, never forget your God. He
is the one friend who is always near,
and let nothing ever prevent you from
praying at least every night and morn
ing" Much more he said in that kindly
strain, and his gentle manner and kindly
voice opened up the foodgates in little
Jacks heart, till his tears fell like rain.
The man was the head book-keeper; his
name was Cameron, and he had been a
professor in a Scotch university. He
was bachelor and lived in the store
and that night he made compact with
Jack which he kept religiously till Jack
Il years later followed HIM to his grave
with as genuine sorrow as he ever felt in
his life All his education, every good
principle, and' vastly more than he
could ever tell, Jack owed to that noble
Scotchman. Do you think that was an
accident? No! things with such mo-
mentuous results don't happen by acci-
dent.