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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:06:25 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36732-h.zip b/36732-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..13559e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/36732-h.zip diff --git a/36732-h/36732-h.htm b/36732-h/36732-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e4528cd --- /dev/null +++ b/36732-h/36732-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2186 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Charlie Newcomer, by Wilbur B. Stover. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; + height: 0px; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #dcdcdc; + width: 500px; + clear: both; +} + +hr.hr2 { + width: 250px; + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; +} + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: #999; +} /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot { + margin-left: 40%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + .blockquot2 { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .gap { margin-left: 2em; } + +/* Images */ + .figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + .bord img { + padding: 1px; + border: 1px solid black; +} + +p.caption2 { + margin-top: 0; + font-size: 70%; + text-align: center; +} + +/* Transcriber Notes */ +div.tn { + background-color: #EEE; + border: dashed 1px; + color: #000; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + margin-top: 5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + padding: 1em; +} + +ul.corrections { + list-style-type: circle; +} + +/* Poetry */ + .poem { + margin-left: 42%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: left; +} + + .poem br { display: none; } + + .poem .stanza { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; } + + .poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + .poem span.i1 { + display: block; + margin-left: 1em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + .poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + .signature { + text-align: left; + margin-left: 36%; +} + + .signature2 { + text-align: left; + margin-left: 3%; +} + + .signature3 { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 5%; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Charlie Newcomer, by Wilbur B. Stover + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Charlie Newcomer + +Author: Wilbur B. Stover + +Release Date: July 14, 2011 [EBook #36732] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHARLIE NEWCOMER *** + + + + +Produced by Larry B. Harrison, Archives and Special +Collections, University Libraries, Ball State University +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h3><i>Jno. 3:16.</i> <i>Jno. 3:16.</i></h3> +<h1>OUR<br /> +Missionary Reading Circle.</h1> + +<h2>SHORT COURSE OF MISSIONARY<br /> +READING FOR COMMON PEOPLE<br /> +YOUNG AND OLD.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><b><i>What is said of it by many</i></b>:</p> + +<p class="gap">"<i>It will be very beneficial</i>,"<br /> +"<i>I would heartily recommend it</i>,"<br /> +"<i>I am glad my children are taking it up</i>,"<br /> +"<i>I consider the books first class</i>,"<br /> +"<i>It's just what I've been looking for</i>,"<br /> +"<i>Can safely recommend the books to all</i>,"<br /> +"<i>I wish you God-speed</i>,"<br /> +"<i>The idea is a good one</i>."</p> + +<p>For books, address the Librarian,<br /> +For plan and methods, address Secretary.</p> +</div> + +<div class="signature">JAS. M. NEFF, Lib., EDITH R. NEWCOMER, Sec.,<br /> + Covington, Ohio. +Waynesboro, Pa.</div> + + +<hr /> +<h1>CHARLIE NEWCOMER</h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> +<h2>WILBUR B. STOVER</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Jas. M. Neff, Publisher</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Librarian of our Missionary Reading Circle</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Covington, Ohio</span><br /> +1894</h3> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + +<p>I knew Charlie Newcomer, and I loved +him. To me he seemed to have a bright +future. And that other children may be +led to take his good example in uniting +with the church while they are yet children, +I take pleasure in telling the story +of his life. I have told that story often +from the pulpit, in children's meetings, +and I tell it now, in this way that a larger +congregation may be reached.</p> + +<p>In the home of Charlie and Bessie's parents +at Ringgold, I wrote every word of +this sketch. It is with considerable hesitancy, +too, that the parents allow the facts +to be told, since it enters right into their +home life, and since some might misjudge +their intention concerning their children.</p> + +<p>May his heart's desire now be realized—to +be a missionary.</p> + +<div class="signature3">W. B. S.</div> +<div class="signature2"><i>Edgemont, Md., Feb. 2, 1894.</i></div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<h1>CHARLIE NEWCOMER</h1> + + +<hr /> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<h3>AT THE RINGGOLD SCHOOL.</h3> + +<p>"Hurry up Charlie, for as soon as we +get our dinner over, we want to play +base-ball, and you're on our side, you +know," called one of the scholars of the +Ringgold school to Charlie Newcomer, +as he was going home at noon for his dinner. +Charlie's home was only a few rods +from the school house, and on the same +side of the road.</p> + +<p>"All right, boys, I will," he answered +in return, and in a minute more he was +home.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>Dinner was not ready when he reached +home, for his mamma had been putting +out her washing that forenoon. So he +brought the water and then went to the +cellar for the bread and butter while his +mamma made the gravy, and dinner was +soon on the table. While they were eating, +Charlie said, "Do you think, mamma, +I can get up head this afternoon? I've +studied my lessons very well."</p> + +<p>"I don't know, indeed," said his mamma, +"you cannot unless some one above +you should make a mistake, and the other +scholars are as anxious to stand well as +you are."</p> + +<p>"They're awful hard lessons, and surely +some one will miss, and I'm just waiting +for a chance like that. You know I +hate to be foot," he continued, "and if I +hadn't 'a' missed that day three weeks +ago, I would have been head now."</p> + +<p>He had finished his dinner before his +mother and little sister, and was off to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +school while they were yet at the table.</p> + +<p>The boys in the play ground had +changed their minds about playing base-ball, +from the fact that some wanted to +begin playing right away, while others +wanted to wait for the return of those +who had gone home for dinner. Some +wanted to choose new sides, and others +wanted to remain as they had been the +day before; and yet others, as they said, +"didn't want to play anyhow," and in the +midst of so many voices, they all went to +playing "Drop the handkerchief," girls +and boys together. Charlie was especially +fond of playing "Drop the handkerchief," +and when he saw it was that +game instead of ball, it did not take long +until he was at it with all his might. Adding +his kerchief to those already afloat, +he ran around the large circle never faster.</p> + +<p>Grown up people sometimes wonder +how it is that children are willing to play +until they are all in a perspiration, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +children just as well wonder at grown up +people for working with the same result.</p> + +<p>The ringing of the school bell brought +the game to a close. Nearly all of the +scholars went at once into the house, +while a few lingered on the porch to get +a drink of water and cool off a little before +going in.</p> + +<p>How quiet it seems just after all the +boys and girls are called from the play-ground +to their books.</p> + +<p>The school building at Ringgold is at +one end of the town, and the town is a +little, long one, right on the top of a large, +long hill. On either side you can see the +mountains, and from Ringgold to the +mountain eastward, even away up on the +side of the mountain, are thousands and +thousands of peach trees.</p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 500px;"> + <a name="p012-illus.jpg" id="p012-illus.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/p012-illus.jpg" width="500" height="341" alt="A school" title="" /> + <p class="caption2">THE RINGGOLD SCHOOLHOUSE.</p> +</div> + +<p>Within the school house is work. Class +after class is called up to recite, and in +some of them not many changes are made +as to the standing of the pupils. In most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +of the classes the method of trapping is +used. Whenever any one mis-spells a +word or makes a mistake on a problem, +the next one below him has a chance at it; +if he misses, the next has a chance, and +so on until the one is found who can make +right the error, then that one traps and +goes up above all who have missed.</p> + +<p>Ever since Charlie had been absent +that one day, he had been working especially +hard to win his accustomed place at +the head of his classes, for whoever +missed a day had to "go foot."</p> + +<p>That afternoon because the lessons +were rather difficult, he hoped to get +near to his old place, if not to reach it altogether. +When the first class was called, +his heart beat just a little faster than +while he was preparing his lesson. As +he arose from his seat to go, he breathed +a little prayer to God, that he might remember +well what he had just been +learning.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>Several problems were missed and as +many times somebody trapped up. But +not every problem that others had mistaken +reached Charlie. One time he +thought he would now trap three, when +he himself missed, and another got it. In +trapping, however, the close of the recitation +found him "third" but not "first." +And so the class was dismissed for that +day.</p> + +<p>The last in the afternoon was the spelling +class. The teacher frequently began +to pronounce the words on the lower +part of the page first. "Tournament" was +the first word to-day. The next was +"constitute." "Coadjutor" was Charlie's +first word to spell. "Inaugurate" was +mis-spelled near the foot of the class. +"Sumac" was missed, and the scholars +below were eager. "Ducat" enabled the +one above Charlie to trap two. "Joust" +was spelled correctly. "Oolite" and "vocable" +were missed several times. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +lesson was almost closed.</p> + +<p>"Compass," said the teacher.</p> + +<p>"Fortnight."</p> + +<p>"Revolt." That was Charlie's.</p> + +<p>"Caoutchouc."</p> + +<p>"C-a-o-u-t-c-h—c-h—can't spell it," +said the little man next below Charlie.</p> + +<p>"Next," said the teacher.</p> + +<p>"C-a-o-u-t-c-h-o-u-c-e."</p> + +<p>"Next."</p> + +<p>"C-o-o-c-h-o-o—o-o—."</p> + +<p>"Next."</p> + +<p>"C-h-o-o—"</p> + +<p>"Next," and Charlie began to wish he +had been foot now, so he could get up +more than one at a time.</p> + +<p>"K-a-u-o-t-c-h."</p> + +<p>"Next," and all eyes began to look toward +the head of the class, for the unfortunate +word was sure to go there.</p> + +<p>"Caoutchouc," again pronounced the +teacher, clearly. The bright little girl at +the head of the class was a good speller,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +but hearing so many efforts, she became +confused with the word, and although +spelling slowly at it, she missed it.</p> + +<p>"Next."</p> + +<p>"Caoutchouc, is it, teacher?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"C-o-u-t-c-h-o-u-c."</p> + +<p>"Next."</p> + +<p>"C-o-u-t-c-h-a-o-u-c."</p> + +<p>"Next," and every kind of a way was +given to spell that word. It passed on +down the class to Charlie. He was waiting, +not a little anxiously for it.</p> + +<p>"C-a-o-u-t-c-h-o-u-c caoutchouc," and +he marched up head with a smile that +showed gladness for himself, and love for +those in the class at the head of which he +now stood.</p> + +<p>Some words more and the lesson was +recited.</p> + +<p>"Charlie," said Earl Rinehart after the +bell rang, and they were passing out of +the door, "I was glad you got that word<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +right."</p> + +<p>"Why so, Earl?"</p> + +<p>"Because I'd rather have you head +than any one else, even if I do have to be +second or third."</p> + +<p>And having crossed over the stile, five +of them joined in a row and ran a footrace +down the little hill, past Bell's and +Newcomer's, on down the road,—save +one, who turned off to the right quickly +and hurried into the house to tell his +mamma of his good fortune in the spelling +class.</p> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<h3>A SUNDAY AT WELTY'S CHURCH.</h3> + +<p>The sun was shining brightly on Sunday +morning, and all was still and quiet +in Ringgold and the country round about. +Charlie had buttoned his sister Bessie's +shoes, and they both were now sitting on +the back porch of their home, talking.</p> + +<p>Their papa was in the front room reviewing +his Sunday school lesson, and +their mamma was re-arranging some +things in the kitchen. It was not time to +go yet, but the carriage was standing at +the gate and the horse was in the stable, +harnessed.</p> + +<p>"Bessie," said Charlie, "don't you wish +you were going to be baptized to-day!"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>"Why, Charlie, you know I'm too little," +said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"How old do you think you ought to +be first, anyhow!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know."</p> + +<p>"I was just thinking about how nice +everything is this morning, and I wonder +how it was in the garden of Eden."</p> + +<p>"Children, are you ready for Sunday +school? Papa is hitching up."</p> + +<p>"All right, mamma, we're coming," +they answered, and were off together +very soon.</p> + +<p>On the way to church, no one had +much to say. Charlie was sitting on the +front seat with his papa, and he was the +driver too, while Bessie and mamma sat +on the second seat.</p> + +<p>The church is down in the valley between +the long Ringgold hill and the +mountain to the east, and by the time +they reached it, several other carriages +were already there. The superintendent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +of the Sunday school had just gotten +there a short time before, and all who +were there were gathering in to spend a +little while in singing before time for Sunday +school to begin. The first hymn +they sang that morning was</p> + + <div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> + <span class="i0">"Jesus, when he left the sky,<br /></span> + <span class="i0">And for sinners came to die,<br /></span> + <span class="i0">In his mercy passed not by<br /></span> + <span class="i1">Little ones like me."<br /></span> + </div> + </div> + +<p>and all the other verses.</p> + +<p>After they sang them they all kneeled +down and the superintendent led in an +earnest prayer. Then they read the lesson, +verse about, and the teachers began +work with their classes.</p> + +<p>Grown-up people sometimes think the +Sunday school is just for the children, and +even here at Welty's there were some +who seemed to think that way, and the +Sunday school consisted mostly of children.</p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 500px;"> + <a name="p022-illus.jpg" id="p022-illus.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/p022-illus.jpg" width="500" height="339" alt="A meeting place" title="" /> + <p class="caption2">WELTY'S MEETING-HOUSE.</p> +</div> + +<p>Charlie's teacher took his class to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +one end of the church, into an adjoining +room, where they could learn so much +better, not being annoyed at all by the +talking of the other classes. Here in this +little room, teacher and class regularly +study the Word of God for a half hour +every Sunday.</p> + +<p>A half hour seems but a short time, +and indeed it is, but that is only the recitation +period, and that is long enough for +such as have studied the lesson well. It +takes a good while to tell what we don't +know, but not very long to tell what we +do know.</p> + +<p>Sunday school was over and five minutes +later church services began. Nearly +all the scholars remained for church. +Several ministers were there, and the one +who preached talked about the love of +God for everybody. He said God loved +boys and girls as well as men and women. +He loved bad people and good people. +He even loved heathen people, and He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +wants every one everywhere to love Him +in return. He said God wants all of us +to serve Him, and if we do not serve Him, +we can not love Him. He said, too, that +the more we serve Him, the happier we +are, and the less we do for Him, the more +unhappy we are.</p> + +<p>He talked about prayer, too. He said +some Christians pray and some Christians +do not, and how that the best Christians +always pray the most.</p> + +<p>The preacher was an old man whose +beard was already gray with the labors of +many years, and everybody said it was a +good sermon.</p> + +<p>After the meeting there was no haste +to go home. Every one seemed desirous +of staying there and shaking hands and +talking a while. The superintendent nearly +always tried to get several to accompany +him home, so that they might spend +the afternoon together. All the members +of that church did in the same way. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +children were out on the grass talking +with each other and waiting until parents +and friends were ready to start for home.</p> + +<p>Charlie was among the last to leave, +and as he and his papa walked out to the +carriage, where mamma and Bessie were +waiting for them, he said, "I don't know +why I like church so well, papa, I just +wish it would last all day."</p> + +<p>His papa said, "Before you could walk +we always took you with us to preaching." +"I'm glad you did," answered +Charlie, as he ran to untie the horse before +his papa was quite there.</p> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<h3>TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING.</h3> + +<p>One day a little fellow was seen walking +back and forth on the road from the +store to his home, looking serious, and +with eyes close upon the ground. A +wagon going by, the man called out, +"Charlie, what are you doing?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I lost something, and I'm just trying +to find it."</p> + +<p>And he kept hunting a long while between +his home and the store to find +whatever it was he had lost. His mamma +had sent him to the store to get some +groceries for her. He received the +change into his hand, a nickel, and coming +home he lost it. His mamma thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +he could not find it, but he continued +seeking until he did.</p> + +<p>"Mamma, I found it," he came in saying, +"I knew I could. You thought I +couldn't, now you might give it to me." +His mamma laughed and then asked him +to bring in some water. After he had +set the bucket of water on the table he +said, "What do you think I was thinking +about when I was hunting for that five +cents?"</p> + +<p>"I can't tell, son."</p> + +<p>"Well, mamma," he said, "I would +like to be a Christian, can't I? I would +like to be baptized soon."</p> + +<p>His mamma always prayed that her +children might grow in grace as they +grow in years, but this was unexpected. +She answered: "I am glad you think +about that, Charlie, but you are too +young now."</p> + +<p>"How old must one be first?"</p> + +<p>"Well, that varies a good deal, I know."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>"I'm <i>nine</i> years old."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know."</p> + +<p>"Ain't nine old enough?"</p> + +<p>"But you must think about it more, +Charlie."</p> + +<p>"More! I've been thinking about it a +long time a'ready."</p> + +<p>"Well I'll talk to papa about it, and +we'll see what he says. You know we +want you always to do right," said his +mamma, and he got his magnet, and put +pins together and magnetized a needle, +and made it swim, and point north and +south.</p> + +<p>That night after both children were +asleep, their parents talked a good deal +about what Charlie had said.</p> + +<p>"Charlie wants to unite with the +church."</p> + +<p>"He does? When did he say so?"</p> + +<p>"Just to-day, and he is in deep earnest +about it, too. I don't know what to think, +hardly."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>"I hardly think he realizes fully, what +he wants to do."</p> + +<p>"Poor little fellow, what do you think I +had better tell him?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Suppose he should +come and then not hold out. You see +that would be bad."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and then, papa, what wrong has +he done?"</p> + +<p>"That's so."</p> + +<p>"But you remember four years ago when +a certain lady was here on a visit, how +she happened to express her unbelief in +God. No one thought the children heard +a word of it. Charlie was gone in a moment, +we thought to play, when he +brought in the Bible and laid it on her +lap and said, 'Read that, it will tell you +what to do.' I always did think Charlie +would be a Christian very early in life."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am glad for it, too,—but I guess +we'd better wait a while anyhow, and see +if he really wants to come," said his papa,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +and the matter was dropped, and other +things were talked about.</p> + +<p>Several days passed by till the subject +was brought up again. Then Charlie +said:</p> + +<p>"Nine years; old enough to go to +school, old enough to do work, old enough +to do good or bad, and not old enough to +be baptized. Mamma, I do wish I could."</p> + +<p>"Charlie, you never did anything bad."</p> + +<p>"Must I do something bad before I can +join the church?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, but you're so young, you don't +need to yet."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't see—" he said, and then, +with tears in his eyes, he took Bessie by +the hand, and went down across the lot +to the old apple tree, where they had a +swing and spent often many happy hours.</p> + +<p>In a day or two after that, Charlie +mentioned at the table, his desire to be +a child of God. "I am sure I would hold +out," he said, "and if I couldn't I'd be just<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +where I am now. But I could, for Jesus +helps, don't He?"</p> + +<p>Then nothing more was said for several +months about his becoming a child of +God. It seemed as if he had forgotten his +desire to find something of heaven so +young.</p> + +<p>The summer was over. All the peaches +on the side of the mountain and in the +valley had been gathered. The leaves of +the trees were yellow and golden, and +many had already found their resting +place upon the ground. Charlie and Bessie +had both been going to school for six +weeks already. It was Saturday. There +was to be preaching at Welty's that day, +and a love-feast in the evening. Charlie +had been thinking about the thirteenth +chapter of John and the fifteenth, and +when all were about ready to go to the +meeting he said, "Now, if you had let +me join the church last summer, when I +wanted to, I could have enjoyed this +meeting."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>"Why, my dear boy," said his mamma, +"you can enjoy it anyhow, can't you?"</p> + +<p>"No," said he, "not as I'd like to."</p> + +<p>And they all four got into the carriage +and started off to the meeting, not saying +very much.</p> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<h3>QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.</h3> + +<p>Services continued longer one Sunday +than usual, and after the meeting was +over quite a number of those who had +come a distance, upon invitation, decided +to stop with others who were not so far +from home. Two carriages drove over +to the big spring. The Newcomers went +with the Sunday school superintendent, +and others went elsewhere.</p> + +<p>This manner of visiting after the meeting +on Sunday, is sometimes a good +thing and sometimes it is not. It is good +if the occasion is used for the spiritual +benefit of those concerned. Sunday is +the Lord's day.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>In the afternoon, at the superintendent's +house, the conversation drifted +about on the various phases of religious +life, church work, Bible study, educational +work, the conversion of children, missionary +work, books, papers, and present +day life.</p> + +<p>The little folks were out somewhere, +engaging themselves as they saw proper. +Sometimes they came into the room +and remained a short time, then out they +would go all together.</p> + +<p>Charlie remained, however. There +may have been <i>two</i> boys who preferred +to stay in the house.</p> + +<p>Toward evening Charlie came to one +of those who had been talking with the +rest, and leaning over on his knee, he +wanted to ask some questions. He had +been hearing and not saying anything, +and now he wanted some things explained.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," he said, "how old is old +enough to join the church."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>"That varies, Charlie, according to the +intelligence and teaching of the child. +Some are more fit when they are ten +years, than others at twenty."</p> + +<p>"Well, but, am I old enough?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do, but another thing. Does +an education make a person good?"</p> + +<p>"No, it will make you better if you are +good, but if a bad man gets education, +that doesn't make him good."</p> + +<p>"Then is it any use to study so hard to +get a good education?"</p> + +<p>"Why certainly."</p> + +<p>"Tell me."</p> + +<p>"Education, Charlie, is just development. +You know what development +means?"</p> + +<p>"Yes sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, development gives strength."</p> + +<p>"You have noticed that large tree out +in the orchard. It was only a chestnut +once, but now it is developed. That tree<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +is only an educated chestnut. Which is +stronger,—the chestnut tree or the little +chestnut?"</p> + +<p>"The tree, of course," said he, "but I +heard some one say, I think it was just +last Sunday, that education spoils some +people."</p> + +<p>"The right kind of an education will +never spoil any one."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to get a good education. +Papa and mamma said they'd help me, +but I want to earn the money myself, +and then go a long time."</p> + +<p>"And then you'll be a missionary won't +you?"</p> + +<p>"Could I?"</p> + +<p>"You can if you choose."</p> + +<p>"What must I do?"</p> + +<p>"You must be a good Christian at home, +and do all you can for Jesus now. Whoever +is not good at home is the same +away from home. Do things so people +will all love you. If your associates and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +acquaintances do not love you, it is not +likely the heathen will, and love is a +great deal of the missionary's preparation. +And give. If you have not much, give a +little, and if you have more, give proportionately. +But it is not all in giving. +There is more even in living for the Lord, +and just letting one's self be all His."</p> + +<p>Charlie seemed to be thinking of something +else then, and he spoke out in earnest:</p> + +<p>"Doesn't the Bible say we ought to send +missionaries everywhere in the world?"</p> + +<p>"It says we must '<i>Go</i>', yes."</p> + +<p>"Were there heathen fifty years ago?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, then why didn't we send lots of +missionaries fifty years ago? I wish I +could go."</p> + +<p>"Do you want to know, Charlie, how +you can tell if you can be a missionary +when you are a man?"</p> + +<p>"Yes sir," said Charlie.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>"Be a little missionary now. Be a +Christian. Get new scholars to come to +Sunday school. Live for other people +all you can. One little person quit eating +candy, and gave the money for the Lord, +another bought a dozen eggs and raised +chickens and sold them for the Lord. A +little farmer boy raised potatoes on a little +corner of land his papa said he could +have, and then sold them for missionary +money, and there are many other ways."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know, I know what I'll do!" +said several at once. "I'm so thirsty."</p> + +<p>"So am I." "No, wait." "Come on."</p> + +<p>"We can all do something, then, can't +we? I'm dry too."</p> + +<p>And the one who was answering questions, +together with for six little people, +who had gathered around him, went +out under the grape arbor, and down by +the row of evergreens to the spring, and +they all drank heartily from the old tin +cup.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>An hour later all the visitors had their +faces turned toward home, and the children +were thinking about being little missionaries +at home.</p> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<h3>A CHILD OF GOD.</h3> + +<p>A good many months had passed since +Charlie lost the nickel between the store +and his home. He had often spoken +about his desire to be a real Christian. He +was going to school every day, and had +more than the average of school-boy-liveliness.</p> + +<p>Several years had passed since he and +one of the little Sunday school girls +swinging in the shade of the old apple +tree, had each promised the other to begin +to be a Christian while they were +young in years. The little girl was first +to fulfil her promise, and was now an active +little member of the church, praising +God by her daily life. He thought more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +of her for her decision, but he himself +was not yet a member of the church, and +was already twelve years old.</p> + +<p>Brother Early had been preaching every +night in Waynesboro for several +weeks. A good many people, who lived +not too far away from Waynesboro, often +drove in to attend the meetings. Charlie +was usually on hand, an attentive listener.</p> + +<p>On the way home one Sunday night +Charlie broke the monotonous rumble of +the carriage by asking, "Mamma, do you +think I'd be saved if I'd die?"</p> + +<p>And his mamma answered, "Well +Charlie, indeed I don't know what to tell +you," and no one said anything further +for a moment, which seemed ever so +long.</p> + +<p>"What do you say about it, papa?" +continued Charlie in a very earnest, pleading +tone of voice.</p> + +<p>"You have asked a pretty hard question," +said his papa. "Just at this time of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +your life we cannot know. God is just, +and may be you'd be saved—may be not." +After several minutes, which seemed almost +like hours, as the carriage moved +slowly up the hill, his mamma, ever anxious +about her boy, as all mammas are, +said, "Why do you ask such questions, +Charlie?"</p> + +<p>"Well, mamma," he answered, "I can't +stand it any longer. My heart pretty near +breaks when we are at meeting. I do +wish I could join the church."</p> + +<p>Now, his parents had talked the matter +all over by themselves, and they had +decided to allow Charlie to come at this +time, if he really wanted to, and they +would also encourage their son. When +he had thus spoken, they told him the +words that his boyish heart had been +aching to hear for already so long a time, +that he should "come now," if he wished.</p> + +<p>The next evening Charlie lost no time +in publicly coming out on the Lord's side.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>"Brother Oller," said he, "I'm coming. +It's decided. I want to be baptized and +live a Christian."</p> + +<p>The aged elder stooped to the eager +boy before him, and tenderly answered, +"Well, Charlie, the Lord bless you. The +lambs are always welcome in the flock. +I hope you will be able to be a valiant +soldier for Christ. The Lord bless you, +my dear boy."</p> + +<p>On the way home that night, Charlie's +heart was glad within him. How different +it was from the night before. He +was soon to be a soldier for Jesus. It did +not seem to take long at all to go home, +and the hills did not seem so steep, and +the night did not seem so dark. He could +now see the bright side of life, better than +ever before.</p> + +<p>While his papa was out at the barn, +putting away the horse and carriage, +Charlie was talking to his mamma in the +house.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>"I wish now we had family worship. +Mamma, why don't we have family worship, +anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know, Charlie, just why +we don't," said mamma.</p> + +<p>"Well, mamma, papa ought to have it. +Other members do, don't they?"</p> + +<p>"I guess papa feels a little timid about +leading in prayer," said his mamma. +"That's all the reason I know."</p> + +<p>"Well, I tell you, I'll do my part. I'll +take my turn always, if we just can have +family worship every day. Won't you +ask papa? I think he will."</p> + +<p>Sunday was the day for baptism. Two +of the brethren came on a visit to examine +those to be baptized, before the day +for baptism, to learn if they were ready +for the holy ordinance, and if they were +willing to take the New Testament as the +rule of faith and practice, and to walk in +harmony with the church.</p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 500px;"> + <a name="p045-illus.jpg" id="p045-illus.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/p045-illus.jpg" width="500" height="343" alt="A view of the bridge and water" title="" /> + <p class="caption2">THE STREAM BELOW THE BRIDGE.</p> +</div> + +<p>Charlie's answers were clear and well-defined.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +The brethren had quite a pleasant +visit with him, and they went away +feeling that children were very fit subjects +for the church, "for of such is the +kingdom of heaven."</p> + +<p>There were thirteen baptized that day, +and a large number of people witnessed +the scene. It seemed, as we read about +it in the Bible, like apostolic times, as one +after another was led down into the +stream of water near the bridge, and was +there buried in baptism.</p> + +<p>When Charlie arose from his knees, +while they were yet in the water, the +minister, Brother Price, greeted him with +a kiss.</p> + +<p>After the baptisms, all the people soon +went away to their homes, but of all that +number, thirteen went away feeling the +joy of having entered into a blessed experience, +which they had not known before.</p> + +<p>That Sunday night the voice of prayer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +was heard in the home of the Newcomers. +Family worship was a daily service +there from that time on. Every evening +before going to bed the little family +would sing a hymn, read a portion of +Scripture, and then all kneel down together +and pray. And Charlie, true to his +promise, and but a boy, yet a <i>Christian</i> +boy, would always take his turn, in reading, +in leading in prayer, and in closing +with the Lord's prayer.</p> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<h3>A SATURDAY AT HOME.</h3> + +<p>After we are once six years old, the +most of us have to spend more days, as +children, in the school than out of it; and +whether Saturday does us very much +good, I do not know. The lessons are +nearly always not as well prepared on +Monday as on other days, for too much +time to prepare is about as bad as too little. +And then, too, we sometimes forget +over Sunday, what we have studied for +Monday; but, it is better not to know the +lessons on Monday, than to study them +on Sunday. Sunday is the Lord's day. +The best way of all, however, is to study +on Friday and Saturday nights, and then +get up a little earlier on Monday morning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +and review before school time.</p> + +<p>Saturday is an off day generally. Girls +have a good deal of work to do about +the house and boys have a good deal to +do about the barn, and sometimes they +have to work pretty hard.</p> + +<p>Charlie had finished his chores as soon +as he could that day and was in the house.</p> + +<p>Bessie was very busy fixing her dollies' +dresses, for she had five dollies, and they +always were so hard on their clothes.</p> + +<p>"Boys will be boys," grown up people +often say, and Charlie oftentimes would +give vent to his boyish nature by just teasing +whoever would be teased. He teased +Bessie a good deal, and mamma too. He +made Dash, his dog, stand in the corner.</p> + +<p>He would hide in the evening when his +papa came home, until he would hear +what he would say upon missing him, then +come out from behind the stove, behind +the door, or under the table, laughing +heartily.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>On this particular Saturday, Charlie +was through with his work, and while he +was helping his mother a good deal in the +house, he took to teasing her.</p> + +<p>Presently she said, "Charlie, don't do +that, for it is not right."</p> + +<p>He said nothing to this correction, but +went quietly out of the house.</p> + +<p>After a little while he came hurriedly +in again saying: "Mamma, you said I was +doing wrong. I went out to the barn, and +crawled up into the hay mow, and I prayed +to God to forgive me, for I don't want +to do wrong. Will He forgive me, mamma, +and will you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I will forgive you, Charlie, +and God will too. Try not to do it any +more," answered his mother, as she was +wondering if she had not spoken too harshly +to her boy.</p> + +<p>Some schoolmates came in then and +they all went down to the swing under +the apple tree, where they had a good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +time together.</p> + +<p>After they all had a turn swinging, they +played "catcher" around the house, and +"hide and seek," and other games as all +children know. At about five o'clock the +little visitors all went home.</p> + +<p>Some men passed along the road talking +very loud and swearing. One of them +had been drinking. Charlie and Bessie +were looking at their mother as she was +doing some evening's work when, in a +very thoughtful mood, Charlie said: +"Mamma, don't you wish you'd 'a' never +had any children?"</p> + +<p>"No, Charlie. Why?" said she.</p> + +<p>"Well, so many people are so bad,—swearing +and getting drunk. Suppose I +should turn out that way. Really, I wish +I'd die while I'm little."</p> + +<p>"So do I," said Bessie.</p> + +<p>"Why children, children, you must not +talk that way. What would your papa +and I do?" said their mother, almost choking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +on her words, for Charlie had said +that a number of times before. "Who +made you?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"God" they answered.</p> + +<p>"Well then," continued their mamma, +"you ought to want to live as long as you +can, so you could serve Him more. He +wants us to do all the good we can."</p> + +<p>Both children went into the sitting room, +and Charlie got his little account book +and figured up how much money he had +on interest, and how much the interest +was, and counted how much he had in +his bank, and then added it all up together. +"Bessie" he said, "when I get big +I'm going to go to college and pay my +own way. See if I don't." Then they +played together till they got into a little +difficulty, and both ran out to "tell mamma" +all about it.</p> + +<p>That night Bessie did not go to sleep +as soon as usual. 'Twas the same the +night before. She seemed troubled. Her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +mamma thought she was sick. Presently +Charlie suggested, "Mamma, I'll bet I +know what's the matter with Bessie."</p> + +<p>"Well, why don't you tell me, Charlie? +I do want to know," said their mamma.</p> + +<p>"Bessie wants to join the church," he +replied, and his little sister began crying +in earnest, and soon cried herself to sleep.</p> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<h3>CHARLIE'S LAST DAYS.</h3> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"They who seek the throne of grace<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Find that throne in every place;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If we live a life of prayer,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">God is present everywhere."<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + +<p>That much dreaded disease, scarlet fever, +was the unwelcome visitor to many +homes. Bessie was taken by it. While +she was ill, Charlie was kept from school, +lest other children should take it of him. +Often he would steal over to the school +house during school hours, and peep in at +the window, unobserved, to learn who +stood first in his classes. He often watched +the spelling class as they stood up in +recitation, could tell each pupils' standing,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +but he himself dared not enter. Those +were long, long weeks for Charlie, that +Bessie's illness continued. She grew very, +very sick. Sometimes it seemed her little +life was suspended on a silken thread,—a +touch might cause it to snap, and she +would be gone forever.</p> + +<p>Children converted are children still. +Charlie was a boy, although a Christian. +Often he came softly into the house, and +when he would meet his mamma out of +the sick room, he would say, "Don't you +wish you had left Bessie be baptized when +she wanted to? Suppose she should die." +And his poor mother, almost broken down +with care for her little girl, was made +sick at heart by questions like that.</p> + +<p>On the doctor's daily visit Charlie met +him at the gate, and would tie his horse +for him, and then come with him into the +house.</p> + +<p>Bessie had lain ill already four weeks. +On Tuesday morning the doctor tied his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +horse himself and came in alone. Charlie +was sick. The doctor said to him, +"Well, Charlie, you've got it now. Does +it scare you?"</p> + +<p>"No sir, it don't scare me," he said, "but +I hope I won't have to be sick as long as +Bessie."</p> + +<p>Both were soon hanging in the balances, +Bessie in one room, Charlie in another. +Charlie wanted to be taken over into Bessie's +room, that they both might be sick +together.</p> + +<p>Day and night the two little patients +were closely watched. Charlie was heard +making a noise, and they listened to catch +the voice. He was suffering great pain +but humming the tune in the hymnal, +number 118,—not saying the words, but +just humming the tune. Often he would +ease his pain with this heaven medicine. +Twice he was heard to speak distinctly. +Once he said "Lord" and again it was +"heaven." His lips would move but no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +sound was heard. The sound was heard +in heaven, I suppose. Angels responded +to the call of that little child of God. On +Friday morning, even before the rays of +morning light began to come, his spirit +was borne away to be with Jesus in the +heavenly land.</p> + +<p>In the morning Bessie's papa was sitting +by her bedside, looking sadly on the +little form of his only child. "Papa," she +said "why don't you have the door open +in Charlie's room? He'll be so lonely +with the door shut." But he made no +reply. "Papa," she continued "why do +you stay here with me? Take care of +Charlie. I'm afraid he's going to die."</p> + +<p>Little by little her papa told her then, +all about it, and she bathed her fevered +pillow with her tears.</p> + +<p>The doctor came. He knew the fact +without being told, and he sat down and +wept.</p> + +<p>Sunday, Charlie's little form was laid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +away to rest in the cemetery at Waynesboro. +And at the same time when that +sorrowful little company were journeying +thither, the little readers of the <i>Young +Disciple</i> were reading his letter all over +the land. The letter is given below, but +we will add the date, not the date that it +was written, but the date it was read, the +date of his burial.</p> + +<p>His life is closed in this world, but the +influence of it will go on forever. Three +dates will tell the story of that life.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">Birth, March 31, 1880.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Second Birth, Nov. 27, 1892.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Borne to glory, March 10, 1893.<br /></span> +</div> +</div> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<h3>THE LETTER.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot2"> +<div class="signature3">Ringgold, Md. <br /> +March 12, 1893.</div> +<p>Our family consists of a dear kind papa +and mama, sister Bessie and myself. We +all attend church and Sunday-school regularly. +Our Sunday school has closed for +this season, but will open again in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +spring. Papa and mamma and myself are +members of the Brethren church. I am +twelve years old. I am studying hard to +get a good education, and I hope to grow +up to be a good man; and when Bro. W. +B. Stover goes to India, I feel as though +I would like to go out to him in his missionary +work. I will close now by asking +an interest in the prayers of all the faithful.</p> +<div class="signature3">Charlie Martin Newcomer.</div> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<h3>BESSIE.</h3> + +<p>Four weeks after the close of the life of +her little brother, Bessie was able to be +out of bed and around about the house +once more. With the return of her +health grew her anxiety for the church. +And in a comparatively short time, Bessie +was received into the church by baptism. +She was but a mere child, 'tis true, and +that is what she is yet. But what is to be +done with the children? Is the church +not for them? Did Christ not die for them? +Does "all the world" exclude children? +What does "in" signify, in "bringing up +children in the Lord?" What does "come" +mean, when the Savior says "Suffer the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +children to come unto me, and forbid them +not"? and what is the meaning of those +last three words?</p> + +<p>In the Antietam church were a good +many good Christians who looked rather +doubtfully on the question of children in +church. The little girl spoken of in the +beginning of chapter five was the first of +the children in that congregation to join +the church. Others followed, and when +Charlie died <i>in the church</i>, all were so +much rejoiced in his triumphant faith, that +the matter was practically no longer a +question at all. Very many little Christians +now bring blessing to the congregation, +and they are often the best in the +family to which they may belong.</p> + +<p>I questioned Bessie the other day to +learn more of her present position, now +that she is in the church. I will give to +all, the benefit of her good answers.</p> + +<p>"How old are you, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Ten years."</p> + +<p>"Some people think ten years is too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +young to be a member of the church."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because I think they can do right just +as good as older people."</p> + +<p>"When were you baptized?"</p> + +<p>"Last summer in July."</p> + +<p>"How do you know that you love Jesus?"</p> + +<p>"Because,—well, I just know it."</p> + +<p>"Suppose sometime you should sin, +then what?"</p> + +<p>"I'd just pray to God to forgive me."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure He'd forgive you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes sir. The Bible says so."</p> + +<p>"How does it come you did not want +to wait till you grew up, like many others +do?"</p> + +<p>"Because I might die and not be saved."</p> + +<p>"Suppose at school some of the other +scholars tease you, then what?"</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't say nothing."</p> + +<p>"How long did you want to join the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +church before last summer?"</p> + +<p>"O, I often thought about it. I was +under conviction a good while."</p> + +<p>"What does it mean to be under conviction?"</p> + +<p>"Well,"—and I saw that I had asked a +harder question than I thought. After +thinking a moment she said, "I just feel +like crying all the time."</p> + +<p>"What about, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"About things I done wrong."</p> + +<p>"What things?"</p> + +<p>"O well, little things in school. I'd get +angry sometimes, and do wrong things +at home, and I was not very good, and-and—I +wanted Jesus to forgive me."</p> + +<p>"What did you want to be baptized +for?"</p> + +<p>"For the remission of my sins."</p> + +<p>"How did you learn to give that for +the reason?"</p> + +<p>"I read it in the Bible."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure, Bessie, you realize what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +you're doing?"</p> + +<p>"Yes sir."</p> + +<p>"How often do you pray?"</p> + +<p>"Every evening and often in the day +time."</p> + +<p>"Do your parents have family worship?"</p> + +<p>"Yes sir."</p> + +<p>"What part do <i>you</i> take?"</p> + +<p>"We all read verse about, and then papa +and mamma take turn about in leading +in prayer, and I always close with the +Lord's prayer."</p> + +<p>"Didn't any body coax you to join the +church?"</p> + +<p>"No sir. Charlie and I used to talk about +it a good many times when we were +by ourselves. That was before either of +us was converted."</p> + +<p>"Now, then, are you happy, Bessie?"</p> + +<p>"Yes sir."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do when you +grow up?"</p> + +<p>"Be a seamstress, I guess. I'd like to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +be a missionary if I could."</p> + +<p>"Do you realize a change of heart?"</p> + +<p>"Yes sir."</p> + +<p>"How does it seem?"</p> + +<p>"It seems nice."</p> + +<p>"But, think well, and tell me several +points wherein you are different now from +what you were before you became a +Christian."</p> + +<p>"I feel more happier, and—and—I love +Jesus more, and—He loves me more, and—and—I +don't want to do any wrong +things, and—"</p> + +<p>"What would you be willing to do for +the Lord?"</p> + +<p>"Most anything."</p> + +<p>"Suppose the church should ask you to +do something you did not want to do?"</p> + +<p>"I'd just do it."</p> + +<p>"What part of the Bible do you like +the best?"</p> + +<p>"The New Testament."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>"'Cause it tells more about Jesus."</p> + +<p>Then Bessie added that she likes that +about green pastures, and at once repeated +the entire twenty-third psalm.</p> + +<p>Children in the church is no late idea. +Children, I mean, not babes nor infants. +Polycarp, who afterward was bishop of +Smyrna, and a martyr, was converted in +the year 80, when he was nine years old.</p> + +<p>Justin Martyr says many, in early days, +became disciples in childhood and were +uncorrupted all their lives.</p> + +<p>Matthew Henry, whose commentary +is so highly regarded by all Bible students, +was converted in his eleventh year.</p> + +<p>Isaac Watts, whose hymns abound in +all hymn books, was converted in his +ninth year.</p> + +<p>Bro. James Quinter was converted +when he was 17 years old, and was called +to the ministry at 22, and the present secretary +of our General Mission Board was +converted at the age of 12. And I doubt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +not, many among our best workers were +converted very early in life.</p> + +<p>Yesterday I received a letter from a +little child just entered upon her ninth +year. She says:—"Dear brother Stover, +I can answer your letter and say I am on +the Lord's side. How happy I am, how +I would like for you to have been here +when I was baptized. I could hardly +wait till the time came. I have got what +I have been wishing for two years, and +that is to work for the Lord. I go to +prayer meeting, and always try to have a +verse.</p> + +<div class="signature3">"—— ——."</div> + +<p>Children, too often, do not receive all +the credit they deserve in some directions. +In a little book on the "Conversion of +children" the following incident is given. +A father was reproving his son for not +giving attention to the sermon.</p> + +<p>"Father, I heard all the minister said."</p> + +<p>"I do not believe it. You were gazing +all over the church during the service."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>"But, father, I heard all the minister +said."</p> + +<p>"I cannot believe it, for it seemed to +me you hardly looked at the preacher; +your eyes were oftener fixed upon the rafters +than the pulpit."</p> + +<p>"But, father, I did hear all he said, and +I can tell it to you."</p> + +<p>"Let me hear you try it."</p> + +<p>He then began and astonished his father +by giving the text, the heads of the +sermon, and <i>much</i> that was in it.</p> + +<p>"I declare, you did hear the sermon after +all."</p> + +<p>"I told you I did, father, and now I can +tell you exactly how many rafters there +are in the roof, for I counted every one +of them during the sermon!"</p> + +<p>The Lord Jesus told Peter to feed His +sheep, but before that He said,</p> + +<div class="blockquot2">"FEED MY LAMBS."</div> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p class="center">THE END.</p> + +<hr /> +<div class="tn"> +<h4>Transcriber's Note</h4> +<ul class="corrections"> +<li>Spelling and punctuation errors have been corrected.</li> +</ul> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Charlie Newcomer, by Wilbur B. 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Stover + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Charlie Newcomer + +Author: Wilbur B. Stover + +Release Date: July 14, 2011 [EBook #36732] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHARLIE NEWCOMER *** + + + + +Produced by Larry B. Harrison, Archives and Special +Collections, University Libraries, Ball State University +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + _Jno. 3:16._ _Jno. 3:16._ + OUR + Missionary Reading Circle. + + SHORT COURSE OF MISSIONARY + READING FOR COMMON PEOPLE + YOUNG AND OLD. + + =_What is said of it by many_=: + + "_It will be very beneficial_," + + "_I would heartily recommend it_," + + "_I am glad my children are taking it up_," + + "_I consider the books first class_," + + "_It's just what I've been looking for_," + + "_Can safely recommend the books to all_," + + "_I wish you God-speed_," + + "_The idea is a good one_." + + For books, address the Librarian, + + For plan and methods, address Secretary. + + JAS. M. NEFF, Lib., EDITH R. NEWCOMER, Sec., + Covington, Ohio. Waynesboro, Pa. + + + + + CHARLIE NEWCOMER + + BY + WILBUR B. STOVER + + JAS. M. NEFF, PUBLISHER + LIBRARIAN OF OUR MISSIONARY READING CIRCLE + COVINGTON, OHIO + 1894 + + + + +PREFACE. + + +I knew Charlie Newcomer, and I loved him. To me he seemed to have a +bright future. And that other children may be led to take his good +example in uniting with the church while they are yet children, I take +pleasure in telling the story of his life. I have told that story +often from the pulpit, in children's meetings, and I tell it now, in +this way that a larger congregation may be reached. + +In the home of Charlie and Bessie's parents at Ringgold, I wrote every +word of this sketch. It is with considerable hesitancy, too, that the +parents allow the facts to be told, since it enters right into their +home life, and since some might misjudge their intention concerning +their children. + +May his heart's desire now be realized--to be a missionary. + + W. B. S. + + _Edgemont, Md., Feb. 2, 1894._ + + + + +CHARLIE NEWCOMER + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +AT THE RINGGOLD SCHOOL. + + +"Hurry up Charlie, for as soon as we get our dinner over, we want to +play base-ball, and you're on our side, you know," called one of the +scholars of the Ringgold school to Charlie Newcomer, as he was going +home at noon for his dinner. Charlie's home was only a few rods from +the school house, and on the same side of the road. + +"All right, boys, I will," he answered in return, and in a minute more +he was home. + +Dinner was not ready when he reached home, for his mamma had been +putting out her washing that forenoon. So he brought the water and +then went to the cellar for the bread and butter while his mamma made +the gravy, and dinner was soon on the table. While they were eating, +Charlie said, "Do you think, mamma, I can get up head this afternoon? +I've studied my lessons very well." + +"I don't know, indeed," said his mamma, "you cannot unless some one +above you should make a mistake, and the other scholars are as anxious +to stand well as you are." + +"They're awful hard lessons, and surely some one will miss, and I'm +just waiting for a chance like that. You know I hate to be foot," he +continued, "and if I hadn't 'a' missed that day three weeks ago, I +would have been head now." + +He had finished his dinner before his mother and little sister, and +was off to school while they were yet at the table. + +The boys in the play ground had changed their minds about playing +base-ball, from the fact that some wanted to begin playing right away, +while others wanted to wait for the return of those who had gone home +for dinner. Some wanted to choose new sides, and others wanted to +remain as they had been the day before; and yet others, as they said, +"didn't want to play anyhow," and in the midst of so many voices, they +all went to playing "Drop the handkerchief," girls and boys together. +Charlie was especially fond of playing "Drop the handkerchief," and +when he saw it was that game instead of ball, it did not take long +until he was at it with all his might. Adding his kerchief to those +already afloat, he ran around the large circle never faster. + +Grown up people sometimes wonder how it is that children are willing +to play until they are all in a perspiration, but children just as +well wonder at grown up people for working with the same result. + +The ringing of the school bell brought the game to a close. Nearly all +of the scholars went at once into the house, while a few lingered on +the porch to get a drink of water and cool off a little before going +in. + +How quiet it seems just after all the boys and girls are called from +the play-ground to their books. + +The school building at Ringgold is at one end of the town, and the +town is a little, long one, right on the top of a large, long hill. On +either side you can see the mountains, and from Ringgold to the +mountain eastward, even away up on the side of the mountain, are +thousands and thousands of peach trees. + +[Illustration: THE RINGGOLD SCHOOLHOUSE.] + +Within the school house is work. Class after class is called up to +recite, and in some of them not many changes are made as to the standing +of the pupils. In most of the classes the method of trapping is used. +Whenever any one mis-spells a word or makes a mistake on a problem, the +next one below him has a chance at it; if he misses, the next has a +chance, and so on until the one is found who can make right the error, +then that one traps and goes up above all who have missed. + +Ever since Charlie had been absent that one day, he had been working +especially hard to win his accustomed place at the head of his +classes, for whoever missed a day had to "go foot." + +That afternoon because the lessons were rather difficult, he hoped to +get near to his old place, if not to reach it altogether. When the +first class was called, his heart beat just a little faster than while +he was preparing his lesson. As he arose from his seat to go, he +breathed a little prayer to God, that he might remember well what he +had just been learning. + +Several problems were missed and as many times somebody trapped up. But +not every problem that others had mistaken reached Charlie. One time he +thought he would now trap three, when he himself missed, and another got +it. In trapping, however, the close of the recitation found him "third" +but not "first." And so the class was dismissed for that day. + +The last in the afternoon was the spelling class. The teacher +frequently began to pronounce the words on the lower part of the page +first. "Tournament" was the first word to-day. The next was +"constitute." "Coadjutor" was Charlie's first word to spell. +"Inaugurate" was mis-spelled near the foot of the class. "Sumac" was +missed, and the scholars below were eager. "Ducat" enabled the one +above Charlie to trap two. "Joust" was spelled correctly. "Oolite" and +"vocable" were missed several times. The lesson was almost closed. + +"Compass," said the teacher. + +"Fortnight." + +"Revolt." That was Charlie's. + +"Caoutchouc." + +"C-a-o-u-t-c-h--c-h--can't spell it," said the little man next below +Charlie. + +"Next," said the teacher. + +"C-a-o-u-t-c-h-o-u-c-e." + +"Next." + +"C-o-o-c-h-o-o--o-o--." + +"Next." + +"C-h-o-o--" + +"Next," and Charlie began to wish he had been foot now, so he could +get up more than one at a time. + +"K-a-u-o-t-c-h." + +"Next," and all eyes began to look toward the head of the class, for +the unfortunate word was sure to go there. + +"Caoutchouc," again pronounced the teacher, clearly. The bright little +girl at the head of the class was a good speller, but hearing so many +efforts, she became confused with the word, and although spelling +slowly at it, she missed it. + +"Next." + +"Caoutchouc, is it, teacher?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"C-o-u-t-c-h-o-u-c." + +"Next." + +"C-o-u-t-c-h-a-o-u-c." + +"Next," and every kind of a way was given to spell that word. It +passed on down the class to Charlie. He was waiting, not a little +anxiously for it. + +"C-a-o-u-t-c-h-o-u-c caoutchouc," and he marched up head with a smile +that showed gladness for himself, and love for those in the class at +the head of which he now stood. + +Some words more and the lesson was recited. + +"Charlie," said Earl Rinehart after the bell rang, and they were +passing out of the door, "I was glad you got that word right." + +"Why so, Earl?" + +"Because I'd rather have you head than any one else, even if I do have +to be second or third." + +And having crossed over the stile, five of them joined in a row and +ran a footrace down the little hill, past Bell's and Newcomer's, on +down the road,--save one, who turned off to the right quickly and +hurried into the house to tell his mamma of his good fortune in the +spelling class. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +A SUNDAY AT WELTY'S CHURCH. + + +The sun was shining brightly on Sunday morning, and all was still and +quiet in Ringgold and the country round about. Charlie had buttoned +his sister Bessie's shoes, and they both were now sitting on the back +porch of their home, talking. + +Their papa was in the front room reviewing his Sunday school lesson, +and their mamma was re-arranging some things in the kitchen. It was +not time to go yet, but the carriage was standing at the gate and the +horse was in the stable, harnessed. + +"Bessie," said Charlie, "don't you wish you were going to be baptized +to-day!" + +"Why, Charlie, you know I'm too little," said Bessie. + +"How old do you think you ought to be first, anyhow!" + +"Oh, I don't know." + +"I was just thinking about how nice everything is this morning, and I +wonder how it was in the garden of Eden." + +"Children, are you ready for Sunday school? Papa is hitching up." + +"All right, mamma, we're coming," they answered, and were off together +very soon. + +On the way to church, no one had much to say. Charlie was sitting on +the front seat with his papa, and he was the driver too, while Bessie +and mamma sat on the second seat. + +The church is down in the valley between the long Ringgold hill and +the mountain to the east, and by the time they reached it, several +other carriages were already there. The superintendent of the Sunday +school had just gotten there a short time before, and all who were +there were gathering in to spend a little while in singing before time +for Sunday school to begin. The first hymn they sang that morning was + + "Jesus, when he left the sky, + And for sinners came to die, + In his mercy passed not by + Little ones like me." + +and all the other verses. + +After they sang them they all kneeled down and the superintendent led +in an earnest prayer. Then they read the lesson, verse about, and the +teachers began work with their classes. + +Grown-up people sometimes think the Sunday school is just for the +children, and even here at Welty's there were some who seemed to think +that way, and the Sunday school consisted mostly of children. + +[Illustration: WELTY'S MEETING-HOUSE.] + +Charlie's teacher took his class to the one end of the church, into +an adjoining room, where they could learn so much better, not being +annoyed at all by the talking of the other classes. Here in this +little room, teacher and class regularly study the Word of God for a +half hour every Sunday. + +A half hour seems but a short time, and indeed it is, but that is only +the recitation period, and that is long enough for such as have +studied the lesson well. It takes a good while to tell what we don't +know, but not very long to tell what we do know. + +Sunday school was over and five minutes later church services began. +Nearly all the scholars remained for church. Several ministers were +there, and the one who preached talked about the love of God for +everybody. He said God loved boys and girls as well as men and women. +He loved bad people and good people. He even loved heathen people, and +He wants every one everywhere to love Him in return. He said God +wants all of us to serve Him, and if we do not serve Him, we can not +love Him. He said, too, that the more we serve Him, the happier we +are, and the less we do for Him, the more unhappy we are. + +He talked about prayer, too. He said some Christians pray and some +Christians do not, and how that the best Christians always pray the +most. + +The preacher was an old man whose beard was already gray with the +labors of many years, and everybody said it was a good sermon. + +After the meeting there was no haste to go home. Every one seemed +desirous of staying there and shaking hands and talking a while. The +superintendent nearly always tried to get several to accompany him +home, so that they might spend the afternoon together. All the members +of that church did in the same way. The children were out on the +grass talking with each other and waiting until parents and friends +were ready to start for home. + +Charlie was among the last to leave, and as he and his papa walked out +to the carriage, where mamma and Bessie were waiting for them, he +said, "I don't know why I like church so well, papa, I just wish it +would last all day." + +His papa said, "Before you could walk we always took you with us to +preaching." "I'm glad you did," answered Charlie, as he ran to untie +the horse before his papa was quite there. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING. + + +One day a little fellow was seen walking back and forth on the road +from the store to his home, looking serious, and with eyes close upon +the ground. A wagon going by, the man called out, "Charlie, what are +you doing?" + +"Oh, I lost something, and I'm just trying to find it." + +And he kept hunting a long while between his home and the store to +find whatever it was he had lost. His mamma had sent him to the store +to get some groceries for her. He received the change into his hand, a +nickel, and coming home he lost it. His mamma thought he could not +find it, but he continued seeking until he did. + +"Mamma, I found it," he came in saying, "I knew I could. You thought I +couldn't, now you might give it to me." His mamma laughed and then +asked him to bring in some water. After he had set the bucket of water +on the table he said, "What do you think I was thinking about when I +was hunting for that five cents?" + +"I can't tell, son." + +"Well, mamma," he said, "I would like to be a Christian, can't I? I +would like to be baptized soon." + +His mamma always prayed that her children might grow in grace as they +grow in years, but this was unexpected. She answered: "I am glad you +think about that, Charlie, but you are too young now." + +"How old must one be first?" + +"Well, that varies a good deal, I know." + +"I'm _nine_ years old." + +"Yes, I know." + +"Ain't nine old enough?" + +"But you must think about it more, Charlie." + +"More! I've been thinking about it a long time a'ready." + +"Well I'll talk to papa about it, and we'll see what he says. You know +we want you always to do right," said his mamma, and he got his +magnet, and put pins together and magnetized a needle, and made it +swim, and point north and south. + +That night after both children were asleep, their parents talked a +good deal about what Charlie had said. + +"Charlie wants to unite with the church." + +"He does? When did he say so?" + +"Just to-day, and he is in deep earnest about it, too. I don't know +what to think, hardly." + +"I hardly think he realizes fully, what he wants to do." + +"Poor little fellow, what do you think I had better tell him?" + +"I don't know. Suppose he should come and then not hold out. You see +that would be bad." + +"Yes, and then, papa, what wrong has he done?" + +"That's so." + +"But you remember four years ago when a certain lady was here on a +visit, how she happened to express her unbelief in God. No one thought +the children heard a word of it. Charlie was gone in a moment, we +thought to play, when he brought in the Bible and laid it on her lap +and said, 'Read that, it will tell you what to do.' I always did think +Charlie would be a Christian very early in life." + +"Yes, I am glad for it, too,--but I guess we'd better wait a while +anyhow, and see if he really wants to come," said his papa, and the +matter was dropped, and other things were talked about. + +Several days passed by till the subject was brought up again. Then +Charlie said: + +"Nine years; old enough to go to school, old enough to do work, old +enough to do good or bad, and not old enough to be baptized. Mamma, I +do wish I could." + +"Charlie, you never did anything bad." + +"Must I do something bad before I can join the church?" + +"No, no, but you're so young, you don't need to yet." + +"Well, I can't see--" he said, and then, with tears in his eyes, he +took Bessie by the hand, and went down across the lot to the old apple +tree, where they had a swing and spent often many happy hours. + +In a day or two after that, Charlie mentioned at the table, his desire +to be a child of God. "I am sure I would hold out," he said, "and if I +couldn't I'd be just where I am now. But I could, for Jesus helps, +don't He?" + +Then nothing more was said for several months about his becoming a +child of God. It seemed as if he had forgotten his desire to find +something of heaven so young. + +The summer was over. All the peaches on the side of the mountain and in +the valley had been gathered. The leaves of the trees were yellow and +golden, and many had already found their resting place upon the ground. +Charlie and Bessie had both been going to school for six weeks already. +It was Saturday. There was to be preaching at Welty's that day, and a +love-feast in the evening. Charlie had been thinking about the +thirteenth chapter of John and the fifteenth, and when all were about +ready to go to the meeting he said, "Now, if you had let me join the +church last summer, when I wanted to, I could have enjoyed this meeting." + +"Why, my dear boy," said his mamma, "you can enjoy it anyhow, can't you?" + +"No," said he, "not as I'd like to." + +And they all four got into the carriage and started off to the +meeting, not saying very much. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. + + +Services continued longer one Sunday than usual, and after the meeting +was over quite a number of those who had come a distance, upon +invitation, decided to stop with others who were not so far from home. +Two carriages drove over to the big spring. The Newcomers went with +the Sunday school superintendent, and others went elsewhere. + +This manner of visiting after the meeting on Sunday, is sometimes a +good thing and sometimes it is not. It is good if the occasion is used +for the spiritual benefit of those concerned. Sunday is the Lord's day. + +In the afternoon, at the superintendent's house, the conversation +drifted about on the various phases of religious life, church work, +Bible study, educational work, the conversion of children, missionary +work, books, papers, and present day life. + +The little folks were out somewhere, engaging themselves as they saw +proper. Sometimes they came into the room and remained a short time, +then out they would go all together. + +Charlie remained, however. There may have been _two_ boys who +preferred to stay in the house. + +Toward evening Charlie came to one of those who had been talking with +the rest, and leaning over on his knee, he wanted to ask some +questions. He had been hearing and not saying anything, and now he +wanted some things explained. + +"Tell me," he said, "how old is old enough to join the church." + +"That varies, Charlie, according to the intelligence and teaching of +the child. Some are more fit when they are ten years, than others at +twenty." + +"Well, but, am I old enough?" + +"I think so, don't you?" + +"Yes, I do, but another thing. Does an education make a person good?" + +"No, it will make you better if you are good, but if a bad man gets +education, that doesn't make him good." + +"Then is it any use to study so hard to get a good education?" + +"Why certainly." + +"Tell me." + +"Education, Charlie, is just development. You know what development +means?" + +"Yes sir." + +"Well, development gives strength." + +"You have noticed that large tree out in the orchard. It was only a +chestnut once, but now it is developed. That tree is only an educated +chestnut. Which is stronger,--the chestnut tree or the little +chestnut?" + +"The tree, of course," said he, "but I heard some one say, I think it +was just last Sunday, that education spoils some people." + +"The right kind of an education will never spoil any one." + +"I'm going to get a good education. Papa and mamma said they'd help +me, but I want to earn the money myself, and then go a long time." + +"And then you'll be a missionary won't you?" + +"Could I?" + +"You can if you choose." + +"What must I do?" + +"You must be a good Christian at home, and do all you can for Jesus +now. Whoever is not good at home is the same away from home. Do things +so people will all love you. If your associates and acquaintances do +not love you, it is not likely the heathen will, and love is a great +deal of the missionary's preparation. And give. If you have not much, +give a little, and if you have more, give proportionately. But it is +not all in giving. There is more even in living for the Lord, and just +letting one's self be all His." + +Charlie seemed to be thinking of something else then, and he spoke out +in earnest: + +"Doesn't the Bible say we ought to send missionaries everywhere in the +world?" + +"It says we must '_Go_', yes." + +"Were there heathen fifty years ago?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, then why didn't we send lots of missionaries fifty years ago? I +wish I could go." + +"Do you want to know, Charlie, how you can tell if you can be a +missionary when you are a man?" + +"Yes sir," said Charlie. + +"Be a little missionary now. Be a Christian. Get new scholars to come +to Sunday school. Live for other people all you can. One little person +quit eating candy, and gave the money for the Lord, another bought a +dozen eggs and raised chickens and sold them for the Lord. A little +farmer boy raised potatoes on a little corner of land his papa said he +could have, and then sold them for missionary money, and there are +many other ways." + +"Oh, I know, I know what I'll do!" said several at once. "I'm so +thirsty." + +"So am I." "No, wait." "Come on." + +"We can all do something, then, can't we? I'm dry too." + +And the one who was answering questions, together with for six little +people, who had gathered around him, went out under the grape arbor, +and down by the row of evergreens to the spring, and they all drank +heartily from the old tin cup. + +An hour later all the visitors had their faces turned toward home, and +the children were thinking about being little missionaries at home. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A CHILD OF GOD. + + +A good many months had passed since Charlie lost the nickel between +the store and his home. He had often spoken about his desire to be a +real Christian. He was going to school every day, and had more than +the average of school-boy-liveliness. + +Several years had passed since he and one of the little Sunday school +girls swinging in the shade of the old apple tree, had each promised +the other to begin to be a Christian while they were young in years. +The little girl was first to fulfil her promise, and was now an active +little member of the church, praising God by her daily life. He +thought more of her for her decision, but he himself was not yet a +member of the church, and was already twelve years old. + +Brother Early had been preaching every night in Waynesboro for several +weeks. A good many people, who lived not too far away from Waynesboro, +often drove in to attend the meetings. Charlie was usually on hand, an +attentive listener. + +On the way home one Sunday night Charlie broke the monotonous rumble of +the carriage by asking, "Mamma, do you think I'd be saved if I'd die?" + +And his mamma answered, "Well Charlie, indeed I don't know what to +tell you," and no one said anything further for a moment, which seemed +ever so long. + +"What do you say about it, papa?" continued Charlie in a very earnest, +pleading tone of voice. + +"You have asked a pretty hard question," said his papa. "Just at this +time of your life we cannot know. God is just, and may be you'd be +saved--may be not." After several minutes, which seemed almost like +hours, as the carriage moved slowly up the hill, his mamma, ever +anxious about her boy, as all mammas are, said, "Why do you ask such +questions, Charlie?" + +"Well, mamma," he answered, "I can't stand it any longer. My heart +pretty near breaks when we are at meeting. I do wish I could join the +church." + +Now, his parents had talked the matter all over by themselves, and they +had decided to allow Charlie to come at this time, if he really wanted +to, and they would also encourage their son. When he had thus spoken, +they told him the words that his boyish heart had been aching to hear +for already so long a time, that he should "come now," if he wished. + +The next evening Charlie lost no time in publicly coming out on the +Lord's side. + +"Brother Oller," said he, "I'm coming. It's decided. I want to be +baptized and live a Christian." + +The aged elder stooped to the eager boy before him, and tenderly +answered, "Well, Charlie, the Lord bless you. The lambs are always +welcome in the flock. I hope you will be able to be a valiant soldier +for Christ. The Lord bless you, my dear boy." + +On the way home that night, Charlie's heart was glad within him. How +different it was from the night before. He was soon to be a soldier +for Jesus. It did not seem to take long at all to go home, and the +hills did not seem so steep, and the night did not seem so dark. He +could now see the bright side of life, better than ever before. + +While his papa was out at the barn, putting away the horse and +carriage, Charlie was talking to his mamma in the house. + +"I wish now we had family worship. Mamma, why don't we have family +worship, anyhow?" + +"Well, I don't know, Charlie, just why we don't," said mamma. + +"Well, mamma, papa ought to have it. Other members do, don't they?" + +"I guess papa feels a little timid about leading in prayer," said his +mamma. "That's all the reason I know." + +"Well, I tell you, I'll do my part. I'll take my turn always, if we just +can have family worship every day. Won't you ask papa? I think he will." + +Sunday was the day for baptism. Two of the brethren came on a visit to +examine those to be baptized, before the day for baptism, to learn if +they were ready for the holy ordinance, and if they were willing to +take the New Testament as the rule of faith and practice, and to walk +in harmony with the church. + +[Illustration: THE STREAM BELOW THE BRIDGE.] + +Charlie's answers were clear and well-defined. The brethren had +quite a pleasant visit with him, and they went away feeling that +children were very fit subjects for the church, "for of such is the +kingdom of heaven." + +There were thirteen baptized that day, and a large number of people +witnessed the scene. It seemed, as we read about it in the Bible, like +apostolic times, as one after another was led down into the stream of +water near the bridge, and was there buried in baptism. + +When Charlie arose from his knees, while they were yet in the water, +the minister, Brother Price, greeted him with a kiss. + +After the baptisms, all the people soon went away to their homes, but +of all that number, thirteen went away feeling the joy of having +entered into a blessed experience, which they had not known before. + +That Sunday night the voice of prayer was heard in the home of the +Newcomers. Family worship was a daily service there from that time on. +Every evening before going to bed the little family would sing a hymn, +read a portion of Scripture, and then all kneel down together and +pray. And Charlie, true to his promise, and but a boy, yet a +_Christian_ boy, would always take his turn, in reading, in leading in +prayer, and in closing with the Lord's prayer. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +A SATURDAY AT HOME. + + +After we are once six years old, the most of us have to spend more +days, as children, in the school than out of it; and whether Saturday +does us very much good, I do not know. The lessons are nearly always +not as well prepared on Monday as on other days, for too much time to +prepare is about as bad as too little. And then, too, we sometimes +forget over Sunday, what we have studied for Monday; but, it is better +not to know the lessons on Monday, than to study them on Sunday. +Sunday is the Lord's day. The best way of all, however, is to study on +Friday and Saturday nights, and then get up a little earlier on Monday +morning and review before school time. + +Saturday is an off day generally. Girls have a good deal of work to do +about the house and boys have a good deal to do about the barn, and +sometimes they have to work pretty hard. + +Charlie had finished his chores as soon as he could that day and was +in the house. + +Bessie was very busy fixing her dollies' dresses, for she had five +dollies, and they always were so hard on their clothes. + +"Boys will be boys," grown up people often say, and Charlie oftentimes +would give vent to his boyish nature by just teasing whoever would be +teased. He teased Bessie a good deal, and mamma too. He made Dash, his +dog, stand in the corner. + +He would hide in the evening when his papa came home, until he would +hear what he would say upon missing him, then come out from behind the +stove, behind the door, or under the table, laughing heartily. + +On this particular Saturday, Charlie was through with his work, and +while he was helping his mother a good deal in the house, he took to +teasing her. + +Presently she said, "Charlie, don't do that, for it is not right." + +He said nothing to this correction, but went quietly out of the house. + +After a little while he came hurriedly in again saying: "Mamma, you +said I was doing wrong. I went out to the barn, and crawled up into +the hay mow, and I prayed to God to forgive me, for I don't want to do +wrong. Will He forgive me, mamma, and will you?" + +"Certainly I will forgive you, Charlie, and God will too. Try not to +do it any more," answered his mother, as she was wondering if she had +not spoken too harshly to her boy. + +Some schoolmates came in then and they all went down to the swing +under the apple tree, where they had a good time together. + +After they all had a turn swinging, they played "catcher" around the +house, and "hide and seek," and other games as all children know. At +about five o'clock the little visitors all went home. + +Some men passed along the road talking very loud and swearing. One of +them had been drinking. Charlie and Bessie were looking at their mother +as she was doing some evening's work when, in a very thoughtful mood, +Charlie said: "Mamma, don't you wish you'd 'a' never had any children?" + +"No, Charlie. Why?" said she. + +"Well, so many people are so bad,--swearing and getting drunk. Suppose +I should turn out that way. Really, I wish I'd die while I'm little." + +"So do I," said Bessie. + +"Why children, children, you must not talk that way. What would your +papa and I do?" said their mother, almost choking on her words, for +Charlie had said that a number of times before. "Who made you?" she +asked. + +"God" they answered. + +"Well then," continued their mamma, "you ought to want to live as long +as you can, so you could serve Him more. He wants us to do all the +good we can." + +Both children went into the sitting room, and Charlie got his little +account book and figured up how much money he had on interest, and how +much the interest was, and counted how much he had in his bank, and +then added it all up together. "Bessie" he said, "when I get big I'm +going to go to college and pay my own way. See if I don't." Then they +played together till they got into a little difficulty, and both ran +out to "tell mamma" all about it. + +That night Bessie did not go to sleep as soon as usual. 'Twas the same +the night before. She seemed troubled. Her mamma thought she was +sick. Presently Charlie suggested, "Mamma, I'll bet I know what's the +matter with Bessie." + +"Well, why don't you tell me, Charlie? I do want to know," said their +mamma. + +"Bessie wants to join the church," he replied, and his little sister +began crying in earnest, and soon cried herself to sleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +CHARLIE'S LAST DAYS. + + "They who seek the throne of grace + Find that throne in every place; + If we live a life of prayer, + God is present everywhere." + + +That much dreaded disease, scarlet fever, was the unwelcome visitor to +many homes. Bessie was taken by it. While she was ill, Charlie was +kept from school, lest other children should take it of him. Often he +would steal over to the school house during school hours, and peep in +at the window, unobserved, to learn who stood first in his classes. He +often watched the spelling class as they stood up in recitation, could +tell each pupils' standing, but he himself dared not enter. Those +were long, long weeks for Charlie, that Bessie's illness continued. +She grew very, very sick. Sometimes it seemed her little life was +suspended on a silken thread,--a touch might cause it to snap, and she +would be gone forever. + +Children converted are children still. Charlie was a boy, although a +Christian. Often he came softly into the house, and when he would meet +his mamma out of the sick room, he would say, "Don't you wish you had +left Bessie be baptized when she wanted to? Suppose she should die." +And his poor mother, almost broken down with care for her little girl, +was made sick at heart by questions like that. + +On the doctor's daily visit Charlie met him at the gate, and would tie +his horse for him, and then come with him into the house. + +Bessie had lain ill already four weeks. On Tuesday morning the doctor +tied his horse himself and came in alone. Charlie was sick. The doctor +said to him, "Well, Charlie, you've got it now. Does it scare you?" + +"No sir, it don't scare me," he said, "but I hope I won't have to be +sick as long as Bessie." + +Both were soon hanging in the balances, Bessie in one room, Charlie in +another. Charlie wanted to be taken over into Bessie's room, that they +both might be sick together. + +Day and night the two little patients were closely watched. Charlie +was heard making a noise, and they listened to catch the voice. He was +suffering great pain but humming the tune in the hymnal, number +118,--not saying the words, but just humming the tune. Often he would +ease his pain with this heaven medicine. Twice he was heard to speak +distinctly. Once he said "Lord" and again it was "heaven." His lips +would move but no sound was heard. The sound was heard in heaven, I +suppose. Angels responded to the call of that little child of God. On +Friday morning, even before the rays of morning light began to come, +his spirit was borne away to be with Jesus in the heavenly land. + +In the morning Bessie's papa was sitting by her bedside, looking sadly +on the little form of his only child. "Papa," she said "why don't you +have the door open in Charlie's room? He'll be so lonely with the door +shut." But he made no reply. "Papa," she continued "why do you stay +here with me? Take care of Charlie. I'm afraid he's going to die." + +Little by little her papa told her then, all about it, and she bathed +her fevered pillow with her tears. + +The doctor came. He knew the fact without being told, and he sat down +and wept. + +Sunday, Charlie's little form was laid away to rest in the cemetery +at Waynesboro. And at the same time when that sorrowful little company +were journeying thither, the little readers of the _Young Disciple_ +were reading his letter all over the land. The letter is given below, +but we will add the date, not the date that it was written, but the +date it was read, the date of his burial. + +His life is closed in this world, but the influence of it will go on +forever. Three dates will tell the story of that life. + + Birth, March 31, 1880. + + Second Birth, Nov. 27, 1892. + + Borne to glory, March 10, 1893. + + +THE LETTER. + + Ringgold, Md. + + March 12, 1893. + + Our family consists of a dear kind papa and mama, sister Bessie + and myself. We all attend church and Sunday-school regularly. Our + Sunday school has closed for this season, but will open again in + the spring. Papa and mamma and myself are members of the Brethren + church. I am twelve years old. I am studying hard to get a good + education, and I hope to grow up to be a good man; and when Bro. + W. B. Stover goes to India, I feel as though I would like to go + out to him in his missionary work. I will close now by asking an + interest in the prayers of all the faithful. + + Charlie Martin Newcomer. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +BESSIE. + + +Four weeks after the close of the life of her little brother, Bessie +was able to be out of bed and around about the house once more. With +the return of her health grew her anxiety for the church. And in a +comparatively short time, Bessie was received into the church by +baptism. She was but a mere child, 'tis true, and that is what she is +yet. But what is to be done with the children? Is the church not for +them? Did Christ not die for them? Does "all the world" exclude +children? What does "in" signify, in "bringing up children in the +Lord?" What does "come" mean, when the Savior says "Suffer the +children to come unto me, and forbid them not"? and what is the +meaning of those last three words? + +In the Antietam church were a good many good Christians who looked +rather doubtfully on the question of children in church. The little +girl spoken of in the beginning of chapter five was the first of the +children in that congregation to join the church. Others followed, and +when Charlie died _in the church_, all were so much rejoiced in his +triumphant faith, that the matter was practically no longer a question +at all. Very many little Christians now bring blessing to the +congregation, and they are often the best in the family to which they +may belong. + +I questioned Bessie the other day to learn more of her present +position, now that she is in the church. I will give to all, the +benefit of her good answers. + +"How old are you, Bessie?" + +"Ten years." + +"Some people think ten years is too young to be a member of the church." + +"I don't think so." + +"Why?" + +"Because I think they can do right just as good as older people." + +"When were you baptized?" + +"Last summer in July." + +"How do you know that you love Jesus?" + +"Because,--well, I just know it." + +"Suppose sometime you should sin, then what?" + +"I'd just pray to God to forgive me." + +"Are you sure He'd forgive you?" + +"Yes sir. The Bible says so." + +"How does it come you did not want to wait till you grew up, like many +others do?" + +"Because I might die and not be saved." + +"Suppose at school some of the other scholars tease you, then what?" + +"I wouldn't say nothing." + +"How long did you want to join the church before last summer?" + +"O, I often thought about it. I was under conviction a good while." + +"What does it mean to be under conviction?" + +"Well,"--and I saw that I had asked a harder question than I thought. +After thinking a moment she said, "I just feel like crying all the time." + +"What about, Bessie?" + +"About things I done wrong." + +"What things?" + +"O well, little things in school. I'd get angry sometimes, and do +wrong things at home, and I was not very good, and-and--I wanted Jesus +to forgive me." + +"What did you want to be baptized for?" + +"For the remission of my sins." + +"How did you learn to give that for the reason?" + +"I read it in the Bible." + +"Are you sure, Bessie, you realize what you're doing?" + +"Yes sir." + +"How often do you pray?" + +"Every evening and often in the day time." + +"Do your parents have family worship?" + +"Yes sir." + +"What part do _you_ take?" + +"We all read verse about, and then papa and mamma take turn about in +leading in prayer, and I always close with the Lord's prayer." + +"Didn't any body coax you to join the church?" + +"No sir. Charlie and I used to talk about it a good many times when we +were by ourselves. That was before either of us was converted." + +"Now, then, are you happy, Bessie?" + +"Yes sir." + +"What are you going to do when you grow up?" + +"Be a seamstress, I guess. I'd like to be a missionary if I could." + +"Do you realize a change of heart?" + +"Yes sir." + +"How does it seem?" + +"It seems nice." + +"But, think well, and tell me several points wherein you are different +now from what you were before you became a Christian." + +"I feel more happier, and--and--I love Jesus more, and--He loves me +more, and--and--I don't want to do any wrong things, and--" + +"What would you be willing to do for the Lord?" + +"Most anything." + +"Suppose the church should ask you to do something you did not want to +do?" + +"I'd just do it." + +"What part of the Bible do you like the best?" + +"The New Testament." + +"Why?" + +"'Cause it tells more about Jesus." + +Then Bessie added that she likes that about green pastures, and at +once repeated the entire twenty-third psalm. + +Children in the church is no late idea. Children, I mean, not babes +nor infants. Polycarp, who afterward was bishop of Smyrna, and a +martyr, was converted in the year 80, when he was nine years old. + +Justin Martyr says many, in early days, became disciples in childhood +and were uncorrupted all their lives. + +Matthew Henry, whose commentary is so highly regarded by all Bible +students, was converted in his eleventh year. + +Isaac Watts, whose hymns abound in all hymn books, was converted in +his ninth year. + +Bro. James Quinter was converted when he was 17 years old, and was +called to the ministry at 22, and the present secretary of our General +Mission Board was converted at the age of 12. And I doubt not, many +among our best workers were converted very early in life. + +Yesterday I received a letter from a little child just entered upon +her ninth year. She says:--"Dear brother Stover, I can answer your +letter and say I am on the Lord's side. How happy I am, how I would +like for you to have been here when I was baptized. I could hardly +wait till the time came. I have got what I have been wishing for two +years, and that is to work for the Lord. I go to prayer meeting, and +always try to have a verse. + + "---- ----." + +Children, too often, do not receive all the credit they deserve in +some directions. In a little book on the "Conversion of children" the +following incident is given. A father was reproving his son for not +giving attention to the sermon. + +"Father, I heard all the minister said." + +"I do not believe it. You were gazing all over the church during the +service." + +"But, father, I heard all the minister said." + +"I cannot believe it, for it seemed to me you hardly looked at the +preacher; your eyes were oftener fixed upon the rafters than the pulpit." + +"But, father, I did hear all he said, and I can tell it to you." + +"Let me hear you try it." + +He then began and astonished his father by giving the text, the heads +of the sermon, and _much_ that was in it. + +"I declare, you did hear the sermon after all." + +"I told you I did, father, and now I can tell you exactly how many +rafters there are in the roof, for I counted every one of them during +the sermon!" + +The Lord Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep, but before that He said, + + "FEED MY LAMBS." + + +THE END. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + + + * Spelling and punctuation errors have been corrected. + + * Text enclosed between equal signs was in bold face in the + original (=bold=). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Charlie Newcomer, by Wilbur B. 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