THE BEGGAR BOY | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 10, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 32.

THE BEGGAR BOY.

In the following story the power of kindness is beautifully illustrated:—

“Go away from there, you old beggar boy! You have no right to be looking at our flowers,” shouted a little fellow from the garden.

The poor boy, who was pale, dirty, and ragged, was leaning against the fence, admiring the splendid show of roses and tulips within. His face reddened with anger at the rude language, and he was about to answer defiantly when a little girl sprang out from an arbor near, and, looking at both, said to her brother: “How could you speak so, Herbert? I’m sure his looking at the flowers doesn’t hurt us.” And then, to soothe the wounded feelings of the stranger, she added: “Little boy, I’ll pluck you some flowers if you’ll wait a moment;” and she gathered a pretty bouquet and handed it through the fence.

His face brightened with surprise and pleasure, and he earnestly thanked her.

Twelve years after this occurrence, the girl had grown to a woman. One bright afternoon she was walking with her husband in the garden when she observed a young man in workman’s dress leaning over the fence, and looking attentively at her and the flowers. Turning to her husband, she said: “It does me good to see people admiring the garden; I’ll give that young man some of the flowers.” And approaching him she said: “Are you fond of flowers, sir? It will give me great pleasure to gather you some.”

The young workman looked a moment into her fair face, and then said, in a voice tremulous with feeling: “Twelve years ago I stood here a ragged little beggar boy, and you showed me the same kindness. The bright flowers and your pleasant words made a new boy of me; aye, and they made a man of me, too. Your face, madam, has been a light to me in my dark hours of life; and now, thank God, tho that boy is still a humble, hard-working man, he is an honest and grateful one.”

Tears stood in the eyes of the lady as, turning to her husband she said, “God put it into my young heart to do that little act of kindness, and see how great a reward it has brought!”—Free Church of Scotland Monthly.