Freddy and his Bible text, or, The little runaway

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The Baldwin Library

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FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT.



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FREDDY IN THE CIRCUS PROCESSION





FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

oR,

THE LITTLE RUNAWAY.



ee

LONDON:
T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW;

EDINBURGH ; AND NEW YORK,

1872.















» the house of good Mr. Ellsworth,
#* the faithful pastor of the ———
church in P——. Quickly the
family assembled at the well-
known and welcome sound ; for the hour
of prayer was a delightful season in that
happy home. Soon they were all in their
places. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth sat by the
table; Freddy, a beautiful boy four years
old, was in his usual place at his mother’s
side; Hattie, a girl of eight, sat by her
father; Minnie, who was a baby two years
old, was on Bridget’s lap, quiet and pleased,
as she saw all around her were so.



6 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

Mr. Ellsworth read a chapter, and, after
making a few remarks, closed the book
and waited for the verses that each member
of the family was accustomed to repeat.
Mrs. Ellsworth gave hers first: “Let not
your heart be troubled: ye believe in
God, believe also in me.” Then Hattie
said: “For whosoever doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven, the same
is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Then little Freddy looked up shyly, and
said,—

‘“T have one, too, father.”

“Say it, my dear: J am glad you have
learned one,” replied his father.

The boy looked down a moment, as if
trying to recollect ; and then, clasping his
hands, and looking upwards with childish
reverence, he said softly, “‘Thou God scest
me.”

“That is a beautiful verse, my son,” said
Mr. Ellsworth. ‘You have learned it
early tn life: never, never forget it. If we
all would remember always that God’s eye
is ever upon us, we should live very dif
ferently.”

A hymn was then sung, and the little



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 7
band kneeled in prayer. When the prayer
was finished, they all arose. As Bridget
left the room, she said to Hattie,—

“Well, Miss Hattie, this is the last day
Tll come without a verse to say. Pll
surely learn one.”

“JT hope you will, Bridget,” said Mr.
Ellsworth, who overheard her make this
remark. ‘These little verses furnish food
for much profitable thought during the day,
and lead us to endeavour more earnestly
to do His will whose words they are.”

“Father,” cried Freddy, “shall I come
up-stairs now and learn my lessons?”

“No; not till I come back from Mrs.
C.’s,” replied his father.

Freddy ran for his father’s hat and
cane,

Mr. Ellsworth took them and went out.
In a few moments he came back, saying
to his wife, “My dear, there is a circus
coming in town to-day, I hear; and, as it
will pass the house, the children will have
to be closely watched, to see that they do
not go outside of the gate.”

. ‘Had I not better keep them in the house
altogether?” asked Mrs. Ellsworth,



8 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

“You might as well keep Minnie in;
but I don’t see that there would be any
danger in allowing Freddy to play in the
yard as usual, if he promises to stay there
and not open the gate. Will you promise,
Freddy ?”

“Oh yes, father; I will not go out, but
be sure to stay just where mother bids me,”
replied the boy.

“Well, then, you may go out when your
mother says you may,” said his father, and
went on his way to visit his sick parishioner.

About an hour after, Mrs. Ellsworth gave
Freddy permission to play in the yard.
After he had been out about twenty
minutes, she heard the sound of music;
and as she knew the circus, with its at-
tendant rabble, would soon pass, she went
to the door to caution Freddy about open-
ing the gate. She found him standing on
the gate, leaning over and looking down
the street.

“You mustn’t stand on the gate, Freddy,”
said she.

He stepped down and looked through
the railing.

“O mother, the circus is coming up this



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 9

way pretty soon—and the music too—
and those pretty horses—and little boys
and girls on them! I wish you would let
me go to it, mother,” cried he.

“O my son, the circus is not at all the
proper place for little boys to go to; there
are many foolish and wicked things said and
done there, and the men who go about with
it are often very bad persons. I would not
take my little Freddy there for anything.”

“Well, I can see it go by; can't I,
mother ?” asked Fred.

“Yes, you may see it go by; and when
your father has time, you can ask him to
tell you more about why you should not
go, or wish to go, to the circus. But you
had better come and sit on the door-step.
You can see just as well, and be out of
harm’s way. You must sit still on the
steps.”

“T won't go out of the gate, mother ;
. Pll be a good boy and sit still,” said the
child.

Mrs. Ellsworth went into the house
again. As she attended to her accustomed
duties, she heard the tread of many feet,
and a confused noise, which told that the



10 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

circus was passing along the street. “TI
will go and tell Freddy to come in and
stand by the window,” said she to herself;
“it isa great temptation for a little boy to
sit still and see all the other children
running along the street. I am afraid he
will forget his promise.”

Just as she was going down the stairs
for this purpose, she heard a loud cry from
Minnie, who was in the library with her
father. She ran to see what was the
matter. Minnie had pulled an hour-glass
from the table and broken it, and cut her-
self with some pieces of the glass, She had
put her bleeding hand to her face, and so
seemed to be much more hurt than she
really was. Mr. Ellsworth had just lifted
her up as his wife came in,

“Tl take her,” said Mrs, .Ellsworth,
“af you will go and see where Freddy is,
If he is left alone, he may be tempted to
go with the circus people.”

She took Minnie to the nursery to wash
her face and hands, while Mr. Ellsworth
went out to look for Freddy. He was not
on the steps. So his father looked for
him in the yard, in the kitchen, and in



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 11

‘the parlour; but he was not to be seen.
Mr. Ellsworth then called Bridget, and told
her to go and look for the child at one
corner of the street, while he went to the
other in the direction in which the circus
had gone. No Freddy was to be seen!
Anxiously the father followed the eager
crowd, inquiring of every one for the
missing boy, and finally searched all round
the circus grounds. Inquiries were made
of all the neighbours; many aided in the
search ; and Mrs. Ellsworth, leaving Minnie
with Hattie, joined in seeking for the
child. The day wore away. Bells were
rung, rewards were offered, and the public
crier proclaimed that a “child was lost.”
Night came and wearily passed, and morn-
ing dawned, but brought no trace of the
child to the distracted parents, though the
search had been continued all through the
night.. The well was searched; but no
trace of him was found. The river was
dragged, and then the canal. All the
boats and trains that left the city that day
were searched; but no clue was found as
to whither the wanderer had gone. Days,
weeks, and months passed on ; advertise-



12 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

ments had been inserted in many papers,
and Mr, Ellsworth had visited many cities,
seeking for hisson, They had now almost
given him up, and began to sorrow for him
as for one dead, though in their hearts
there was a deep, corroding grief, that
made them far more unhappy than they
would have been had they been sure that
his body was at rest in the churchyard,
and his soul in heaven.



CHAPTER II.

WHEN Freddy was left by his mother sit-
ting on the door-step, he was quite sure
that he would be a good boy and obey his
mother in every particular. But when the
circus, with its gaily-painted waggons and
loud music, came by, he sprang up to see
it, and ran down and climbed on the gate,
that he might have a nearer view.

“Thou God seest me,” said conscience
in his ear. Freddy looked around and up
into the sky. “I don’t think God sees
me,” perhaps he said to himself ‘‘ He has
so many other people here in the street,



a

OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 18

‘and I’m so little, that he would not notice
me. And if he does see me, he won’t be
angry this time. Father says God is very
good.” Thus he may have quieted his
conscience while he continued at the gate.
In a little while he saw a boy coming
along with an orange in his hand.

“Where did you get that orange?”
asked Freddy.

“I bought it from that boy for three
halfpence,” was the reply.

Freddy had three halfpence in his pocket;
and as the orange-seller was just on the
other side of the street, a little way down,
he looked to see that no one in the house
was watching him, and then opened the
gate to go and buy one. ‘Thou God seest
me,” conscience may have cried, louder than
ever,

“T know it; I know it; Tl only buy
an orange and come back at once,” thought
Freddy. The orange bought, he turned
his steps, as he thought, towards the house;
but, in the crowd and confusion, he went
in the wrong direction. After going a
little distance and turning down a street,
he began to cry with fright. This attracted



14 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

the attention of a strange-looking woman
dressed in a gray petticoat, and having. a
scarlet shawl wrapped around her head and
shoulders.

“What is the matter with my pretty
little master to-day?” asked she.

“Oh, Pm lost! I’m lost! I can’t find
the way home!” said Freddy.

“Oh, I know where you live,” said she;
“come, and I will take you home.”

Fred dried his tears, and ran along-cheer-
fully by her side. She went on some dis-
tance, and at last entered a place near the
canal, that looked like an old barn. Here
were several women as oddly dressed as
herself, and some half-drunken men. When
the woman entered, leading Freddy, one
of the latter turned to a wicked-looking
old woman and. said,—

“ Judith’s made a good catch. Elspeth,
now you go try your luck.”

“No,” answered the woman; “Judith’s
always luckier than I, and I shall stay
here.” As she said this, she took up a
large black bottle, and, putting it to her
lips, eagerly drank off the contents.

Freddy had some idea of what she was



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 15
drinking, and cried out, “ My father says
it’s wicked to drink gin, and there’s no
such thing as luck.”

“Ho!” cried a man, ‘that’s a parson’s
child, I'll be bound. Sing us a psalm,
boy.”

Freddy began to ery.

“Stop your noise,” said Judith, ‘‘and
don’t mind them.”

“This isn’t where I live. I want to go
home,” cried Freddy.

“Tl take you there very soon,” she
answered, proceeding to take off his clothes;
then, putting some rags on him that scarce
deserved the name of clothes, she gave his
to one of the men. ‘Then she tied an old
handkerchief around the boy’s head, to
conceal his clustering chestnut curls, and
washed his face, hands, and feet in some-
thing she took from a tin basin.

“Ts that tea? ” asked Freddy.

But she did not answer. She then
gave the little boy a large piece of white
sugar, on which she had dropped some-
thing. As this did not taste at all dis-
agreeable, Fred ate the whole of it. Then
Judith bid him sit down on a bench until



16 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

she was ready to take him home. He
obeyed ; and, as she had given him lauda-
num on the sugar, he soon fell into a heavy
sleep.

“Are you flitting, Judith?” inquired
one of the men.

“Yes, and I'll be flitting for a good
while,” she replied testily,

“Will ye have Elspeth?” asked the
man again.

“No, nor any one,” returned she.

The man left the place in a few moments.
Had we followed him, we should have seen
that he went to a canal-boat to secure a
passage for a gipsy woman and. her child.
That afternoon, after Freddy woke up,
feeling very stupid, Judith took him on
her back, and, throwing a shawl around
him, went towards the canal-boat. If Mr.
Ellsworth himself had seen that tawny,
drowsy child upon the gipsy’s back, he
would never have suspected it was his son,
so completely had his whole appearance
been changed. The poor child began to
ery and sob bitterly when he found himself
taken on the boat and floating slowly along
on the canal; but Elspeth had furnished



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 17

Judith with oranges and plenty of sleeping-
potions, and with these, and the threat of
throwing him into the canal, she kept him
quiet. When night came, little Freddy
drew away from Judith, and, weary and
drowsy though he was, his trembling hands
were folded and his knees bent while, lift-
ing his earnest eyes to heaven, he whispered
the prayer which his mother had taught
him.

Weary days and nights they travelled
—now in the slow canal-boat, now in the
swift-moving train, at times on foot—
until they reached a distant town. It
was late on a stormy evening when they
arrived, and Judith led the way to a dark,
dreary-looking house, and entered it by
the back-door. A dirty boy was sitting
in the kitchen, to whom Judith said,—

“Jim, where’s your master ? ”

Soon Simon—a man of desperate char-
acter—came in answer to the call. When
he saw who accompanied Judith, he told
her to come up-stairs; and up she went,
dragging the weary child after her, till
they came to a sitting-room. Freddy sat
down on a stool; but Judith remained
9

a



18 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

standing. The gipsy, in a cold, monotonous
tone, told the man the tale she had so
often told before, and which she, as well
as Freddy, knew was false.

“A gipsy woman died in our camp,”
she said. ‘We cannot keep her boy.
This is he. He may be useful to you.
What will you give me for him?”

“T will give ten for him.”

She took the money, and turned to go;
but poor Freddy did not want to be left
alone. Although she had been cruel to
him, he sprang up, crying, —

“Oh, let me come with you! I don’t
want to be alone! Tl beso good! Take
me !—do!”

“Go away. That man is your master
now,” said she, pushing him violently from
her.

“Yes, come here; you are my boy.
Will you be good, sir?”

*No, no! I want Judith! I want
my own father and my mother !”

“JT must whip you if you don’t behave.”
And, so saying, he struck the child violently
on his cheek, and pushed him into a cor-
ner, Freddy lay down and sobbed till



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 19

he fell asleep. When he awoke, he was
lying on a low straw bed, covered with a
quilt. His clothes were lying on a box,
and a gipsy woman was moving about in
the gray light of the dawn. She was a
kind, good-natured looking woman, and
when Freddy sat upright in his bed she
came to his side and took one of his little
hands in hers, saying, ‘‘Poor boy! poor
boy!” :

Freddy looked up at her, and tears
glistened in his dark eyes at these words
of kindness—the first he had heard since
he left his home.

“Am I going to live with you?” he
said, hoping that she would reply, Yes.

But she said, “ Only for a while, boy.”

“Do you know about God?” inquired
Freddy eagerly.

“ No—only a very little. No one told
me about him. Do you?”

“Yes,” replied the child, glad to find
some one to talk to about God, as he used
to do in his lost home. “God is a spirit
in heaven. I have a soul; so have you.
When we die, if we love Jesus, our souls
will go to him in heaven—a beautiful



20 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

place, where all is happy—if we are good,
as he says we must be.”

“How can we be good?” asked Dinah
eagerly.

“Why we must pray to him, and he
will help us not to do naughty things ; we
must not steal, or lie, or say bad words, or
use God’s name in vain. We must love
Jesus, and pray to him to save us and help
us to be good, and then we will go to
heaven,”

“Will we have to work there?” asked
Dinah.

““No,—only praise God, play on golden
harps, wear beautiful robes, and have
crowns on our heads; we will never be
tired, or sick, or hungry, or thirsty. If
you want to be good, you must say your
prayers every day,” continued Freddy.

“ How?” inquired Dinah.

“Tl show you,” said he, and, kneeling
reverently down, he repeated as much as
he remembered of the prayers he used to
say. ‘O God, make Freddy a good boy.
Bless my father and mother, my brother
and sisters, and take me to heaven when
I die.” Then, after a pause, he added, of



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 21

his own accord, another prayer: “O God,
I am a poor lost little Freddy, wilt thou
take care of me? Wilt thou make this
woman good too? for Christ’s sake. Amen.”

“How shall I pray?” asked Dinah.
“Give me something short, so I won't
forget.”

“Well, say, ‘O God, make me good, and
take me to heaven, for Christ’s sake,
Amen.’”

“Thank ye kindly, master: I will, sure
and certain,” was the earnest reply.

It was a beautiful sight to see the lost,
weary child teaching that woman the way
of truth. Little did Mrs. Ellsworth think
that she had taught him what he, even in
his very infancy, would use to instruct a
poor benighted woman so far off, and per-
haps be instrumental in saving her soul;
for if that poor creature lived, prayed, and
hoped according to the faint light given
her, we may believe that God was “ mer-
ciful and gracious” to her and forgave her
her sins.

When it was perfectly light, Dinah
dressed Freddy, and brought him down
into the kitchen to eat breakfast, which



22 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

consisted of dry bread and a cup of water.
The half-starved child began to eat greed-
ily ; but disease was at work. His brain
reeled, his eyes grew dim, and he sank
senseless upon the floor.

A fit of sickness followed; but Freddy
was naturally a strong, healthy child, and
he was -graciously preserved, and at last
gained strength and health again. He was
a boy of exceedingly tenacious memory,
and quick and light in his motions. No
sooner did he begin to look plump and
well again, than the man he was with had
a plan for disposing of him advantageously.
Opportunity soon presented itself. Freddy
was given up to a circus actor for ten
pounds !

Before this, however, he had been told
that his name was no longer Freddy, but
Jim, After he had been called by this
name for some time, the circus man, who
proposed to buy him to travel with his
band, came to see him. When the child
was brought into the room the first ques-
tion asked was, ‘‘ Well, boy, what's your
name 2”

“Freddy,” was the quick reply.



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 23

“No,” said the man; “ his name is Jim.”

After this Freddy gave his name as
Jim; but he said to himself very often,
“ My name is Freddy,” and at night when
he said his prayers, he used to say, “O
Lord, bless little Freddy; for my name is
Freddy.” So much importance did he at-
tach to his name.

Perhaps if Freddy had been at home,
or in a pleasant place where he was sur-
rounded by the joys of childhood and yet
where no one spoke to him about God and
prayer, he would have forgotten to pray;
but, as it was, it was a comfort to his
lonely little heart to speak to the God of
his parents and ask to be protected from
the evils that surrounded him. Still I
cannot say that he preserved his innocent
ways. He soon fell into the habits of
those around him.

CHAPTER III.

I am now to describe a new scene in the
life of Freddy. The poor child was full
of grief and terror at leaving Dinah and



24 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

going to live with the circus company.
Just think, if you can, of the situation of
a child not five years old, born in a Chris-
tian home, cared for and taught for those
years, and then, while almost in infancy,
taken so suddenly from his parents’ love
and care, and placed among the rude,
wicked, and cruel people of a circus com-
pany! In this company were five little
boys and three little girls, who had been
under training for nearly a year; and
with them was Freddy placed under the
tuition of the ‘ring-master,’ as he was
called, to be taught various feats and
antics to please the low tastes of “ circus-
goers.” I need not say that this was not
all he learned. He saw his companions
steal, and heard profane words from child-
hood’s lips till they became to his ears a
familiar sound, from which he no longer
shrunk as he once did. When seated on
his father’s door-step, he heard children go
by in the street using wicked words, and
thought how wicked it was. It was, indeed,
some five or six months before Freddy spoke
such words himself. During this time he
was taught to stand on a man’s head and



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 25

play on a violin, to jump from the back
of a galloping horse through a hoop, to
stand on a large ball and retain his balance
while he rolled it up an inclined plane, to
dance on a rope, and many other foolish
things. While he was learning all this he
~ met with many sad falls and bruises, and
was sometimes beaten for not learning
faster. One day he was learning a new
performance, when he stumbled and _ fell.
Instantly, and for the first time, he uttered
a wicked word, such as he had heard his
companions use. “ Thou God seest me!”
was not forgotten, but was distinctly re-
peated by conscience; and it was many
days before he did so again. At another
time he joined with two little boys and a
girl in stealing some oranges from a basket.
He ate the fruit in secret; but the voice
of his inward monitor spoke so loudly to
him that he cried bitterly when he had
done it, though it was partly to satisfy
the cravings of hunger that he broke the
commandment, and took what was not his
.own. When he fell asleep he dreamed of
his long unseen home. He once thought
that he sat in his little chair at evening,



26 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

listening to the hymns his mother sung,
and that when she ceased she kissed him
as he kneeled by her side to say his even-
ing prayer. Then, again, he dreamed that
he stood at the gate of heaven. Little
children just come from earth stood round,
and, when the gate was opened, angel
forms led them into the city called Beau-
tiful. But these fair visions soon faded
away: the harsh voice of one of the at-
tendants called him from his blissful dreams
to the weary labours of the day.

Thus things went on till Freddy was
nearly seven years old; and at last the
day arrived when he was to exhibit him-
self with the rest. He was by far the
smallest child in the company, and his
master was very proud of his attainments.
The company was to enter a large city in
the morning, and among them was Freddy,
seated on his pony, gaudily dressed in
crimson and silver tinsel, and wearing a
showy star upon his dress, under which
' beat wearily the saddest little heart that,
had ever felt the pulsations of only seven
short years. The paleness of his thin
cheeks was hidden by the paint with



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 27

which they were covered. His dark curls
clustered around his aching brow, and his
sunken eyes were dazzled by the glare of
the light, and tormented by the waving
shadows of the long plumes that decked
his velvet cap.

What a dreary afternoon that was!
Cheered and applauded as he was by the
thoughtless crowds gathered in the tent,
he felt as if he should like to lie down and
sleep for ever, forgetful of all things past,
present, and to come. Do you wonder
that, in a land that boasts of its enlightened
population and of the education that even
the poorest receive, such things should be
tolerated and even encouraged? It is in-
deed passing strange. One would think
such schools of vice could be broken up.
Just think! Twelve little children (and
this number is attached to one circus, as
the author knows), fantastically dressed,
displaying their performances in a circus,
and applauded as much for the oaths they
utter as for the remarkable gymnastic feats
they exhibited! That was long ago; and
of those twelve children, those who have
not died in their childhood from the over-





28 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

exertion and unhappiness of their lives,
have grown old in vice.

But to return to Freddy. At five
o'clock the people dispersed; and two
hours were allowed for the weary children
to be divested of their trappings, go to the
hotel at which they lived, eat their sup-
pers, and, returning, dress again to be
ready for the evening performance. Mid-
night came before Freddy’s throbbing head
pressed the pillow; and with the rising
sun he rose for another day of just. such
endurance. Not once did he see the inside
of a church, nor hear his Maker's name
except as it was mockingly used, unless
at times when he would whisper his yet
unforgotten prayer; and often was that
once well-remembered text of the Bible
present in his mind, “ Thou God seest me.”
These, perhaps, saved the boy; for, among
all the rest, his were the lips that most
rarely lisped the name of God in‘vain, his
the hand that most carefully observed the
distinction between mine and thine, his
the eyes that were frequently dimmed
with tears; for know ye not that there
are some children whose hearts have grown



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 29

go cold and hard in life’s short, sharp con-
flict, that they are tearless—no tear for
pity, none for penitence !

I cannot stop to tell all the details of
this little boy’s life. It is not my purpose
to follow the circus company through their
peregrinations, but to relate the most im-
portant things that occurred to the child.

_ When he was about eight years old he
fell from a horse while galloping round the’
race-course and broke his leg. So severe
was the injury that for four months he
was not able to take part in any exhi-
bition. When he became able to walk,
he was suffered to go about where he
pleased ; and one quiet Sabbath evening
he entered a church, with timid steps, for
the first time in four years. It was in a
little village that it happened, and he went
in when the words of prayer were ascend-
ing to God, who giveth every good and
perfect gift. After this a hymn was sung,
and then the Bible was opened and the
text was read, “‘ What shall I do to be
saved?” The story of the apostles’ suffer-
ings, and of the frightened jailer’s deep
convictions of sin, was plainly and beauti-



30 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

fully related and explained, so that not
even the weary mind of our worn-out
little Freddy could fail to understand the
whole. Then the fulness and freeness of
salvation was shown; and tears fell from
many a listener’s eyes. The early teach-
ing which Freddy’s mother had given him
came back fresh to his memory. Again
he wondered how man could disobey in
such a place as Eden. He heard with
feelings of wonder and reverence the pro-
mise of a Redeemer; and when he heard
how he was lost by reason of sin, how the
promise was fulfilled, and the Holy One
of Israel came, and after his sinless and
glorious life was condemned by cruel men
to a most cruel death, he was amazed, and
wept over such base ingratitude. Then,
when he found how the sacrifice was to be
received and made the means of bringing
the lost back to God and Eden, to a place
holier and lovelier than Eden in all its
glory, he determined to try to follow the
feeble light thus presented to him, and
be ever anxious to love and please the
Saviour. But what could he do alone—poor
boy !—foreed continually into evil, and



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 31

with few if any ideas about what was right
and wrong—almost entirely ignorant of
the character of God, and having forgotten
much of what he had learned at his
mother’s knee! Soon after this he be-
came able to return to his usual labour ;
and as his master kept him confined to
his room nearly all the Sabbath, so that
he might, in a long sleep, gather strength
for another weck’s tasks, he had very little
opportunity to go again to church.

That his serious impressions, such as
they were, did not wholly vanish, may be
seen from the following incident. One of
the circus men—I think it was the “ ring-
master”—one day bought a dozen pears,
with which to regale himself in the even-
ing when he was not busy. Freddy had
been riding all the morning, had exhibited
all the preceding afternoon and evening,
and was weary and in need of refreshment.
Of course he had no money to buy pears.
They were scarce and dear; and the ring-
master would not buy him any. Two of
the other little boys formed a plan to
steal those the man had purchased, and
they asked Freddy to join them. Very



32 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

ce

much tempted, he “‘ consented to sin,” and
it was done. Each of the boys took four,
and soon after separated for their usual
occupations. Freddy concealed his. He
felt as if he could not join them in eating
the fruit. When they found, a chance,
they took them out to eat; and Freddy
wondered at them. Strange as it may
seem, he was weary and thirsty, and a
few moments before he wanted a pear
more than anything else, but now he
loathed it. This was the work of con-
science, though he knew it not. Finally,
he determined to eat them when he went
to his room at the hotel. When there, he
continued to feel very sorry for having
taken them, and as if he could not eat
them. So at last he took them to the
room where the ‘ring-master” slept.
There were three or four men in this
room, and one of them opened the door.
Freddy went in, and going up to the per-
son he had wronged, gave him the fruit,
and said,—

“Here, sir, are your pears. I took
them; but I am sorry, and have brought
them back,”



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 33

“ How dare you take my pears?” asked
the man angrily.

“Twas tired and thirsty ; but when I
had the pears I could not eat them when
I knew they were stolen,” was the reply.

““Where are the rest?” inquired the
man, in the same tone.

«Those are all I took,” answered Freddy.

“Who took the rest ?”” he asked sternly.

“ Please, sir, I cannot tell; I came here
to confess for myself?’ replied Fred.

“Tell me who took the others, and I
will give you these,” said Gordon coax-
ingly.

“No, sir,” replied Freddy.

“Then tell me, or ll whip you,” re-
torted the man.

“You may whip me if you like, sir;
but I have told for myself, and I will not
tell of any one else.”

“Go off, then,” said he, ashamed to
whip a boy who showed so much nobility
of character. Depraved though this man
was, he could appreciate such conduct;
and hardly had Freddy left the room
before he opened the door and threw the
pears after him, saying, “There! you

3



34 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

may have them to eat. I don’t want
them.”

Freddy had no time to thank him, but
he ate the fruit with great satisfaction ;
and after that the man was always more
pleasant to him.

One day, as the circus company were
passing through the streets of a pretty
little village, Freddy saw a little boy
standing with his mother at the door,
looking on the procession. As he was
near the side of the street where they
were, he heard the child say,—

“ Mother, mayn’t I go to the circus ?”

“No, no, my love; it is not a good
place for a little boy,” was the answer.

It was like lifting a dark veil from
Freddy’s mind. He remembered how he
had watched the circus as it went by his
father’s door; how he had asked, just as
the little boy did, to go, and how he had
been refused in much the same way; and
then he remembered how he had been
taken away. Tears stole from his eyes at
these thoughts, but he resolutely brushed
them away. When he heard his name
called he said to himself, “ My name is



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 35
Freddy, and not Jim. I had a father, and
a mother, and a home, I know.”

Four more years passed, and every day
there would come wild dreams to his
heart, and he would long to be free, to go
forth from his wearisome, pitiless life into
the world, and do and be more than he
was doing and being in such a company.
He never thought of having smiles of love
and joy. He expected to drag out a
weary existence; but he did earnestly
desire rest and quiet and freedom. Once
again he sought the sanctuary, purposely ;
but he knew not why. Again he heard a
prayer, a hymn, and a sermon, the text of
which was, “I will arise and go to my
father.” How beautifully was God’s love
described! How tenderly were the erring
urged to “ forsake the error of their ways,”
and the trembling to flee to the Rock of
their strength! The sermon was ended,
the blessing was pronounced, and the
people went quictly and reverently from
the house of God; and at last Freddy
found himself standing alone in deep
thought. Then he said, “I have a hea-
venly and an earthly father, as the



36 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

minister says, to seek; and I will go and
look for them now.”

So out in the clear sunlight came the
boy ; and on that Sabbath-day he walked
rapidly away, leaving sin and weariness
behind him, seeking for true wisdom, and
for two parents—one in heaven, another
on earth; and when the shadows of the
forest trees fell upon him as they waved
in the breeze, they were emblems of the
lights and shadows in his soul, and the hopes
and fears in his bosom. Perchance angels
from heaven smiled upon that youthful
pilgrim ; and when conscience cried,
“Thou God seest me,” it was only to
cheer him on, for he was walking accord-
ing to the light he had.



CHAPTER IV.

FREDDY was in great fear that the circus
people would miss him and search for him;
and he dreaded nothing so much as that
they would find him and bring him back
to the old life of toil and trouble. Poor
child! after those long years, when he



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 37

was bound body and mind, the first free-
dom that he tasted was so sweet that the
very thought of returning to his old ways
was terrible. Oh, never did birds sing so
sweetly, never did flowers bloom so beau-
tifully, thought our little wanderer, as
they did on that day. In those hours of
joy were the graces of faith and hope and
charity revealed to him and found a home
in his spirit. He stopped but twice—once
to pick some berries by the wayside, and
once to drink from a little brook—not
thinking that, before that journey was
over, he should, through divine grace, eat
of the bread and drink of the water of life.
At night he crept into a shed adjoining a
farm-house. He dared not go into the
house, lest he should by some means be
put in the power of the dreaded circus
company. Hardships were familiar to
him; and the wooden floor that was his
bed did not prevent him from falling into
a deep sleep. He awoke at dawn, but
heard no one stirring. Being yet tired
and exceedingly hungry, he determined to
stay a while longer in the shed, to see how
affairs would turn; but while he was



38 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

waiting for this, he took care to hide him-
self in an old box which stood near the
kitchen, so that he could overhear what
passed within. When he first went there,
he heard nothing but a cat mewing; and,
being unable to go to sleep, though he was
very tired, he sat crouched down and lis-
tened for more sounds of life. These were
not long in coming. First the farmer was
heard making the kitchen fire, while his
wife called in a brisk voice to her girls
and boys to get up. Then the good man
went out to the barn. The boys went to
take care of the horses and be ready for
the day’s work, and the girls went to
milk, while bustling, cheery Mrs. B. got
breakfast. Then the family gathered
around the well-filled table. A blessing
was asked in a distinct voice: the farmer
made use of the words, “ We pray thee
help all the oppressed and poor.”

“That's me,” said Fred. ‘

The blessing ended, the clatter of cups
and saucers, knives and forks, began.
Hunery Freddy in his box heard it all.
The breakfast finished, the farmer and his
boys sat quietly down; the farmer’s wife



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 39

and her girls cleared away the breakfast
things ; and when the dishes were all re-
moved, and the table put back, they too
sat down, and the farmer took his Bible
and read a short portion. Then all
kneeled, while Mr. B. poured out the
heart’s desires to God.

In the course of his prayer he men-
tioned particularly the case of any who
might be in any kind of trouble or distress,
not knowing which way to turn, and be-
sought the Father of the fatherless and the
Friend of the friendless to provide for such,
and to guide them out of all their perplexi-
ties into the path of duty and safety.

When Freddy heard this, he said to
himself, “That's me! that’s me! I’m
friendless and helpless. I hope the Lord
will do as he asks.” Then came the idea
that Mr. B, was praying for him particu-
larly ; and this idea grew almost to a cer-
tainty to him as he pondered on it. And
no sooner was the last word said than he
came out of his concealment, just as the
family were rising from their knees.

“Who are you?” asked the sturdy
farmer in surprise.



40 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

‘Please, sir, I’m the boy you were pray-
ing for just now,” replied Freddy, while his
voice trembled from emotion.

“Me!” cried the farmer in surprise.
“Me! I do not know that I prayed for
any boy in particular.” :

“Why, sir,’ returned Freddy, tears
stealing down his cheeks, “you prayed
for friendless people in trouble. That's
what Iam; and I thought it was me.”

“Come in and sit down, my boy, and
get something to eat, and then tell us who
you are, and all about yourself,” said
Mrs. B.

Freddy was glad enough to comply
with the invitation. Such a breakfast as
he had then was indeed a great treat to
him; and he ate with avidity. But in
the midst of his breakfast he raised his
eyes, and, just entering the gate, saw one
of the circus company. He started up;
then, throwing himself upon his knees
before the farmer, he cried, ‘There he
comes !—the circus man! Save me! oh,
save me!”

The farmer lifted him up quickly,
pushed him into a bedroom, shut the door,





OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 41

and just then came the tap, tap, tap of
the circus man at the door. Farmer B.
answered the knock himself.

“Ts there a boy here that doesn’t be-
long to you?” inquired the circus man.

“Who are you?” asked Mr. B. gruffly.

“My name is Flinn, I belong to a
circus company,” answered the man im-
patiently.

‘**No one here for you, sir!”

“Seen a boy go past this morning?”

“Haven't seen any boy go past this
morning.”

“May I come in and get some break-
fast? DPve been looking for the young
scamp all night.”

“Don’t harbour circus folks here.
Youll have to go elsewhere for your
breakfast.”

Off went the man grumbling; and
when he was out of sight, Freddy came
out to finish his breakfast. They asked
him no questions until it was finished.
Then the farmer said, ‘‘Now, my lad, sup-
pose you tell us who and what you are.”

“Yes, sir. But please, sir, Pd best tell
you alone,” replied Freddy ; for he feared



42 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

if so many boys and girls heard the story,
it would probably be told to some of their
friends, and then get to the ears of Gordon
and Flinn, who he doubted not were
anxious to regain him; for which purpose
Flinn, who was the circus clown, would not
scruple to declare that he was his father,
as he had done in one or two other cases.
“Well, go to your work, boys and
girls,” cried the farmer; and soon the
busy family were all about their useful
labours, while no one but Mr. and Mrs. B.
remained to hear the runaway’s story.
The child told all he knew about him-
self; but this was not much, for by that
time he had forgotten many of the scenes
of his former days, and could give but an
imperfect account of who and what he
was before he was carried off by the circus
company. But he told how he was seek-
ing for two fathers—one on earth and one
in heaven; how sure he was that the
earthly father would teach him of the
heavenly one; how he could not bear the .
circus; how his heart had been touched
by what he had learned about the love of
God in the two sermons he had heard ;



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 48

and how fresh in his mind were four
words—‘“ Thou God seest me.”

The good farmer, touched by the story
and interested in the fair youth—for he
was now washed and clad—asked him to
stay and live with them, and said that he
would treat him as a son. He told him
that years had passed since he thought he
was taken from home; that, as he had no
clue by which. to find his parents, and as
the world was wide and time made many
changes, there was little likelihood of his
ever finding the father whom he sought,
and meanwhile he would be liable to pri-
vations and temptations. But Freddy was
true to his purpose. He said quietly, “I
will find my Father in heaven, even if I
don’t find the other father. And I will
set out again after the circus people have
gone away.”

They saw it was of no avail to try to
move him from his determination; but
they persuaded him to stay for two
months, until he became stronger, and the
company had left that part of the country.
This he consented to do; and, as he rested
and was at peace, the farmer’s wife, think-



44 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

ing on the strange history and his stranger
purpose, determined to prepare him as well
as she could to battle with the temptations
he would meet. So she began at once to
teach him to read. The boy was clever
and eager to learn; and before the two
months had passed, he could read a few
easy verses here and there in the Bible.
The day came for him to go; and the
farmer gave him a suit of new clothes,
and five shillings: the farmer’s wife gave
him a Bible and a spelling-book. Then,
with many regrets and blessings, they
bade him farewell, and prayed God to
speed him on his journey. Thus, with his
little bundle in his hand, this youthful
pilgrim set out on the journey that he
had chosen to go—searching for two
fathers, one of whom watched him from
his throne in heaven, the other prayed
daily for him at the family altar.

CHAPTER V.

NEARLY a week had passed, when, tired
and dusty, but still hopeful, Freddy



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 45

stopped in the early part of the evening
at a farm-house, and humbly craved a
place in which to sleep during the night,
if it were only on the barn-floor. ‘This
request was denied him; and the boy who
spoke with him told him to go on to the
town, which was some miles distant, and
sleep in the jail, where he doubted not he
deserved to be. Freddy pursued his way
on. He resolved to go on to the town,
though he did not intend to sleep in the
jail; for he did not think he ought to be
there. However, he lost his way, and it
was nearly three o’clock in the morning
before he reached the town. He was
almost tired out; and nearly the first
house he came to was one belonging to a
poor woman who kept a little shop. He
sat down on the step, with his bundle
beside him, and was soon fast asleep.

The widow Jones, who occupied this
little house, had a very wicked son, who,
when he was only eleven years old, ran
away from his kind mother, in the com-
pany of a lad of about sixteen, who was
even worse than himself.

Now, this had happened nearly a year



46 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

before; and every evening the good
widow prayed that her erring son might
be sent back reformed and_ penitent.
‘When she awoke the morning after Freddy
fell asleep on her door-step, she drew back
the little white window-curtain; and,
behold! the first thing she saw was the
boy asleep. “Thank God!” she cried;
“here is my Sammy returned at last to
his poor old mother!” So she went and
opened the door; and bitter was her dis-
appointment to find that it was not
Sammy Jones who lay there, but some
one whom she supposed was far more in-
nocent and true. And as she gazed upon
the stranger, so peaceful in his sleep, she
felt pity and kindness in her heart.

“Well, well,” said she, sighing, ‘“ God
has not willed that my Sammy is to come
back now—poor boy; but here is some
one he has sent, so I must e’en give him
a mouthful of breakfast!” So she stooped
down, and, touching him gently, said,—

“ Wake up, my lad.”

Up jumped Freddy and gazed about
him. Soon he remembered that the night
previous he had lain down on that door-



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 47

step to sleep. “Oh! oh!” cried he, “TI
have been asleep; and now I must go on.”

“No, no; come in and get your break-
fast, my lad, and rest awhile; for God
has sent you here.”

“Then I must go where my Father in
heaven says.” And he followed her.

“And do you think God is your
Father? Then you are a good and a
happy lad,” said Mrs, Jones kindly.

“ Ab, ma'am, I thought he was every
one’s Father; and I don’t suppose I’m
good, for I don’t know what he wants me
to do.”

Then the widow asked him questions,
and he answered all he could, and told her
about his staying at the farmer’s; and so
she said,—

“T am only a poor lone woman ; but
Tll do as Mr. B. did, and ask you to stay
two months; and though I am old, maybe
T can finish teaching you to read; for he
is poorly off who cannot read the good
Book.”

And Freddy said he would gladly stay.

The two months passed. Freddy was
useful to the poor widow who had taken



48 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

him under her roof, in running errands
and taking care of her little garden. Be-
sides, he seemed to take the place of the
truant son, and partly filled the void his
loss had made in the mother’s heart. So
the good woman pleaded hard with him to
stay, and be to her as a son. She told him
that he could go to school and learn, and
go to church and to Sunday school; and
thus, by learning more, be better qualified
to search for his two fathers. So he con-
sented to stay.

Every morning he worked for the widow,
and then went to school. His quiet and
gentle manners won for him the affection
of his teachers, and they often wished that
he could tell them enough of his history
to give them some means of finding his
parents. Though they thought it a hope-
less case, and advised him to give up the
idea of finding his home, he always said he
knew that one day he should find it; and
his spirit was strong in faith and hope.

A year passed on. Freddy has grown
tall and strong, and his active habits and
unvarying good temper made him the joy
of widow Jones’s lonely heart.



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 49

“ Ah,” she would say, “how he grows,
and how smart he is! My little business
is twice as good as it was; and when my
Sammy comes back, he will, I am sure, be
better from Freddy’s example. How he
must have changed— poor boy! Two
years make a great difference in a child,
alack-a-day !”

So she talked; and as “hope deferred
maketh the heart sick,” she grew prema-
turely old, for she was only fifty-two,
though she seemed to be seventy. The
neighbours said to one another, ‘ She’s
failing, poor woman!” And when they
asked her how she was, she answered,
“Poorly, very poorly. But Tl be all
right when Sammy comes.”

Freddy watched her with sorrow, and
often wondered how a boy could leave so
kind and good a mother. Thus things
went on, until one day (it was about
eighteen months after Freddy came) she
received a letter, telling her that Sammy
was dead! Poor old woman! she bowed
submissively ; but the blow to her hopes
was too heavy to be borne, and in less than
six months she was dead.

4



50 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

Once more Freddy was alone in the
world, but not quite so destitute as before,
for the widow, before she died, gave him
her little all. Before she died, she re-
quested the minister and schoolmaster to
give him recommendations, which they
cheerfully did.

The day after Mrs. Jones was buried,
Freddy set out for the city, as that was
where his friends advised him to go. They
must have had great confidence in his in-
tegrity and firmness. The hand of Provi-
dence guided him and shielded him from
harm; and blessed is he whose keeper is
the Watchman of Israel, who never slum-
bers nor sleeps!

CHAPTER VI.

WE will now look after Freddy during his
stay in the city. For several days he
wandered about in search of employment,
and at last succeeded in getting a place as
waiter in a hotel. This was a very easy
situation for him, as it left him a large
part of his time unoccupied, and gave him
opportunity to attend to his books, of



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 51

which he had become very fond. He had
not been in this situation long, before a cir-
cumstance occurred that materially altered
his life.

One day a family, travelling, stopped for
some days at the hotel where Freddy was
employed as a waiter. This family con-
sisted of a gentleman, his wife, an invalid
son of fourteen, and a boy of four years
old. The child was very obstinate and
greedy ; and as soon as he was seated at
the table, he seized a dish of preserved
plums that stood near his plate, and began
to eat them. He was in such a hurry that
he could not stop to take the stones from
his mouth, but swallowed two with the
fruit. The third stone choked him, and
he was unable to swallow it or to throw it .
out. His parents and those around him
were greatly alarmed, and too much con-
fused to do anything effectual; and the
child’s face turned almost black. Freddy
saw this, and immediately hastened to him,
and, by pressing his fingers against the
lower part of his throat, succeeded in re-
moving the plum-stone. After a few
moments the ehild revived, and in a little



52 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

time went to the table and finished his
dinner. Freddy again attended to his
duties, and the affair was probably not
thought of again by the people at the
hotel. But the father whose caild was
thus saved did not forget the circumstance,
and soon after dinner sent to request the
lad to come to his room, that he might
speak to him,

As I have said before, Freddy was a
remarkably good-looking boy, and -his ami-
ability and generosity of disposition were
shown plainly in the expression of his face.
He had studied diligently, and was as well
informed as many boys who have had bet-
ter advantages. . Besides, he was always
respectful to his superiors, though perfectly
self-possessed. The father, Mr. Harrington,
was much pleased with him, and asked him
various questions about himself. Freddy
was now relieved of his fears of circus men,
and always related his story to those who
seemed interested in him, thinking that
thus he might obtain some information
that would benefit himself Mr. Harring-
ton listened with great interest, and his
heart warmed towards the boy when he



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 53

heard how he had gone out seeking for a
heavenly Father with such vague ideas
concerning where or how to seek him.

Mr. Harrington stayed in the city some
time, and heard so much in Freddy’s favour
that he determined to write to the minister
who had given him recommendations, and
make inquiries concerning him. The re-
verend gentleman spoke very highly of
Freddy’s character; and Mr. Harrington,
after full evidence from other sources, gen-
erously offered to take him as an adopted
son, and provide for all his wants. How
grateful was Freddy! He determined to
be all that was good and faithful, and thus
repay his benefactor.

And now we see Freddy the inmate of
a pious family, and enjoying all the privi-
leges of a rich man’s son. He was sent
to an excellent school, provided with all
that was necessary for his happiness, and
loved as a child by Mr. and Mrs. Harrine-
ton. Truly the great Father and Helper
ef us all had provided bountifully for the
child, and the petitions of those sad parents,
who daily besought the throne of grace for
their lost one, were answered, though they



54 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

knew it not; and thus is prayer often
answered by infinite mercy in ways which
infinite wisdom determines to be best.

CHAPTER VII.

By the time Fred (as I shall now call him)
was sixteen years old, he was prepared to
enter college. You may be sure that Mr.
and Mrs. Harrington and the boys felt
very sad to think of parting with such a
kind and pleasant companion.

How many long conversations Mr. Har-
rington had with him I need not say. I
will only refer to one. It was several days
before he was to leave home, that he was
sitting alone one evening looking from his
window upon the street below. Mr. Har-
rington entered the room; but Fred was
too deeply absorbed in thought to hear
him until he laid his hand upon his arm.

“What are you thinking of, Fred?” he
asked.

“Of what I am to do and to be in the
world,” was the reply.

“Well, you know you can be what you



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 55:

like. You must decide for yourself, my
boy.”

“T cannot decide, sir. I do not know
what todo. If I knew who I was, I could
better decide what to do.”

“Your not knowing who or where your
parents are, Fred, should not make any
difference with your usefulness or your
life’s work, You were very young when
you were lost, and maybe by this time
they are dead.”

“T cannot think that they are. I have
always felt as if I should find them. When
I first set out on my search, I thought
(like a child ag I was) that I should soon
find my home, for that surely my parents
could not be very far off. I have hoped,
searched, and waited ever since; yet I
cannot see when the end will be.”

“ But, Fred, you began at that time a
more important search. You went forth
to find a Father who can be found only by
faith. Have you found Him?”

“No, sir; I fear not. I seem to have
been at the same point as it concerns reli-
gion for years. J fear that I am even
further from God than I was when my



56 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

faith and trust were more simple and I
knew less.”

“Then, my boy, let me advise you to
seek bim where alone he can be found—
in the gospel of his grace. You would
surely go gladly and eagerly to find your
unknown father, were you certain of any
place where he was, no matter if the way
were long and the journey difficult. You
would feel as if your cares would all be
forgotten when your end was accom-
plished.”

“T know I should; and I often wish I
had Herbert’s faith—it is so earnest and
so true.”

“Yes, Herbert has indeed an earnest
faith; and what could he do or be without
it? Shut out as he is by his lameness and
ill-health from the society and amusements
of others of his own age, and necessarily
much alone, he is still happy in his quiet
resignation to the divine will. Indeed, I
doubt not that he has more real enjoyment
than any of us. This should serve to
make us more earnest in the pursuit of
that which is the joy and refuge of the
afflicted.”



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 57

“True; our health, though the gift of
God, often serves to draw our hearts from
heaven. I often feel as if I would be
willing to be ill or in trouble, if that
would bring me nearer in spirit to my
Maker. But I suppose such wishes are
foolish, and that I must wait and hope.”

“Rather ‘watch and pray.’ You must
battle with sin, and ask grace of God to
enable you to overcome it. The Spirit of
truth will be graciously vouchsafed to you,
if you seek it in faith.”

“My faith is too weak and wavering to
trust. J am afraid.”

“Well, Fred, I rejoice to know that
you are not indifferent to your soul’s
interest, Never think life’s end is gained
till the soul is safe.”

Thus, often and often, Fred and his
kind patron talked together; and such
conversations served to keep alive in his
heart desires for “the peace which passeth
all understanding,” though too often, I am
sorry to say, he had seasons of indifference
to what concerned him so deeply.

The day before he was to leave his home
and go to college he was passing along the



58 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

street, when he heard one gentleman say
to another, “Ah! how do you do, Mr.
Ellsworth ? ”

Again, as often before, a flash gleamed
across his memory, revealing something in
the past; but it was momentary. Had
that name been repeated to him again and
again, perhaps he would have remembered
all; but it was not so to be. Perhaps
some wonderful and romantic incident may
be expected. But no; I cannot tell you
that on that morning the long-separated
father and his lost son stood side by side
and knew it not. No; it was a stranger
who bore that familiar name of Eilsworth,
and Fred’s own parent was far away,
seated in his quiet study, preparing a
sermon for the ensuing Sabbath. Fred
returned home desolate and sad, saying to
himself continually, “That was my name
—my own name—that I heard. I know
I should not have felt so if it had not
been.” He said nothing of this to Mr. or
Mrs, Harrington, but kept all his hopes
and fears hidden in his own heart.



"OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 59

CHAPTER VIII.

SWIFTLY two years passed—the two first
years of Fred’s college life. But life’s
changes are many. The shadow of death
now hovered over the family that he
loved. Herbert—the suffering but happy
Herbert—was dying, and Fred was called
to go thither and see his adopted brother
die. Mr. Harrington had gone from home
before his son was taken so dangerously
ill; and he was to come by the way of
—— on his return, and Fred was to
accompany him home.

Having stopped at a hotel in ——— to.
take dinner, they sat down in the parlour
to await the starting of the train in which
they were to go on their journey. In the
parlour were four persons—a gentleman
and his wife, with their daughter and son.
The lady was dressed in deep mourning
and seemed in feeble health. Fred was
very much interested in them. The
daughter was a beautiful and gentle-look-
ing girl; and her brother, though quite
young, seemed to have something noble in
his air that interested all who saw him.





60 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

Fred wondered who they were, and finally
determined to go to the register at the bar
and ascertain. It was the name which
had before startled him. He read it over
and over again — silently — aloud — in
whispers; and then it seemed as if
memory made a mighty effort to recall the
past, and it came over him as the sun
breaks from a dark, heavy cloud. He
knew the name. The past came back as
though it were a scene of yesterday. But
though. the name was there, those who
bore it might not be his parents.
Strangers might have that name, as he
had found before; but, to ascertain the
truth, he determined to write his name
along with the rest of the family. And
now on the register was to be seen :—

“Rev. R. Ellsworth.

“ Mrs. — Ellsworth.

“ Miss Elsworth.

“ Master R. Ellsworth.

“Mr, Frederick Ellsworth.”

When he had written his name and
read it all over, he went calmly back into
the parlour to await the event. He would
not have done this but for two things:





OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 61

one was that he knew the family were
going away in the same train that he was;
and the other, he knew they had not paid
their bill, Mr. Harrington had finished
reading, and was looking from the window.
He noticed Fred’s pale face, but, attributing
his paleness to a different cause, said, —

“Do not be anxious. Herbert may be
better when we reach home.”

Fred did not reply, but took up a book.
Very soon Mr. Ellsworth left the room,
and Fred, unable to restrain his excited
feelings, rose and followed him. Standing
in the hall, he saw him go up to the
clerk’s desk and take out his pocket-book
and give some bank-notes to the clerk.
The clerk counted them out and said,—

“Ten shillings more, sir.”

“Two days: two pounds ten for four
of us.”

“Five, sir, I think.”

“No. Myself, wife, daughter, and son.”

“Two sons,”

“ You are mistaken.”

The clerk bowed, opened the book, and
turned to the entry to his debtor.

“Frederick Ellsworth!” cried Mr. Ells-



62 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

worth, in amazement. ‘ Who wrote that
name?”

“T wrote it, sir,” said Fred, stepping
up to the bar.

Mr. Ellsworth looked at him earnestly.
«“ And who are you?” he said, in a low
eager voice,

“ My name, I think, is Frederick Ells-
worth—TI am sure it is Frederick.”

“T had a son who bore that name, long
ago. He was lost when he was about
four years old.”

“Twas stolen when I was very young
by a circus company.”

Mr. Ellsworth sprang forward, and,
seizing Fred's hand hastily, turned up the
cuff of his coat-sleeve. A little above the
wrist was a mark caused by a piece of
red-hot wire having fallen on it when he
was a child about two years old. It was
almost effaced ; but a father’s anxious eyes
could trace it yet.

“My son! my son!” he cried, clasping
the youth in his arms, while tears of joy
glistened on his cheeks,

Mr. Harrington heard the news with
deep feeling; but it would be hard to tell



OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 63

whether joy or sorrow predominated. He
insisted upon having all the Ellsworths
accompany him home, where they arrived
early in the evening.

Mrs. Harrington kindly welcomed the
Ellsworths, who felt as if they could never
sufficiently express their debt of gratitude
to her and her husband for their kindness
to Fred.

Mr. Ellsworth and Fred went at once
to Herbert’s room; and, as soon as they
had greeted him and become calm enough
to converse, he was told how Fred had
found his parents. Pure and unselfish
was Herbert’s joy.

“JT knew you would find them some-
time,” he said. “J have prayed that you
might. But what will my own father
and mother do—bereft of both their sons
at once ?”

For several days Herbert lingered, free
from pain, and full of joy and peace.

After his death and burial, Fred re-
turned with his parents, and found the
home his heart had been going out to seek
so long. He now felt a calm and holy
joy; for at the death-bed of Herbert his





64 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT.

heart had renewed its search for a heavenly
Father, and sought not in vain.

Years passed. He finished his college
course. By-and-by studies were laid
aside. The business of life was to be
begun. He had given himself to the
service of the Redeemer, as a missionary
to the heathen. His destination was
India, whither he soon afterwards sailed.

Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth are living in
the same home which they have always
occupied—aged Christians, at peace with
all mankind. Hattie is married to a mis-
sionary, while Robert followed his brother
to India as a missionary several years ago.

The three still live and labour on those
distant shores. Go forth to their aid,
young Christians in this favoured land,
and let this narrative encourage you to
put your trust in Him “ whose eyes are
upon the righteous, and whose ears are
open to their cry.”





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The Baldwin Library

RnB vie


FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT.
i



FREDDY IN THE CIRCUS PROCESSION


FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

oR,

THE LITTLE RUNAWAY.



ee

LONDON:
T. NELSON AND SONS, PATERNOSTER ROW;

EDINBURGH ; AND NEW YORK,

1872.









» the house of good Mr. Ellsworth,
#* the faithful pastor of the ———
church in P——. Quickly the
family assembled at the well-
known and welcome sound ; for the hour
of prayer was a delightful season in that
happy home. Soon they were all in their
places. Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth sat by the
table; Freddy, a beautiful boy four years
old, was in his usual place at his mother’s
side; Hattie, a girl of eight, sat by her
father; Minnie, who was a baby two years
old, was on Bridget’s lap, quiet and pleased,
as she saw all around her were so.
6 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

Mr. Ellsworth read a chapter, and, after
making a few remarks, closed the book
and waited for the verses that each member
of the family was accustomed to repeat.
Mrs. Ellsworth gave hers first: “Let not
your heart be troubled: ye believe in
God, believe also in me.” Then Hattie
said: “For whosoever doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven, the same
is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Then little Freddy looked up shyly, and
said,—

‘“T have one, too, father.”

“Say it, my dear: J am glad you have
learned one,” replied his father.

The boy looked down a moment, as if
trying to recollect ; and then, clasping his
hands, and looking upwards with childish
reverence, he said softly, “‘Thou God scest
me.”

“That is a beautiful verse, my son,” said
Mr. Ellsworth. ‘You have learned it
early tn life: never, never forget it. If we
all would remember always that God’s eye
is ever upon us, we should live very dif
ferently.”

A hymn was then sung, and the little
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 7
band kneeled in prayer. When the prayer
was finished, they all arose. As Bridget
left the room, she said to Hattie,—

“Well, Miss Hattie, this is the last day
Tll come without a verse to say. Pll
surely learn one.”

“JT hope you will, Bridget,” said Mr.
Ellsworth, who overheard her make this
remark. ‘These little verses furnish food
for much profitable thought during the day,
and lead us to endeavour more earnestly
to do His will whose words they are.”

“Father,” cried Freddy, “shall I come
up-stairs now and learn my lessons?”

“No; not till I come back from Mrs.
C.’s,” replied his father.

Freddy ran for his father’s hat and
cane,

Mr. Ellsworth took them and went out.
In a few moments he came back, saying
to his wife, “My dear, there is a circus
coming in town to-day, I hear; and, as it
will pass the house, the children will have
to be closely watched, to see that they do
not go outside of the gate.”

. ‘Had I not better keep them in the house
altogether?” asked Mrs. Ellsworth,
8 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

“You might as well keep Minnie in;
but I don’t see that there would be any
danger in allowing Freddy to play in the
yard as usual, if he promises to stay there
and not open the gate. Will you promise,
Freddy ?”

“Oh yes, father; I will not go out, but
be sure to stay just where mother bids me,”
replied the boy.

“Well, then, you may go out when your
mother says you may,” said his father, and
went on his way to visit his sick parishioner.

About an hour after, Mrs. Ellsworth gave
Freddy permission to play in the yard.
After he had been out about twenty
minutes, she heard the sound of music;
and as she knew the circus, with its at-
tendant rabble, would soon pass, she went
to the door to caution Freddy about open-
ing the gate. She found him standing on
the gate, leaning over and looking down
the street.

“You mustn’t stand on the gate, Freddy,”
said she.

He stepped down and looked through
the railing.

“O mother, the circus is coming up this
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 9

way pretty soon—and the music too—
and those pretty horses—and little boys
and girls on them! I wish you would let
me go to it, mother,” cried he.

“O my son, the circus is not at all the
proper place for little boys to go to; there
are many foolish and wicked things said and
done there, and the men who go about with
it are often very bad persons. I would not
take my little Freddy there for anything.”

“Well, I can see it go by; can't I,
mother ?” asked Fred.

“Yes, you may see it go by; and when
your father has time, you can ask him to
tell you more about why you should not
go, or wish to go, to the circus. But you
had better come and sit on the door-step.
You can see just as well, and be out of
harm’s way. You must sit still on the
steps.”

“T won't go out of the gate, mother ;
. Pll be a good boy and sit still,” said the
child.

Mrs. Ellsworth went into the house
again. As she attended to her accustomed
duties, she heard the tread of many feet,
and a confused noise, which told that the
10 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

circus was passing along the street. “TI
will go and tell Freddy to come in and
stand by the window,” said she to herself;
“it isa great temptation for a little boy to
sit still and see all the other children
running along the street. I am afraid he
will forget his promise.”

Just as she was going down the stairs
for this purpose, she heard a loud cry from
Minnie, who was in the library with her
father. She ran to see what was the
matter. Minnie had pulled an hour-glass
from the table and broken it, and cut her-
self with some pieces of the glass, She had
put her bleeding hand to her face, and so
seemed to be much more hurt than she
really was. Mr. Ellsworth had just lifted
her up as his wife came in,

“Tl take her,” said Mrs, .Ellsworth,
“af you will go and see where Freddy is,
If he is left alone, he may be tempted to
go with the circus people.”

She took Minnie to the nursery to wash
her face and hands, while Mr. Ellsworth
went out to look for Freddy. He was not
on the steps. So his father looked for
him in the yard, in the kitchen, and in
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 11

‘the parlour; but he was not to be seen.
Mr. Ellsworth then called Bridget, and told
her to go and look for the child at one
corner of the street, while he went to the
other in the direction in which the circus
had gone. No Freddy was to be seen!
Anxiously the father followed the eager
crowd, inquiring of every one for the
missing boy, and finally searched all round
the circus grounds. Inquiries were made
of all the neighbours; many aided in the
search ; and Mrs. Ellsworth, leaving Minnie
with Hattie, joined in seeking for the
child. The day wore away. Bells were
rung, rewards were offered, and the public
crier proclaimed that a “child was lost.”
Night came and wearily passed, and morn-
ing dawned, but brought no trace of the
child to the distracted parents, though the
search had been continued all through the
night.. The well was searched; but no
trace of him was found. The river was
dragged, and then the canal. All the
boats and trains that left the city that day
were searched; but no clue was found as
to whither the wanderer had gone. Days,
weeks, and months passed on ; advertise-
12 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

ments had been inserted in many papers,
and Mr, Ellsworth had visited many cities,
seeking for hisson, They had now almost
given him up, and began to sorrow for him
as for one dead, though in their hearts
there was a deep, corroding grief, that
made them far more unhappy than they
would have been had they been sure that
his body was at rest in the churchyard,
and his soul in heaven.



CHAPTER II.

WHEN Freddy was left by his mother sit-
ting on the door-step, he was quite sure
that he would be a good boy and obey his
mother in every particular. But when the
circus, with its gaily-painted waggons and
loud music, came by, he sprang up to see
it, and ran down and climbed on the gate,
that he might have a nearer view.

“Thou God seest me,” said conscience
in his ear. Freddy looked around and up
into the sky. “I don’t think God sees
me,” perhaps he said to himself ‘‘ He has
so many other people here in the street,
a

OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 18

‘and I’m so little, that he would not notice
me. And if he does see me, he won’t be
angry this time. Father says God is very
good.” Thus he may have quieted his
conscience while he continued at the gate.
In a little while he saw a boy coming
along with an orange in his hand.

“Where did you get that orange?”
asked Freddy.

“I bought it from that boy for three
halfpence,” was the reply.

Freddy had three halfpence in his pocket;
and as the orange-seller was just on the
other side of the street, a little way down,
he looked to see that no one in the house
was watching him, and then opened the
gate to go and buy one. ‘Thou God seest
me,” conscience may have cried, louder than
ever,

“T know it; I know it; Tl only buy
an orange and come back at once,” thought
Freddy. The orange bought, he turned
his steps, as he thought, towards the house;
but, in the crowd and confusion, he went
in the wrong direction. After going a
little distance and turning down a street,
he began to cry with fright. This attracted
14 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

the attention of a strange-looking woman
dressed in a gray petticoat, and having. a
scarlet shawl wrapped around her head and
shoulders.

“What is the matter with my pretty
little master to-day?” asked she.

“Oh, Pm lost! I’m lost! I can’t find
the way home!” said Freddy.

“Oh, I know where you live,” said she;
“come, and I will take you home.”

Fred dried his tears, and ran along-cheer-
fully by her side. She went on some dis-
tance, and at last entered a place near the
canal, that looked like an old barn. Here
were several women as oddly dressed as
herself, and some half-drunken men. When
the woman entered, leading Freddy, one
of the latter turned to a wicked-looking
old woman and. said,—

“ Judith’s made a good catch. Elspeth,
now you go try your luck.”

“No,” answered the woman; “Judith’s
always luckier than I, and I shall stay
here.” As she said this, she took up a
large black bottle, and, putting it to her
lips, eagerly drank off the contents.

Freddy had some idea of what she was
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 15
drinking, and cried out, “ My father says
it’s wicked to drink gin, and there’s no
such thing as luck.”

“Ho!” cried a man, ‘that’s a parson’s
child, I'll be bound. Sing us a psalm,
boy.”

Freddy began to ery.

“Stop your noise,” said Judith, ‘‘and
don’t mind them.”

“This isn’t where I live. I want to go
home,” cried Freddy.

“Tl take you there very soon,” she
answered, proceeding to take off his clothes;
then, putting some rags on him that scarce
deserved the name of clothes, she gave his
to one of the men. ‘Then she tied an old
handkerchief around the boy’s head, to
conceal his clustering chestnut curls, and
washed his face, hands, and feet in some-
thing she took from a tin basin.

“Ts that tea? ” asked Freddy.

But she did not answer. She then
gave the little boy a large piece of white
sugar, on which she had dropped some-
thing. As this did not taste at all dis-
agreeable, Fred ate the whole of it. Then
Judith bid him sit down on a bench until
16 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

she was ready to take him home. He
obeyed ; and, as she had given him lauda-
num on the sugar, he soon fell into a heavy
sleep.

“Are you flitting, Judith?” inquired
one of the men.

“Yes, and I'll be flitting for a good
while,” she replied testily,

“Will ye have Elspeth?” asked the
man again.

“No, nor any one,” returned she.

The man left the place in a few moments.
Had we followed him, we should have seen
that he went to a canal-boat to secure a
passage for a gipsy woman and. her child.
That afternoon, after Freddy woke up,
feeling very stupid, Judith took him on
her back, and, throwing a shawl around
him, went towards the canal-boat. If Mr.
Ellsworth himself had seen that tawny,
drowsy child upon the gipsy’s back, he
would never have suspected it was his son,
so completely had his whole appearance
been changed. The poor child began to
ery and sob bitterly when he found himself
taken on the boat and floating slowly along
on the canal; but Elspeth had furnished
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 17

Judith with oranges and plenty of sleeping-
potions, and with these, and the threat of
throwing him into the canal, she kept him
quiet. When night came, little Freddy
drew away from Judith, and, weary and
drowsy though he was, his trembling hands
were folded and his knees bent while, lift-
ing his earnest eyes to heaven, he whispered
the prayer which his mother had taught
him.

Weary days and nights they travelled
—now in the slow canal-boat, now in the
swift-moving train, at times on foot—
until they reached a distant town. It
was late on a stormy evening when they
arrived, and Judith led the way to a dark,
dreary-looking house, and entered it by
the back-door. A dirty boy was sitting
in the kitchen, to whom Judith said,—

“Jim, where’s your master ? ”

Soon Simon—a man of desperate char-
acter—came in answer to the call. When
he saw who accompanied Judith, he told
her to come up-stairs; and up she went,
dragging the weary child after her, till
they came to a sitting-room. Freddy sat
down on a stool; but Judith remained
9

a
18 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

standing. The gipsy, in a cold, monotonous
tone, told the man the tale she had so
often told before, and which she, as well
as Freddy, knew was false.

“A gipsy woman died in our camp,”
she said. ‘We cannot keep her boy.
This is he. He may be useful to you.
What will you give me for him?”

“T will give ten for him.”

She took the money, and turned to go;
but poor Freddy did not want to be left
alone. Although she had been cruel to
him, he sprang up, crying, —

“Oh, let me come with you! I don’t
want to be alone! Tl beso good! Take
me !—do!”

“Go away. That man is your master
now,” said she, pushing him violently from
her.

“Yes, come here; you are my boy.
Will you be good, sir?”

*No, no! I want Judith! I want
my own father and my mother !”

“JT must whip you if you don’t behave.”
And, so saying, he struck the child violently
on his cheek, and pushed him into a cor-
ner, Freddy lay down and sobbed till
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 19

he fell asleep. When he awoke, he was
lying on a low straw bed, covered with a
quilt. His clothes were lying on a box,
and a gipsy woman was moving about in
the gray light of the dawn. She was a
kind, good-natured looking woman, and
when Freddy sat upright in his bed she
came to his side and took one of his little
hands in hers, saying, ‘‘Poor boy! poor
boy!” :

Freddy looked up at her, and tears
glistened in his dark eyes at these words
of kindness—the first he had heard since
he left his home.

“Am I going to live with you?” he
said, hoping that she would reply, Yes.

But she said, “ Only for a while, boy.”

“Do you know about God?” inquired
Freddy eagerly.

“ No—only a very little. No one told
me about him. Do you?”

“Yes,” replied the child, glad to find
some one to talk to about God, as he used
to do in his lost home. “God is a spirit
in heaven. I have a soul; so have you.
When we die, if we love Jesus, our souls
will go to him in heaven—a beautiful
20 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

place, where all is happy—if we are good,
as he says we must be.”

“How can we be good?” asked Dinah
eagerly.

“Why we must pray to him, and he
will help us not to do naughty things ; we
must not steal, or lie, or say bad words, or
use God’s name in vain. We must love
Jesus, and pray to him to save us and help
us to be good, and then we will go to
heaven,”

“Will we have to work there?” asked
Dinah.

““No,—only praise God, play on golden
harps, wear beautiful robes, and have
crowns on our heads; we will never be
tired, or sick, or hungry, or thirsty. If
you want to be good, you must say your
prayers every day,” continued Freddy.

“ How?” inquired Dinah.

“Tl show you,” said he, and, kneeling
reverently down, he repeated as much as
he remembered of the prayers he used to
say. ‘O God, make Freddy a good boy.
Bless my father and mother, my brother
and sisters, and take me to heaven when
I die.” Then, after a pause, he added, of
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 21

his own accord, another prayer: “O God,
I am a poor lost little Freddy, wilt thou
take care of me? Wilt thou make this
woman good too? for Christ’s sake. Amen.”

“How shall I pray?” asked Dinah.
“Give me something short, so I won't
forget.”

“Well, say, ‘O God, make me good, and
take me to heaven, for Christ’s sake,
Amen.’”

“Thank ye kindly, master: I will, sure
and certain,” was the earnest reply.

It was a beautiful sight to see the lost,
weary child teaching that woman the way
of truth. Little did Mrs. Ellsworth think
that she had taught him what he, even in
his very infancy, would use to instruct a
poor benighted woman so far off, and per-
haps be instrumental in saving her soul;
for if that poor creature lived, prayed, and
hoped according to the faint light given
her, we may believe that God was “ mer-
ciful and gracious” to her and forgave her
her sins.

When it was perfectly light, Dinah
dressed Freddy, and brought him down
into the kitchen to eat breakfast, which
22 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

consisted of dry bread and a cup of water.
The half-starved child began to eat greed-
ily ; but disease was at work. His brain
reeled, his eyes grew dim, and he sank
senseless upon the floor.

A fit of sickness followed; but Freddy
was naturally a strong, healthy child, and
he was -graciously preserved, and at last
gained strength and health again. He was
a boy of exceedingly tenacious memory,
and quick and light in his motions. No
sooner did he begin to look plump and
well again, than the man he was with had
a plan for disposing of him advantageously.
Opportunity soon presented itself. Freddy
was given up to a circus actor for ten
pounds !

Before this, however, he had been told
that his name was no longer Freddy, but
Jim, After he had been called by this
name for some time, the circus man, who
proposed to buy him to travel with his
band, came to see him. When the child
was brought into the room the first ques-
tion asked was, ‘‘ Well, boy, what's your
name 2”

“Freddy,” was the quick reply.
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 23

“No,” said the man; “ his name is Jim.”

After this Freddy gave his name as
Jim; but he said to himself very often,
“ My name is Freddy,” and at night when
he said his prayers, he used to say, “O
Lord, bless little Freddy; for my name is
Freddy.” So much importance did he at-
tach to his name.

Perhaps if Freddy had been at home,
or in a pleasant place where he was sur-
rounded by the joys of childhood and yet
where no one spoke to him about God and
prayer, he would have forgotten to pray;
but, as it was, it was a comfort to his
lonely little heart to speak to the God of
his parents and ask to be protected from
the evils that surrounded him. Still I
cannot say that he preserved his innocent
ways. He soon fell into the habits of
those around him.

CHAPTER III.

I am now to describe a new scene in the
life of Freddy. The poor child was full
of grief and terror at leaving Dinah and
24 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

going to live with the circus company.
Just think, if you can, of the situation of
a child not five years old, born in a Chris-
tian home, cared for and taught for those
years, and then, while almost in infancy,
taken so suddenly from his parents’ love
and care, and placed among the rude,
wicked, and cruel people of a circus com-
pany! In this company were five little
boys and three little girls, who had been
under training for nearly a year; and
with them was Freddy placed under the
tuition of the ‘ring-master,’ as he was
called, to be taught various feats and
antics to please the low tastes of “ circus-
goers.” I need not say that this was not
all he learned. He saw his companions
steal, and heard profane words from child-
hood’s lips till they became to his ears a
familiar sound, from which he no longer
shrunk as he once did. When seated on
his father’s door-step, he heard children go
by in the street using wicked words, and
thought how wicked it was. It was, indeed,
some five or six months before Freddy spoke
such words himself. During this time he
was taught to stand on a man’s head and
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 25

play on a violin, to jump from the back
of a galloping horse through a hoop, to
stand on a large ball and retain his balance
while he rolled it up an inclined plane, to
dance on a rope, and many other foolish
things. While he was learning all this he
~ met with many sad falls and bruises, and
was sometimes beaten for not learning
faster. One day he was learning a new
performance, when he stumbled and _ fell.
Instantly, and for the first time, he uttered
a wicked word, such as he had heard his
companions use. “ Thou God seest me!”
was not forgotten, but was distinctly re-
peated by conscience; and it was many
days before he did so again. At another
time he joined with two little boys and a
girl in stealing some oranges from a basket.
He ate the fruit in secret; but the voice
of his inward monitor spoke so loudly to
him that he cried bitterly when he had
done it, though it was partly to satisfy
the cravings of hunger that he broke the
commandment, and took what was not his
.own. When he fell asleep he dreamed of
his long unseen home. He once thought
that he sat in his little chair at evening,
26 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

listening to the hymns his mother sung,
and that when she ceased she kissed him
as he kneeled by her side to say his even-
ing prayer. Then, again, he dreamed that
he stood at the gate of heaven. Little
children just come from earth stood round,
and, when the gate was opened, angel
forms led them into the city called Beau-
tiful. But these fair visions soon faded
away: the harsh voice of one of the at-
tendants called him from his blissful dreams
to the weary labours of the day.

Thus things went on till Freddy was
nearly seven years old; and at last the
day arrived when he was to exhibit him-
self with the rest. He was by far the
smallest child in the company, and his
master was very proud of his attainments.
The company was to enter a large city in
the morning, and among them was Freddy,
seated on his pony, gaudily dressed in
crimson and silver tinsel, and wearing a
showy star upon his dress, under which
' beat wearily the saddest little heart that,
had ever felt the pulsations of only seven
short years. The paleness of his thin
cheeks was hidden by the paint with
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 27

which they were covered. His dark curls
clustered around his aching brow, and his
sunken eyes were dazzled by the glare of
the light, and tormented by the waving
shadows of the long plumes that decked
his velvet cap.

What a dreary afternoon that was!
Cheered and applauded as he was by the
thoughtless crowds gathered in the tent,
he felt as if he should like to lie down and
sleep for ever, forgetful of all things past,
present, and to come. Do you wonder
that, in a land that boasts of its enlightened
population and of the education that even
the poorest receive, such things should be
tolerated and even encouraged? It is in-
deed passing strange. One would think
such schools of vice could be broken up.
Just think! Twelve little children (and
this number is attached to one circus, as
the author knows), fantastically dressed,
displaying their performances in a circus,
and applauded as much for the oaths they
utter as for the remarkable gymnastic feats
they exhibited! That was long ago; and
of those twelve children, those who have
not died in their childhood from the over-


28 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

exertion and unhappiness of their lives,
have grown old in vice.

But to return to Freddy. At five
o'clock the people dispersed; and two
hours were allowed for the weary children
to be divested of their trappings, go to the
hotel at which they lived, eat their sup-
pers, and, returning, dress again to be
ready for the evening performance. Mid-
night came before Freddy’s throbbing head
pressed the pillow; and with the rising
sun he rose for another day of just. such
endurance. Not once did he see the inside
of a church, nor hear his Maker's name
except as it was mockingly used, unless
at times when he would whisper his yet
unforgotten prayer; and often was that
once well-remembered text of the Bible
present in his mind, “ Thou God seest me.”
These, perhaps, saved the boy; for, among
all the rest, his were the lips that most
rarely lisped the name of God in‘vain, his
the hand that most carefully observed the
distinction between mine and thine, his
the eyes that were frequently dimmed
with tears; for know ye not that there
are some children whose hearts have grown
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 29

go cold and hard in life’s short, sharp con-
flict, that they are tearless—no tear for
pity, none for penitence !

I cannot stop to tell all the details of
this little boy’s life. It is not my purpose
to follow the circus company through their
peregrinations, but to relate the most im-
portant things that occurred to the child.

_ When he was about eight years old he
fell from a horse while galloping round the’
race-course and broke his leg. So severe
was the injury that for four months he
was not able to take part in any exhi-
bition. When he became able to walk,
he was suffered to go about where he
pleased ; and one quiet Sabbath evening
he entered a church, with timid steps, for
the first time in four years. It was in a
little village that it happened, and he went
in when the words of prayer were ascend-
ing to God, who giveth every good and
perfect gift. After this a hymn was sung,
and then the Bible was opened and the
text was read, “‘ What shall I do to be
saved?” The story of the apostles’ suffer-
ings, and of the frightened jailer’s deep
convictions of sin, was plainly and beauti-
30 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

fully related and explained, so that not
even the weary mind of our worn-out
little Freddy could fail to understand the
whole. Then the fulness and freeness of
salvation was shown; and tears fell from
many a listener’s eyes. The early teach-
ing which Freddy’s mother had given him
came back fresh to his memory. Again
he wondered how man could disobey in
such a place as Eden. He heard with
feelings of wonder and reverence the pro-
mise of a Redeemer; and when he heard
how he was lost by reason of sin, how the
promise was fulfilled, and the Holy One
of Israel came, and after his sinless and
glorious life was condemned by cruel men
to a most cruel death, he was amazed, and
wept over such base ingratitude. Then,
when he found how the sacrifice was to be
received and made the means of bringing
the lost back to God and Eden, to a place
holier and lovelier than Eden in all its
glory, he determined to try to follow the
feeble light thus presented to him, and
be ever anxious to love and please the
Saviour. But what could he do alone—poor
boy !—foreed continually into evil, and
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 31

with few if any ideas about what was right
and wrong—almost entirely ignorant of
the character of God, and having forgotten
much of what he had learned at his
mother’s knee! Soon after this he be-
came able to return to his usual labour ;
and as his master kept him confined to
his room nearly all the Sabbath, so that
he might, in a long sleep, gather strength
for another weck’s tasks, he had very little
opportunity to go again to church.

That his serious impressions, such as
they were, did not wholly vanish, may be
seen from the following incident. One of
the circus men—I think it was the “ ring-
master”—one day bought a dozen pears,
with which to regale himself in the even-
ing when he was not busy. Freddy had
been riding all the morning, had exhibited
all the preceding afternoon and evening,
and was weary and in need of refreshment.
Of course he had no money to buy pears.
They were scarce and dear; and the ring-
master would not buy him any. Two of
the other little boys formed a plan to
steal those the man had purchased, and
they asked Freddy to join them. Very
32 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

ce

much tempted, he “‘ consented to sin,” and
it was done. Each of the boys took four,
and soon after separated for their usual
occupations. Freddy concealed his. He
felt as if he could not join them in eating
the fruit. When they found, a chance,
they took them out to eat; and Freddy
wondered at them. Strange as it may
seem, he was weary and thirsty, and a
few moments before he wanted a pear
more than anything else, but now he
loathed it. This was the work of con-
science, though he knew it not. Finally,
he determined to eat them when he went
to his room at the hotel. When there, he
continued to feel very sorry for having
taken them, and as if he could not eat
them. So at last he took them to the
room where the ‘ring-master” slept.
There were three or four men in this
room, and one of them opened the door.
Freddy went in, and going up to the per-
son he had wronged, gave him the fruit,
and said,—

“Here, sir, are your pears. I took
them; but I am sorry, and have brought
them back,”
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 33

“ How dare you take my pears?” asked
the man angrily.

“Twas tired and thirsty ; but when I
had the pears I could not eat them when
I knew they were stolen,” was the reply.

““Where are the rest?” inquired the
man, in the same tone.

«Those are all I took,” answered Freddy.

“Who took the rest ?”” he asked sternly.

“ Please, sir, I cannot tell; I came here
to confess for myself?’ replied Fred.

“Tell me who took the others, and I
will give you these,” said Gordon coax-
ingly.

“No, sir,” replied Freddy.

“Then tell me, or ll whip you,” re-
torted the man.

“You may whip me if you like, sir;
but I have told for myself, and I will not
tell of any one else.”

“Go off, then,” said he, ashamed to
whip a boy who showed so much nobility
of character. Depraved though this man
was, he could appreciate such conduct;
and hardly had Freddy left the room
before he opened the door and threw the
pears after him, saying, “There! you

3
34 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

may have them to eat. I don’t want
them.”

Freddy had no time to thank him, but
he ate the fruit with great satisfaction ;
and after that the man was always more
pleasant to him.

One day, as the circus company were
passing through the streets of a pretty
little village, Freddy saw a little boy
standing with his mother at the door,
looking on the procession. As he was
near the side of the street where they
were, he heard the child say,—

“ Mother, mayn’t I go to the circus ?”

“No, no, my love; it is not a good
place for a little boy,” was the answer.

It was like lifting a dark veil from
Freddy’s mind. He remembered how he
had watched the circus as it went by his
father’s door; how he had asked, just as
the little boy did, to go, and how he had
been refused in much the same way; and
then he remembered how he had been
taken away. Tears stole from his eyes at
these thoughts, but he resolutely brushed
them away. When he heard his name
called he said to himself, “ My name is
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 35
Freddy, and not Jim. I had a father, and
a mother, and a home, I know.”

Four more years passed, and every day
there would come wild dreams to his
heart, and he would long to be free, to go
forth from his wearisome, pitiless life into
the world, and do and be more than he
was doing and being in such a company.
He never thought of having smiles of love
and joy. He expected to drag out a
weary existence; but he did earnestly
desire rest and quiet and freedom. Once
again he sought the sanctuary, purposely ;
but he knew not why. Again he heard a
prayer, a hymn, and a sermon, the text of
which was, “I will arise and go to my
father.” How beautifully was God’s love
described! How tenderly were the erring
urged to “ forsake the error of their ways,”
and the trembling to flee to the Rock of
their strength! The sermon was ended,
the blessing was pronounced, and the
people went quictly and reverently from
the house of God; and at last Freddy
found himself standing alone in deep
thought. Then he said, “I have a hea-
venly and an earthly father, as the
36 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

minister says, to seek; and I will go and
look for them now.”

So out in the clear sunlight came the
boy ; and on that Sabbath-day he walked
rapidly away, leaving sin and weariness
behind him, seeking for true wisdom, and
for two parents—one in heaven, another
on earth; and when the shadows of the
forest trees fell upon him as they waved
in the breeze, they were emblems of the
lights and shadows in his soul, and the hopes
and fears in his bosom. Perchance angels
from heaven smiled upon that youthful
pilgrim ; and when conscience cried,
“Thou God seest me,” it was only to
cheer him on, for he was walking accord-
ing to the light he had.



CHAPTER IV.

FREDDY was in great fear that the circus
people would miss him and search for him;
and he dreaded nothing so much as that
they would find him and bring him back
to the old life of toil and trouble. Poor
child! after those long years, when he
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 37

was bound body and mind, the first free-
dom that he tasted was so sweet that the
very thought of returning to his old ways
was terrible. Oh, never did birds sing so
sweetly, never did flowers bloom so beau-
tifully, thought our little wanderer, as
they did on that day. In those hours of
joy were the graces of faith and hope and
charity revealed to him and found a home
in his spirit. He stopped but twice—once
to pick some berries by the wayside, and
once to drink from a little brook—not
thinking that, before that journey was
over, he should, through divine grace, eat
of the bread and drink of the water of life.
At night he crept into a shed adjoining a
farm-house. He dared not go into the
house, lest he should by some means be
put in the power of the dreaded circus
company. Hardships were familiar to
him; and the wooden floor that was his
bed did not prevent him from falling into
a deep sleep. He awoke at dawn, but
heard no one stirring. Being yet tired
and exceedingly hungry, he determined to
stay a while longer in the shed, to see how
affairs would turn; but while he was
38 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

waiting for this, he took care to hide him-
self in an old box which stood near the
kitchen, so that he could overhear what
passed within. When he first went there,
he heard nothing but a cat mewing; and,
being unable to go to sleep, though he was
very tired, he sat crouched down and lis-
tened for more sounds of life. These were
not long in coming. First the farmer was
heard making the kitchen fire, while his
wife called in a brisk voice to her girls
and boys to get up. Then the good man
went out to the barn. The boys went to
take care of the horses and be ready for
the day’s work, and the girls went to
milk, while bustling, cheery Mrs. B. got
breakfast. Then the family gathered
around the well-filled table. A blessing
was asked in a distinct voice: the farmer
made use of the words, “ We pray thee
help all the oppressed and poor.”

“That's me,” said Fred. ‘

The blessing ended, the clatter of cups
and saucers, knives and forks, began.
Hunery Freddy in his box heard it all.
The breakfast finished, the farmer and his
boys sat quietly down; the farmer’s wife
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 39

and her girls cleared away the breakfast
things ; and when the dishes were all re-
moved, and the table put back, they too
sat down, and the farmer took his Bible
and read a short portion. Then all
kneeled, while Mr. B. poured out the
heart’s desires to God.

In the course of his prayer he men-
tioned particularly the case of any who
might be in any kind of trouble or distress,
not knowing which way to turn, and be-
sought the Father of the fatherless and the
Friend of the friendless to provide for such,
and to guide them out of all their perplexi-
ties into the path of duty and safety.

When Freddy heard this, he said to
himself, “That's me! that’s me! I’m
friendless and helpless. I hope the Lord
will do as he asks.” Then came the idea
that Mr. B, was praying for him particu-
larly ; and this idea grew almost to a cer-
tainty to him as he pondered on it. And
no sooner was the last word said than he
came out of his concealment, just as the
family were rising from their knees.

“Who are you?” asked the sturdy
farmer in surprise.
40 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

‘Please, sir, I’m the boy you were pray-
ing for just now,” replied Freddy, while his
voice trembled from emotion.

“Me!” cried the farmer in surprise.
“Me! I do not know that I prayed for
any boy in particular.” :

“Why, sir,’ returned Freddy, tears
stealing down his cheeks, “you prayed
for friendless people in trouble. That's
what Iam; and I thought it was me.”

“Come in and sit down, my boy, and
get something to eat, and then tell us who
you are, and all about yourself,” said
Mrs. B.

Freddy was glad enough to comply
with the invitation. Such a breakfast as
he had then was indeed a great treat to
him; and he ate with avidity. But in
the midst of his breakfast he raised his
eyes, and, just entering the gate, saw one
of the circus company. He started up;
then, throwing himself upon his knees
before the farmer, he cried, ‘There he
comes !—the circus man! Save me! oh,
save me!”

The farmer lifted him up quickly,
pushed him into a bedroom, shut the door,


OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 41

and just then came the tap, tap, tap of
the circus man at the door. Farmer B.
answered the knock himself.

“Ts there a boy here that doesn’t be-
long to you?” inquired the circus man.

“Who are you?” asked Mr. B. gruffly.

“My name is Flinn, I belong to a
circus company,” answered the man im-
patiently.

‘**No one here for you, sir!”

“Seen a boy go past this morning?”

“Haven't seen any boy go past this
morning.”

“May I come in and get some break-
fast? DPve been looking for the young
scamp all night.”

“Don’t harbour circus folks here.
Youll have to go elsewhere for your
breakfast.”

Off went the man grumbling; and
when he was out of sight, Freddy came
out to finish his breakfast. They asked
him no questions until it was finished.
Then the farmer said, ‘‘Now, my lad, sup-
pose you tell us who and what you are.”

“Yes, sir. But please, sir, Pd best tell
you alone,” replied Freddy ; for he feared
42 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

if so many boys and girls heard the story,
it would probably be told to some of their
friends, and then get to the ears of Gordon
and Flinn, who he doubted not were
anxious to regain him; for which purpose
Flinn, who was the circus clown, would not
scruple to declare that he was his father,
as he had done in one or two other cases.
“Well, go to your work, boys and
girls,” cried the farmer; and soon the
busy family were all about their useful
labours, while no one but Mr. and Mrs. B.
remained to hear the runaway’s story.
The child told all he knew about him-
self; but this was not much, for by that
time he had forgotten many of the scenes
of his former days, and could give but an
imperfect account of who and what he
was before he was carried off by the circus
company. But he told how he was seek-
ing for two fathers—one on earth and one
in heaven; how sure he was that the
earthly father would teach him of the
heavenly one; how he could not bear the .
circus; how his heart had been touched
by what he had learned about the love of
God in the two sermons he had heard ;
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 48

and how fresh in his mind were four
words—‘“ Thou God seest me.”

The good farmer, touched by the story
and interested in the fair youth—for he
was now washed and clad—asked him to
stay and live with them, and said that he
would treat him as a son. He told him
that years had passed since he thought he
was taken from home; that, as he had no
clue by which. to find his parents, and as
the world was wide and time made many
changes, there was little likelihood of his
ever finding the father whom he sought,
and meanwhile he would be liable to pri-
vations and temptations. But Freddy was
true to his purpose. He said quietly, “I
will find my Father in heaven, even if I
don’t find the other father. And I will
set out again after the circus people have
gone away.”

They saw it was of no avail to try to
move him from his determination; but
they persuaded him to stay for two
months, until he became stronger, and the
company had left that part of the country.
This he consented to do; and, as he rested
and was at peace, the farmer’s wife, think-
44 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

ing on the strange history and his stranger
purpose, determined to prepare him as well
as she could to battle with the temptations
he would meet. So she began at once to
teach him to read. The boy was clever
and eager to learn; and before the two
months had passed, he could read a few
easy verses here and there in the Bible.
The day came for him to go; and the
farmer gave him a suit of new clothes,
and five shillings: the farmer’s wife gave
him a Bible and a spelling-book. Then,
with many regrets and blessings, they
bade him farewell, and prayed God to
speed him on his journey. Thus, with his
little bundle in his hand, this youthful
pilgrim set out on the journey that he
had chosen to go—searching for two
fathers, one of whom watched him from
his throne in heaven, the other prayed
daily for him at the family altar.

CHAPTER V.

NEARLY a week had passed, when, tired
and dusty, but still hopeful, Freddy
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 45

stopped in the early part of the evening
at a farm-house, and humbly craved a
place in which to sleep during the night,
if it were only on the barn-floor. ‘This
request was denied him; and the boy who
spoke with him told him to go on to the
town, which was some miles distant, and
sleep in the jail, where he doubted not he
deserved to be. Freddy pursued his way
on. He resolved to go on to the town,
though he did not intend to sleep in the
jail; for he did not think he ought to be
there. However, he lost his way, and it
was nearly three o’clock in the morning
before he reached the town. He was
almost tired out; and nearly the first
house he came to was one belonging to a
poor woman who kept a little shop. He
sat down on the step, with his bundle
beside him, and was soon fast asleep.

The widow Jones, who occupied this
little house, had a very wicked son, who,
when he was only eleven years old, ran
away from his kind mother, in the com-
pany of a lad of about sixteen, who was
even worse than himself.

Now, this had happened nearly a year
46 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

before; and every evening the good
widow prayed that her erring son might
be sent back reformed and_ penitent.
‘When she awoke the morning after Freddy
fell asleep on her door-step, she drew back
the little white window-curtain; and,
behold! the first thing she saw was the
boy asleep. “Thank God!” she cried;
“here is my Sammy returned at last to
his poor old mother!” So she went and
opened the door; and bitter was her dis-
appointment to find that it was not
Sammy Jones who lay there, but some
one whom she supposed was far more in-
nocent and true. And as she gazed upon
the stranger, so peaceful in his sleep, she
felt pity and kindness in her heart.

“Well, well,” said she, sighing, ‘“ God
has not willed that my Sammy is to come
back now—poor boy; but here is some
one he has sent, so I must e’en give him
a mouthful of breakfast!” So she stooped
down, and, touching him gently, said,—

“ Wake up, my lad.”

Up jumped Freddy and gazed about
him. Soon he remembered that the night
previous he had lain down on that door-
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 47

step to sleep. “Oh! oh!” cried he, “TI
have been asleep; and now I must go on.”

“No, no; come in and get your break-
fast, my lad, and rest awhile; for God
has sent you here.”

“Then I must go where my Father in
heaven says.” And he followed her.

“And do you think God is your
Father? Then you are a good and a
happy lad,” said Mrs, Jones kindly.

“ Ab, ma'am, I thought he was every
one’s Father; and I don’t suppose I’m
good, for I don’t know what he wants me
to do.”

Then the widow asked him questions,
and he answered all he could, and told her
about his staying at the farmer’s; and so
she said,—

“T am only a poor lone woman ; but
Tll do as Mr. B. did, and ask you to stay
two months; and though I am old, maybe
T can finish teaching you to read; for he
is poorly off who cannot read the good
Book.”

And Freddy said he would gladly stay.

The two months passed. Freddy was
useful to the poor widow who had taken
48 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

him under her roof, in running errands
and taking care of her little garden. Be-
sides, he seemed to take the place of the
truant son, and partly filled the void his
loss had made in the mother’s heart. So
the good woman pleaded hard with him to
stay, and be to her as a son. She told him
that he could go to school and learn, and
go to church and to Sunday school; and
thus, by learning more, be better qualified
to search for his two fathers. So he con-
sented to stay.

Every morning he worked for the widow,
and then went to school. His quiet and
gentle manners won for him the affection
of his teachers, and they often wished that
he could tell them enough of his history
to give them some means of finding his
parents. Though they thought it a hope-
less case, and advised him to give up the
idea of finding his home, he always said he
knew that one day he should find it; and
his spirit was strong in faith and hope.

A year passed on. Freddy has grown
tall and strong, and his active habits and
unvarying good temper made him the joy
of widow Jones’s lonely heart.
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 49

“ Ah,” she would say, “how he grows,
and how smart he is! My little business
is twice as good as it was; and when my
Sammy comes back, he will, I am sure, be
better from Freddy’s example. How he
must have changed— poor boy! Two
years make a great difference in a child,
alack-a-day !”

So she talked; and as “hope deferred
maketh the heart sick,” she grew prema-
turely old, for she was only fifty-two,
though she seemed to be seventy. The
neighbours said to one another, ‘ She’s
failing, poor woman!” And when they
asked her how she was, she answered,
“Poorly, very poorly. But Tl be all
right when Sammy comes.”

Freddy watched her with sorrow, and
often wondered how a boy could leave so
kind and good a mother. Thus things
went on, until one day (it was about
eighteen months after Freddy came) she
received a letter, telling her that Sammy
was dead! Poor old woman! she bowed
submissively ; but the blow to her hopes
was too heavy to be borne, and in less than
six months she was dead.

4
50 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

Once more Freddy was alone in the
world, but not quite so destitute as before,
for the widow, before she died, gave him
her little all. Before she died, she re-
quested the minister and schoolmaster to
give him recommendations, which they
cheerfully did.

The day after Mrs. Jones was buried,
Freddy set out for the city, as that was
where his friends advised him to go. They
must have had great confidence in his in-
tegrity and firmness. The hand of Provi-
dence guided him and shielded him from
harm; and blessed is he whose keeper is
the Watchman of Israel, who never slum-
bers nor sleeps!

CHAPTER VI.

WE will now look after Freddy during his
stay in the city. For several days he
wandered about in search of employment,
and at last succeeded in getting a place as
waiter in a hotel. This was a very easy
situation for him, as it left him a large
part of his time unoccupied, and gave him
opportunity to attend to his books, of
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 51

which he had become very fond. He had
not been in this situation long, before a cir-
cumstance occurred that materially altered
his life.

One day a family, travelling, stopped for
some days at the hotel where Freddy was
employed as a waiter. This family con-
sisted of a gentleman, his wife, an invalid
son of fourteen, and a boy of four years
old. The child was very obstinate and
greedy ; and as soon as he was seated at
the table, he seized a dish of preserved
plums that stood near his plate, and began
to eat them. He was in such a hurry that
he could not stop to take the stones from
his mouth, but swallowed two with the
fruit. The third stone choked him, and
he was unable to swallow it or to throw it .
out. His parents and those around him
were greatly alarmed, and too much con-
fused to do anything effectual; and the
child’s face turned almost black. Freddy
saw this, and immediately hastened to him,
and, by pressing his fingers against the
lower part of his throat, succeeded in re-
moving the plum-stone. After a few
moments the ehild revived, and in a little
52 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

time went to the table and finished his
dinner. Freddy again attended to his
duties, and the affair was probably not
thought of again by the people at the
hotel. But the father whose caild was
thus saved did not forget the circumstance,
and soon after dinner sent to request the
lad to come to his room, that he might
speak to him,

As I have said before, Freddy was a
remarkably good-looking boy, and -his ami-
ability and generosity of disposition were
shown plainly in the expression of his face.
He had studied diligently, and was as well
informed as many boys who have had bet-
ter advantages. . Besides, he was always
respectful to his superiors, though perfectly
self-possessed. The father, Mr. Harrington,
was much pleased with him, and asked him
various questions about himself. Freddy
was now relieved of his fears of circus men,
and always related his story to those who
seemed interested in him, thinking that
thus he might obtain some information
that would benefit himself Mr. Harring-
ton listened with great interest, and his
heart warmed towards the boy when he
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 53

heard how he had gone out seeking for a
heavenly Father with such vague ideas
concerning where or how to seek him.

Mr. Harrington stayed in the city some
time, and heard so much in Freddy’s favour
that he determined to write to the minister
who had given him recommendations, and
make inquiries concerning him. The re-
verend gentleman spoke very highly of
Freddy’s character; and Mr. Harrington,
after full evidence from other sources, gen-
erously offered to take him as an adopted
son, and provide for all his wants. How
grateful was Freddy! He determined to
be all that was good and faithful, and thus
repay his benefactor.

And now we see Freddy the inmate of
a pious family, and enjoying all the privi-
leges of a rich man’s son. He was sent
to an excellent school, provided with all
that was necessary for his happiness, and
loved as a child by Mr. and Mrs. Harrine-
ton. Truly the great Father and Helper
ef us all had provided bountifully for the
child, and the petitions of those sad parents,
who daily besought the throne of grace for
their lost one, were answered, though they
54 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

knew it not; and thus is prayer often
answered by infinite mercy in ways which
infinite wisdom determines to be best.

CHAPTER VII.

By the time Fred (as I shall now call him)
was sixteen years old, he was prepared to
enter college. You may be sure that Mr.
and Mrs. Harrington and the boys felt
very sad to think of parting with such a
kind and pleasant companion.

How many long conversations Mr. Har-
rington had with him I need not say. I
will only refer to one. It was several days
before he was to leave home, that he was
sitting alone one evening looking from his
window upon the street below. Mr. Har-
rington entered the room; but Fred was
too deeply absorbed in thought to hear
him until he laid his hand upon his arm.

“What are you thinking of, Fred?” he
asked.

“Of what I am to do and to be in the
world,” was the reply.

“Well, you know you can be what you
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 55:

like. You must decide for yourself, my
boy.”

“T cannot decide, sir. I do not know
what todo. If I knew who I was, I could
better decide what to do.”

“Your not knowing who or where your
parents are, Fred, should not make any
difference with your usefulness or your
life’s work, You were very young when
you were lost, and maybe by this time
they are dead.”

“T cannot think that they are. I have
always felt as if I should find them. When
I first set out on my search, I thought
(like a child ag I was) that I should soon
find my home, for that surely my parents
could not be very far off. I have hoped,
searched, and waited ever since; yet I
cannot see when the end will be.”

“ But, Fred, you began at that time a
more important search. You went forth
to find a Father who can be found only by
faith. Have you found Him?”

“No, sir; I fear not. I seem to have
been at the same point as it concerns reli-
gion for years. J fear that I am even
further from God than I was when my
56 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

faith and trust were more simple and I
knew less.”

“Then, my boy, let me advise you to
seek bim where alone he can be found—
in the gospel of his grace. You would
surely go gladly and eagerly to find your
unknown father, were you certain of any
place where he was, no matter if the way
were long and the journey difficult. You
would feel as if your cares would all be
forgotten when your end was accom-
plished.”

“T know I should; and I often wish I
had Herbert’s faith—it is so earnest and
so true.”

“Yes, Herbert has indeed an earnest
faith; and what could he do or be without
it? Shut out as he is by his lameness and
ill-health from the society and amusements
of others of his own age, and necessarily
much alone, he is still happy in his quiet
resignation to the divine will. Indeed, I
doubt not that he has more real enjoyment
than any of us. This should serve to
make us more earnest in the pursuit of
that which is the joy and refuge of the
afflicted.”
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 57

“True; our health, though the gift of
God, often serves to draw our hearts from
heaven. I often feel as if I would be
willing to be ill or in trouble, if that
would bring me nearer in spirit to my
Maker. But I suppose such wishes are
foolish, and that I must wait and hope.”

“Rather ‘watch and pray.’ You must
battle with sin, and ask grace of God to
enable you to overcome it. The Spirit of
truth will be graciously vouchsafed to you,
if you seek it in faith.”

“My faith is too weak and wavering to
trust. J am afraid.”

“Well, Fred, I rejoice to know that
you are not indifferent to your soul’s
interest, Never think life’s end is gained
till the soul is safe.”

Thus, often and often, Fred and his
kind patron talked together; and such
conversations served to keep alive in his
heart desires for “the peace which passeth
all understanding,” though too often, I am
sorry to say, he had seasons of indifference
to what concerned him so deeply.

The day before he was to leave his home
and go to college he was passing along the
58 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

street, when he heard one gentleman say
to another, “Ah! how do you do, Mr.
Ellsworth ? ”

Again, as often before, a flash gleamed
across his memory, revealing something in
the past; but it was momentary. Had
that name been repeated to him again and
again, perhaps he would have remembered
all; but it was not so to be. Perhaps
some wonderful and romantic incident may
be expected. But no; I cannot tell you
that on that morning the long-separated
father and his lost son stood side by side
and knew it not. No; it was a stranger
who bore that familiar name of Eilsworth,
and Fred’s own parent was far away,
seated in his quiet study, preparing a
sermon for the ensuing Sabbath. Fred
returned home desolate and sad, saying to
himself continually, “That was my name
—my own name—that I heard. I know
I should not have felt so if it had not
been.” He said nothing of this to Mr. or
Mrs, Harrington, but kept all his hopes
and fears hidden in his own heart.
"OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 59

CHAPTER VIII.

SWIFTLY two years passed—the two first
years of Fred’s college life. But life’s
changes are many. The shadow of death
now hovered over the family that he
loved. Herbert—the suffering but happy
Herbert—was dying, and Fred was called
to go thither and see his adopted brother
die. Mr. Harrington had gone from home
before his son was taken so dangerously
ill; and he was to come by the way of
—— on his return, and Fred was to
accompany him home.

Having stopped at a hotel in ——— to.
take dinner, they sat down in the parlour
to await the starting of the train in which
they were to go on their journey. In the
parlour were four persons—a gentleman
and his wife, with their daughter and son.
The lady was dressed in deep mourning
and seemed in feeble health. Fred was
very much interested in them. The
daughter was a beautiful and gentle-look-
ing girl; and her brother, though quite
young, seemed to have something noble in
his air that interested all who saw him.


60 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

Fred wondered who they were, and finally
determined to go to the register at the bar
and ascertain. It was the name which
had before startled him. He read it over
and over again — silently — aloud — in
whispers; and then it seemed as if
memory made a mighty effort to recall the
past, and it came over him as the sun
breaks from a dark, heavy cloud. He
knew the name. The past came back as
though it were a scene of yesterday. But
though. the name was there, those who
bore it might not be his parents.
Strangers might have that name, as he
had found before; but, to ascertain the
truth, he determined to write his name
along with the rest of the family. And
now on the register was to be seen :—

“Rev. R. Ellsworth.

“ Mrs. — Ellsworth.

“ Miss Elsworth.

“ Master R. Ellsworth.

“Mr, Frederick Ellsworth.”

When he had written his name and
read it all over, he went calmly back into
the parlour to await the event. He would
not have done this but for two things:


OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 61

one was that he knew the family were
going away in the same train that he was;
and the other, he knew they had not paid
their bill, Mr. Harrington had finished
reading, and was looking from the window.
He noticed Fred’s pale face, but, attributing
his paleness to a different cause, said, —

“Do not be anxious. Herbert may be
better when we reach home.”

Fred did not reply, but took up a book.
Very soon Mr. Ellsworth left the room,
and Fred, unable to restrain his excited
feelings, rose and followed him. Standing
in the hall, he saw him go up to the
clerk’s desk and take out his pocket-book
and give some bank-notes to the clerk.
The clerk counted them out and said,—

“Ten shillings more, sir.”

“Two days: two pounds ten for four
of us.”

“Five, sir, I think.”

“No. Myself, wife, daughter, and son.”

“Two sons,”

“ You are mistaken.”

The clerk bowed, opened the book, and
turned to the entry to his debtor.

“Frederick Ellsworth!” cried Mr. Ells-
62 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT;

worth, in amazement. ‘ Who wrote that
name?”

“T wrote it, sir,” said Fred, stepping
up to the bar.

Mr. Ellsworth looked at him earnestly.
«“ And who are you?” he said, in a low
eager voice,

“ My name, I think, is Frederick Ells-
worth—TI am sure it is Frederick.”

“T had a son who bore that name, long
ago. He was lost when he was about
four years old.”

“Twas stolen when I was very young
by a circus company.”

Mr. Ellsworth sprang forward, and,
seizing Fred's hand hastily, turned up the
cuff of his coat-sleeve. A little above the
wrist was a mark caused by a piece of
red-hot wire having fallen on it when he
was a child about two years old. It was
almost effaced ; but a father’s anxious eyes
could trace it yet.

“My son! my son!” he cried, clasping
the youth in his arms, while tears of joy
glistened on his cheeks,

Mr. Harrington heard the news with
deep feeling; but it would be hard to tell
OR, THE LITTLE RUNAWAY. 63

whether joy or sorrow predominated. He
insisted upon having all the Ellsworths
accompany him home, where they arrived
early in the evening.

Mrs. Harrington kindly welcomed the
Ellsworths, who felt as if they could never
sufficiently express their debt of gratitude
to her and her husband for their kindness
to Fred.

Mr. Ellsworth and Fred went at once
to Herbert’s room; and, as soon as they
had greeted him and become calm enough
to converse, he was told how Fred had
found his parents. Pure and unselfish
was Herbert’s joy.

“JT knew you would find them some-
time,” he said. “J have prayed that you
might. But what will my own father
and mother do—bereft of both their sons
at once ?”

For several days Herbert lingered, free
from pain, and full of joy and peace.

After his death and burial, Fred re-
turned with his parents, and found the
home his heart had been going out to seek
so long. He now felt a calm and holy
joy; for at the death-bed of Herbert his


64 FREDDY AND HIS BIBLE TEXT.

heart had renewed its search for a heavenly
Father, and sought not in vain.

Years passed. He finished his college
course. By-and-by studies were laid
aside. The business of life was to be
begun. He had given himself to the
service of the Redeemer, as a missionary
to the heathen. His destination was
India, whither he soon afterwards sailed.

Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth are living in
the same home which they have always
occupied—aged Christians, at peace with
all mankind. Hattie is married to a mis-
sionary, while Robert followed his brother
to India as a missionary several years ago.

The three still live and labour on those
distant shores. Go forth to their aid,
young Christians in this favoured land,
and let this narrative encourage you to
put your trust in Him “ whose eyes are
upon the righteous, and whose ears are
open to their cry.”


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