p. 187 | The Famished Indian

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 25, 1873

The Famished Indian.

An aged Indian, half naked and famished, wandered into one of our western settlements, begging for food to keep him from starving. While eagerly devouring the bread bestowed by the hand of charity, a bright-colored ribbon, from which was suspended a small, dirty pouch, was seen around his neck. On being questioned, he said it was a charm, given him in his younger days; and, opening it, displayed a faded, greasy paper, which he handed to the interrogator for inspection. It proved to be a regular discharge from the Federal army, entitling him to a pension for life, and signed by General Washington himself.

Now there was a name which would be honored almost anywhere, and which, if presented in the right place, would have insured him support and plenty for the remainder of his days; and yet he wandered about hungry, helpless, and forlorn, begging, of the charitable, bread to keep him from famishing. What a picture of men, with all the promises of Jesus in their hands—and of Christians too, with the charter of their inheritance in full possession—yet starving in the wilderness!