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DOING AND NOT DOING

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 16, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 3.

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DOING AND NOT DOING.

“Sir,” said a lad, coming down to one of the wharves in Boston, and addressing a well-known merchant, “have you any berth on your ship? I want to earn something.”
“What can you do?” asked the gentleman.
“I can try my best to do whatever I am put to do,” answered the boy.
“What have you done?”
“I have sawed and split all mother’s wood for nigh on two years.”
“What have you not done?” asked the gentleman, who was a queer sort of questioner.
“Well, sir,” answered the boy, after a moment’s pause, “I have not whispered in school once for a whole year.”
“That’s enough,” said the gentleman, “you may ship aboard this vessel; and I hope to see you the master of her some day. A boy who can master a wood-pile and bridle his tongue, must be made out of good stuff.”—Selected.