p. 12 | How His Child Led Him

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 7, 1907

How His Child Led Him

SEVERAL years ago my brother was in—one cheerless day, with about half an hour on his hands before train time. Strolling along near the railway station, he noticed a tidy restaurant, and went in for lunch. A bright boy came to take his order, and as soon as he brought it, sat down to his lessons. A remarkable man, evidently the proprietor, was seated near the fire, with a disabled foot propped up on a chair. When my brother had finished his meal, he approached him, saying, “You have a bright boy to wait on your customers.”

“Yes, indeed,” said the man, with parental pride, “I couldn’t hire so good a boy as that; he is my son, and was the means of my opening this place instead of keeping a public house, which was the way I got a living for some years; and I’ll tell you how it was. He came from school one day heavy hearted, and when I asked him what was the matter, he began to cry, but couldn’t speak. After I urged him, he said that at recess some of the boys asked one another what their fathers did. One said his father was a plumber, another that his was a carpenter; and when they came to my boy, who said his father kept a public house, one of them said, ‘That’s the meanest kind of business.’ ‘And I could see they all felt the same way. That made me feel awfully ashamed; so, father, if you will only give up the liquor trade, I’ll do anything I can to help you.’ With that he threw his arms around my neck, and, sobbing, begged me to give it up. Well, the end of it was I sold out. I don’t make so much money as I did selling liquors, but it goes further, and we have a happy home. My wife can help along, because decent people come here for their meals; but before, I did not like to have her around, there was

so much low talk. My boy has been as good as his word. I couldn’t ask for a better son.”

My brother thanked the man for his confidence, and, after giving his hearty approval, went his way.—Little Christian.