The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-02-07
"AND A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM

"AND LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM
With laugh and shout the school children hurried
toward home. The rougher ones greeted with taunts
a lone man who also plodded his homeward way
I'D be ashamed" protested one boy
Its just Jake Grey; he's no Count"
Sammie Kline fell back, and when the crowd passed
on, walked up to the man and put his little hand
out to him.
"How are you this afternoon, Mr.. Grey?"
The man looked down. Emboldened by this re-
ception, Sammie slipped hand in his companions
and keeping step with him. talked in his artess way
about teacher, school and home The mans heart
was hot within him. and he asked himself decisivelv
What part have L in teacher, school and homer"
Being college-bred man. the thoughts of his vast
ed life were very bitter What had he made of
the education for which his parents had worked and
saved so long? But they in heaven now and
he hoped they did not know of their sons wicked
doings. The who had made home for
him lay cold and silent in her grave She had died
of broken heart, caused by his msdeeds His
home a place where he ate and slept and drank
and swore-and more bitter sti-a place where his
boy also ate and slept and drank and swore-the boy
whom his beautiful wife loved dearly, and who
lad his mothers eyes.
Sammie's innocent prattle was interrupted by
groan, but he still held the mans hand in a tight
clasp. In silence they trudged until within sight
of Samme's home
"Why do you bother about me? P" the man asked
looking down not unllindy into the child's serious
face.
"You my neighbour said Sammie.
"Why, it is a neighborly act that's So" and this
time Mr.. Grey smiled
Sammie was delighted. "Now I had better say
it, the child thought his heart beating rapidly the
while Looking up bravely into the mans face, he
said, "Please, Mr.. Grey, don't drink any more
want you to go to heaven when you die
The gave great start, and would have with
drawn his hand, but Sammie chung to it desperately
his heart in his mouth
"Want to be my neighbor there too?" his compan
ion at last inquired.
eyes, said the child eagerly, his expressive little
face beaming with delight
"And Don-if you'll be good-Don will, too, and
you both go to heaven"
At the home gate Sammie held up his arms and
clasping the mans neck, gave him a loving hug The
pressure of the childs soft childish arms made Mr.
Grey think of his beautiful wife. How often with
her arms about mis- neck had she pleaded ooh bus
band, give up the drink, give up the drink"
AS the man hurried on, the child seemed still AZ
his side; he could still feel the pressure of the LITTLE
hands and the beseechng look of the beautiful brown
eyes, and the words "Don will be good if Won yil1
rang in his ears. His conscience was aroused and
would not be silenced. and before he reached homo
the resolve came, "I will be good for my boys sake
will be good-my boy with his mothers eyes"
Don was preparing supper when Mr.. Grey reached
home His heart gave happy throb as he saw that
his father "sober" They were great chums
this father and when not under the influence of
drink
The supper was merry Mr.. Grey was