The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-03-21
HIS START IN LIFE.
A STORY THAT A DISCUSSION on
RELIGION BROUGHT OUT.

|
| 1t Involved . Christian and an Inn.
del and a Most Remarkable Coinci.
dence, and the Narrative Pointed a
Moral az Well.
The question Of religion came up the
other day in the Busy Mems Lunch
club, and old Parmesan, who is senior
warden of St Pecunia's church and
therefore constitutes himself a de-
fender Of the faith, remarked, "You
may say what you like, gentlemen, but
n religious man Is more apt to help
those who need it than an infidel"
Il am q firm believer in Christiani-
ty," remarked Bilson, who has made
million or so in the Swamp during the
last few years, "but l take exception
to that statement. When it comes to
helping fellow who is down, it's
about an even toss between n Chris
tian and an infidel. You doubt it?" he
continued as he saw old Parmesan
shake his head. "Well, to prove what
l say will give you On episode in my
own life. I came to New York in 1873
with no capital but country made
suit Of clothes and q common school
education. was lank looking young
fellow, with 'hayseed' written all over
me: but, like many another raw coun-
try lad, was irresistibly attracted to
the city, where expected to
strike the combir ltion that would lead
to fortune and lame. But before long
my main thought was to keep from
starving. l could get no work, and no.
body would listen to me when asked
for 1t. l tried to keep up my courage,
but in my heart I would have given
anything to be back on the old farm
again.
"Well. one day I grew especially des.
perate. The papers were full of the
triumphant success Of Billy. the Con.
verted Bum.' who was holding revivals
oil over the country. And asked my.
self why l, q clean, decent young fel.
low. who had never been a bum
should be allowed to starve, while
Billy was living on the fat Of the
land. At first the wild thought came
into my head to start out myself on q
career Of cr-I mean Of revivalism un.
der the name of Charley, the Con-
verted Boy Fiend.' and rake in the
shekels like Billy But somehow
felt couldn't get down as low as that.
A brilliant thought struck me, how.
ever. / would state the whole thing in
an advertisement, more to relieve my
feelings than with any hope of getting
an answer
$50 scraped enough money together
to insert the following in one of the
papers: If I were q drunken "bum"
just taken out Of the gutter, scores of
kind religious people would stretch
out hand to nelp me. But as am
only decent and self respecting young
man, with no vices or bad habits, am
without work and starving in this
great, cruel city, And I added my
initials and address.
"The next day called to see if there
might possibly be an answer and got
two. The first one I opened read as
follows: I was touched by your
strange advertisement, as myself was
once in the same position. found help
through noble Christian man, and If
you will call and see me l will prove
to you that there is a Christian who is
able and willing to help you if you are
worthy. Ask to see me personally, as
| am sorry to say my partner is an in
tidel, and, though good man, he
might not be disposed to look ut your
case so kindly
| MY heart jumped with joy on read
ing this kind letter. and for little
while forgot the other one. But l
soon opened it and read rs follows: Il
was deeply stirred by the undertOne
or despair in your advertisement, as |
was once rs friendleSs n, you are. |
found start in life through noble
man who, like myself. was IN unbe-
lever. And II You will call and see
me will prove to yOu that there is an
unbelicvcr who is both able and will
ing to give you start i'm life if You
are worthy. Ask to see me personally.
as my partner is Il Christiaa and,
though good man, lie might not be
disposed to look Oh your case kindly
"WOnderful coincidence, wasn't it?
But the most wonderful part of the
story is yet to be told. These two men
| were partners. Each one of them was
trying TO do Il good deed without the
| knowledge Of the other
"The end Of the story? Well. that
was interesting and remarkable too
| After trying In vain to decide to which
of these two gentlemen should make
myself known determined to see
them together and rood tho two lottoro
to them. l did SO, and you ought to
have seen the look Of blank surprise
that came over the faces Of both men
rs they learned that. though differing
so widely in creed, they were ut one in
| acknowledging the religion Of humani-
ty. They were silent for few mo-
ments and then the Christian. with
tnlrS in his nynS Srnl tho har nd ~