A BOY WANTED by Our Own Magazine

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 1, 1899

A BOY WANTED.

By Our Own Magazine

A GENTLEMAN said one day, "One of the oldest legends in London is to be found in the shop windows every day; it is only a legend, for the want can not be supplied."

"What is the want," asked a friend, "that is set forth?"

"'A boy wanted'—but there are no boys now."

"O, come, that is hard on the boys! Just come to my place to-morrow, and you shall see. I have advertised for a boy, and they will come in swarms. You shall be umpire," said the friend.

So, on the morrow, Mr. Bean seated himself at his table and awaited the arrivals; his friend, who prided himself on his discernment of character, and who judged a boy by the way he opened a door, or held his hat, and many other little things, was posted behind a screen, where he could see but not be seen.

The first boy came in, and to the question, "Not afraid of work, are you?" answered, "'Fraid of work!—not I. You just try me."

"No, thank you," said the voice from behind the screen.

Number Two could not look you straight in the face; he had three places in two months.

"What was the cause of your leaving?"

"O, the guv'nors didn't suit me—not liberty enough."

"Well, you are free now—go and enjoy your liberty," said the voice.

Number Three would do anything.

"I've only one fault, sir, I says, when I speaks for myself, and that is, I does too much."

Again the voice spoke:— "One fault is enough. You can go." Presently the door handle was seized firmly, the door was opened fully, yet respectfully, and before the boy was well in the room the voice whispered, "Here's the successful candidate."

An honest-faced boy entered. His answers were just "yes" and "no" at first, but when the merchant told him the wages given, he said:—

"That is a shilling more than I have been getting, and my mother will be very glad of it, sir. We are very poor, so poor mother has to work hard until I can earn enough to keep her."

"When can you begin work?"

"At once, sir. I brought an apron and a few things with me."

The merchant laughed. "That was rather premature, was it not? You are one of hundreds after the place; do you know that?"

"Yes, sir, but mother and me had it out before I came, and she very seldom goes far out, does mother, sir," said the boy.

"Had it out? What do you mean, boy?"

"Mother just prayed about it, sir; mother loves praying."

"Well, the son of a praying mother ought to be some good, so I'll take your name and that of your late employer."

Mr. Bean and friend had a good laugh at the voice. "I'll never forgive you, Brooke, if your discernment is at fault to-day, tho I like the looks of the boy, I confess."

The references were found to be quite satisfactory, and John Sears entered the merchant's office to do anything he was bidden. And he did not leave that office until all under him did as he bade them. He became head of the firm, and a successful Christian merchant. He would say, "Ah, it was all my dear, praying mother, and when a praying mother makes a praying son, the business is sure to prosper!"

John Sears was right. There is a worldly saying, "Nothing succeeds like success," but to the Christian nothing succeeds like prayer; for it is the telephone between the soul and God, and has been known to move mountains. You, my boy reader, must be a praying boy and a praying man if, as a Christian, you would be a prosperous man. Remember, there is always "a boy wanted." Be that "boy." Be so obliging, so honest, so reliable, so pure, so unselfish, so truthful, such an enemy to meanness, such a hater of the wrong, and such a champion of the right, that you will be always "wanted." The law says a man is "wanted" when the police are looking for him because of theft or other misdeeds. May you be wanted because, like John Sears, you "have set the Lord always before you," and in life's contest you will be the successful candidate.—Our Own Magazine.