BOYS, HELP YOURSELVES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 4, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 23.

BOYS, HELP YOURSELVES.

The following is taken from the Christian Observer: “I once saw an auction sign, and (being a woman) crossed the street to investigate what manner of bargains were there to be obtained. I was not tempted to go in, for it proved to be a fire sale of cigars and tobacco. But I did stand for many minutes looking through the big plate-glass window at a large dry goods box in the center of the room, into which had been thrown promiscuously all broken packages of tobacco and cigars. Above the box was a card which bore the inscription: ‘Boys under fourteen, help yourselves.’ And the proprietor was walking back and forth, smiling and rubbing his hands and saying, ‘Help yourselves, boys; help yourselves; put some in your pockets,’ and fifteen or twenty boys, all well dressed and just out of a neighboring school, were following his suggestions. Some were trying to smoke, some only trying to fill their pockets, all in a shame-faced way that showed them to be new at the business. And the dealer was well satisfied. He knew that he was planting seed, and he knew that his harvest was sure.”—National Advocate.