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LOVE WORK

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 28, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 22.

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LOVE WORK.

Joe was only a black boy, but he sang softly and tenderly. Then, leaning over the bed on which lay three little curly heads, with faces that were very white by the side of his, he tucked the covers in tightly, saying to himself:—
“Dey’s all asleep now.”
It was a dark night, and the wind and the rain outside had been beating against the little mountain cabin for hours. Joe knew that was why Mrs. Martin had not come home as usual at sundown. He always came and stayed with the children when she went down the mountain for work, and he would not leave them now.
They cried a little at first, but Joe gave them some supper, and then before the open fire told them about “Brer Rabbit an’ de Tar Baby.”
They were all asleep now, but Joe did not dare sit down, for fear he would fall asleep too. He poked the fire, washed the dishes, and walked about the room, singing softly to himself.
And so the long night wore on, and Joe would not sit down. He told himself stories softly, always moving, moving, moving, lest he fall asleep.
At daybreak Mrs. Martin came home with her brother, who would take her and her children home with him.
“You see,” she said, putting her hands kindly on Joe, “why I did not worry about the children. I knew I could trust Joe.”
“Here, Joe,” she said, handing him money, “this is for yesterday, and this,” handing him more, “is double the amount for last night. You deserve it.”
Joe took the first money, but refused the second.
“Dat warn’t money work; dat were love work,” he said. “I knowed yer’d trust me.”
“But, Joe, I am rich now. I can afford to pay you.”
“Rich er poor, I kin love you all de same, an’ de Lord Jesus, too. He give me dat work to do. He trust me, too. I’m ’bleeged to ’im. I reckon he gwine settle fur it some dese days. Dat were love work. I’m glad all you is rich.” And without another word he put his rimless felt hat on his head and left the house.—S. S. Advocate.