Sammy was all smiles as he walked down the road.
“Found something asked Mr. Crusty.
“Sure,” said Sammy, and he walked on smiling.
“I never trusted that boy, and you may be sure he has found somebody’s purse with $500 in it, and he won’t let anybody know,” old Mr. Crusty said.
Mrs. Lovejoy, who saw Sammy’s smile and heard Mr. Crusty’s remark, said, “It does me good to see a boy with a smile like that. There are too many folks going around with a grouch.”
But Mr. Crusty did not like Sammy’s smile. He thought there was something wrong back of it. And so when he came to a policeman he said,
“Officer, I am sure there is something wrong. I think you ought to get hold of that boy who has just gone down the street. I think he has picked up a purse that does not belong to him and he won’t give it back.”
The policeman walked with long strides down the road and soon came up to Sammy and said to him,
“I understand you have found something and I want to hear about it.”
“Sure,” said Sammy, “I’ll gladly tell you. I found that I was a sinner, and I found that Jesus came to save sinners, and I have let Him save my poor lost soul, I have found Jesus; and Jesus has found me. And He has given me a joy that, like dear old grandmother says, is
‘Better felt than telt.’”
The policeman let him go, and Saymm went down the road still smiling. And when Mrs. Lovejoy and Mr. Crusty saw him the next morning he was smiling.
“Yes, sir,” he said to Mr. Crusty as they passed, “I found it is a good thing to serve Jesus, and I have made up my mind to serve Him as long as I live.” And as Sammy walked on he was, still smiling. “Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing.” Psa. 100:22Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. (Psalm 100:2).
ML 10/27/1940