The news & observer., 1905-11-05
HOW BABIES sTAGGER f6s WISE.
BY II. III. WHITAKER.

It's very hard to make children
understand some things, or rather, |
should say, it is very difficult to ans
wer their questions. 1 prefer not, If
can avoid it, to tackle a little fellow
that has an enquiring turn of mind,
for he's almost certain to get me into
deep water and make me to realize
how little I know. l have had sew
eral little fellows to run me to the
wall with their questions, and the
only way / could eXtricate myself from
the dilemma was to spring new
subject and divert the youngsters S
thoughts from his inquiries. But l
made nothing by the attempted diver
sions, for they only served to start him
on a new role of questions.
'Ts you the preacher MANI" a lit
tie three-year old boy asked as he
placed his two greasy hands on my
ministerial pants-the Sundayist ones
! had.
EYES," / answered, I'm the preach
err"
What made you preacher" came
as quickly as he could ask.
'The Gospel" / answered.
How'd that make you a preacher"
"The Gospel makes people love Je-
sus, and Jesus wants US all to preach.
"Dus you love jesus
Him with all my heart l answered
very solemnly.
'sIs Jesus any kin to you?"
Hes my elder brother
''Dus He make pop-guns out'n ell
ders?"
80, no, guess not
"Why don't he-my big brother
makes pop-guns and 1 shoots EN-"
Jesus don't do things like that
IJafz Of
els you the Son of God, too?''
Certainly" 1 said. God is the
Father of us ALL
"He amt my father. Bill Jones is
my father"
Eyes Gods your Father kind,
Heavenly Father, who loves all good
people, and good little boys, espe-
cially."
candy like my pa?''
Gods owns everything. All the
stores and all the candy belong to
Him." said. speaking very impress
lively.
"He don't own my fathers store,
cause mama says she owns that" he
said with rising tone of voice.
"But, my little man." 1 said, God
owns your papa and mama and all
they have"
where is God?" he asked.
God is everywhere"
"How old is God? ?"
81 don't know 1 answered.
did you ever see God?"
"No, / have never seen God"
why hain't you seen Him.
81 think you'd better go and wash
your hands," / answered by way of
changing the subject.
Use done wiped 'em on my apron"
hiy,1r
pants" I said.
rs got some pants. Does you you
want to see emp"
81 don't care if 1 do see them I
replied.
While he was gone after his pants
to show them to me, l made my es-
cape; went to my room, and was using
a sponge saturated with ammonia, to
get the prints of his greasy fingers
from my pants, when 1 heard him
down stairs calling ''the preacher
man." to show his little pants, but /
didn't answer.
A preacher who used to write his
sermons had a little boy who made
himself quite at home in his fathers
study, and not unfrequently said
things and asked questions that
amused as well as astonished the pa
ter familias.
pa?" asked the little fellow, one day.
Writing sermons, my SON the
father answered.
What is sermons, papa the little
fellow enquired, as he climbed upon
his fathers knee and clutched him
about the neck.
They are messages from heaven
the father answered. in a general and
rather indefinite way
ba n
asked.
20, yes: God sends the messages
my son, and l deliver them.''
Does God send them words that
you rub out, when you're writing?"
20. / guess SO. We get everything
from Cod
What makes you rub EN- out then,
papa?'
God tells me to do it, the father
answered.
did God send yrl the wrong
words?"
80, you jump down and run out to
play, papas busy
A little boy who heard a preacher
read his sermon, Went home and ask
ed his mother what made the preach
er pray to God to give him the words
to preach, when he had them already
written down?
me mother said that little boys
ought not to ask such questions. and so
he did not get any other answer.
No, If can help it. l don't like to
answer little boys questions, unless
/ have the right to spank him when he
becomes impertinent, or gag him when
he gets too smart and asks questions /
can't answer.
A little boy accosted one of our