TRUE TO HIS FLAG | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 24, 1887

TRUE TO HIS FLAG.

"GOING? Of course I'm going! wouldn't miss it for a dollar; they say it's going to be the best one that has ever been here," said Hal Seldon in reply to one of the group of boys who had inquired if it were his intention to attend the circus the following day.

"Please don't go, Hal," exclaimed Willie Wentworth, in a pleading tone. "Have you forgotten?"

"That I joined the church three months ago? Not a bit of it; but am happy to say it didn't make a milk-and-water ninny out of me. Simply because I put my name on the church book is no sign that I am going to be caged for the balance of my life. When a fellow gets to be fifteen he feels like having a share in all the fun that's afloat," said Hal.

"You don't see any harm in the circus then?" remarked Gus Lindon, whose father was the most successful merchant in the town, and paid such excellent salaries to his clerks that the boys whom he employed felt that they had reached the acme of success. Hal had applied for a situation, but was told that Mr. Lindon could not give him a definite answer until the following week.

"Harm? No! Where's the harm? But as Parson Wentworth here can dive into subjects more deeply than I, perhaps he can fish out some harm for you. Come, vicar, give Lindon and the balance of us a sermon. You need a little practice anyway before you don the ministerial dignities."

"Wentworth!" shouted several of the boys in a mocking tone.

Willie's face flushed slightly as he said:— "A circus is either right or wrong. If right, you would not object to seeing your father the manager of one, and your sister riding in the ring. If it is wrong, and has an evil tendency, we should not encourage in others that in which we should not like to see those near and dear to us engaged."

"That's poor logic, and I can't see the point," retorted Hal, impatiently, as Willie turned away from the crowd.

"Of course my father wouldn't run a circus, and the idea of my beautiful sister riding in one. Bah! Will's a whining milksop."

"I think he got the best of you anyway," said Gus Lindon, "and it seems to me your own words have proved it."

"Unspotted from the world," thought Willie, as he walked slowly homewards. "I am glad I heard the sermon from that text last Sabbath. How I wish Hal could have heard it too."

"I have tried and tried to get work, but without success," said Willie Wentworth to his widowed mother, as he entered his humble home, after spending nearly a day in fruitless efforts to obtain employment.

"How do you know?" asked his mother. Willie regarded his mother seriously. She was actually smiling, and his heart was aching so he could with difficulty restrain his tears.

"How do I know? Haven't I been everywhere, and wasn't I informed that all the vacancies were filled?"

"Did you go to Mr. Lindon's?"

"Yes, and he wasn't there, but the head clerk told me that he thought Hal Seldon was employed."

"I have good news for you, my son. Mr. Lindon was here this afternoon to see you. He said he had been trying to find such a boy as you for a long time."

"Why, what does he know about me?" asked the boy.

"His son repeated to him a conversation which took place between Hal Seldon and yourself upon the subject of the circus. He said that you were fearless enough to speak your honest sentiments even when they were sneered at. He thought as between the boy who mocked at his membership in the church and one who had a tender conscience, the choice was an easy one, and so he said you should have the place."

Often apparently trifling circumstances settle one's condition for life.—Christian Observer.