One day not long since, as I chanced to be out in the street in a storm, I came to a number of people who were waiting somewhat impatiently for some obstacle to be removed from the street crossing. As it was evident that the hindrance would soon be out of the way, the crowd seemed inclined to wait rather than go on to the next crossing, which was quite a distance away. All, however, seemed to be annoyed, while a few appeared so much out of humor as to attract general attention. Some expressed their impatience in words, whilst others only revealed it by their looks. In the midst of this unpleasant waiting, the little trill of a whistle was heard somewhere in the crowd. It was so clear and bird-like that it sounded very pleasantly, and we all looked to see who this happy one could be. We soon knew that the whistler was the little newsboy who carried a large package of papers, and could not very well get out of the crowd. Of course, he knew that it was no time to sell newspapers in the midst of a storm, when people were holding umbrellas, so undoubtedly he thought he might as well use his breath in whistling.
I caught a glimpse of the boy’s face, and although somewhat thin and pale, it was as bright as a sunbeam, and had just about as much sweetness and beauty. I could see the looks on the other faces soften as the people glanced at the boy.
“I guess you are the only happy one in the crowd,” someone said to him.
“Yes, I am happy,” was the quick reply.
“Say little chap, just tell us the secret of your happiness on this unpleasant day,” someone else said in a careless manner.
The newsboy looked up into the man’s face so pleasantly that all knew he did not take offense easily, and so the fun stopped immediately. A man who seemed to know the boy then said:
“Yes, Sam, tell them why you are happy.”
“All right, Mr. Mason, I will if you say so. One thing that makes me happy is because I am well enough to work and help my mother; another is that people are so good to me; but the greatest one is because I am a Christian!”
Here the brave little fellow that dared to confess Christ in a crowd looked up with a brighter light still upon his face.
“I guess you ought to be happy, Sam,” the same man said again. “You evidently enjoy your liberty after getting out of the hospital, even though you did leave one of your feet there.”
We all looked down at the boy’s feet, and while doing so he said in the same quick voice as before: “But I have a cork foot, and can use it so well that I often forget that it is not a real one.”
Then, as if remembering some other important fact connected with the matter, he added: “The Christian people sent me to the hospital, and gave the money for my cork foot.”
This was said in such a manner that all were evidently impressed, and a silence followed until someone said “Say, good people, let us all buy a newspaper of this little chap.”
In a moment all seemed to be getting their hands into their pockets, and soon Sam’s papers were sold, and it was evident that something extra found its way into his hands.
“I think that you must all be Christians, too,” he began, but seeing smiles upon several faces, he suddenly stopped. No one said anything, however, and he went on, “Thank you just the same, for you are very kind. I hope that you will all soon become Christian men, as I think you will. It does not take one long to become a christian if he really trusts the Saviour.”
Just then the street crossing was cleared, and the crowd passed along quickly in a good-natured way, for each had caught a little of the sunshine from one bright face among them. Sam slipped away, ton, unconscious of the good he had done, but very happy because he had Christ in his soul.