The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1906, Page 59

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

59

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“That Is Me!”

When a poor Hottentot in Africa, who had heard
a word or tivo about God, thought over what he had
heard, he becaine very anxious about his soul. As
he went about his work in the fields, he would
mutter to himself, “Me would like to pray to the
great God, but me not know how;” and day after
day he went on with his work, hoping that soon he
would learn how to pray to the great God. One
Sunday morning the farmer gathered his people to-
gether and read a portion of the Scripture and
prayed with them. He read from Luke 18, and
when he came to the words, “Two men went up
into the temple to pray,’ the anxious Hottentot
exclaimed, “Ah, me glad, me learn how to pray
now.” ‘The master read, “The Pharisee stood and
prayed thus with himself, God, I thank Thee that
T am not as other men.” “No,” said the poor black
man, “me worse.”’ “I fast twice in the week; I give
tithes of all I possess;” and the poor African said,
“No, that is not me.” But bye and bye the great
Book spoke of the publican’s prayer, and he heard
that he smote on his breast and said, “God, be mer-
ciful to me, a sinner.” ‘Then the poor black man
could stand it no longer, but, rising to his feet in
the sight of every one, with the tears coursing down
his black cheeks, he said, “That is me! That is me!”

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Honoring the Aged.

A great and imposing army review was to be
held in the city of Cologne in Germany. Thou-
sands of spectators crowded around the stand, be-
fore which the emperor was to watch the passing
regiments. Among them was a dear little German
girl who was well seated where she would have an
unobstructed view of the parade. Suddenly she
observed a feeble old woman vainly struggling to
get where she could see.

“Tt is not right,” said_the little German girl to
herself, “for me to sit here, when I am strong and
well and can stand, while that poor, feeble old
woman can see nothing. I ought to honor old age,
as I would wish to be honored when I am old.”
Then she gave up her seat to the old woman, went
down, and stood in the crowd.

While she was standing there, on her tiptoes,
vainly trying to see, a courtier of the Emperor,
covered with gold lace, elbowed his way to her side.
“Little girl,” said he, “Her Majesty wishes to see
you, in the royal box.” When the abashed child

stood before the Empress, she graciously said,
“Come here, my daughter, and sit with me. I saw
you give up your seat to that old woman, and now
you must remain at my side.”

God especially honors those who are considerate
of the aged and infirm, whose earthly pilgrimage is
nearly ended. — La.

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Blotting Out Sin.

Siegfried had just been reading to his mother
that promise out of the Bible, “I will blot out, as
a thick cloud, thy transgressions,” when he stopped
to ask:

“Mother, what does God mean when He says He
will blot out my sins? I cannot see how God can
really blot them out and put them away. What does
it mean — blot out?”

The mother said to the boy: “Didn’t I see you
yesterday, Siegfried, writing on your slate?”

“Yes ma’am,” he said.

“Well, bring it to me.”

He brought his slate.
him, the mother said:

“Where is what you wrote, my boy?”

“Oh, I rubbed it out.”

“Well, where is it?”

“Why, mother, I don’t know.”

“But, Siegfried, how could you put it away if it
was really there ?”

“Why, mother, I know it was there, I rubbed it
out, and now it is gone.”

“Well,” said she, “that is just what God means
when He says, ‘I will blot out thy transgressions.’ ”

Holding it in front of

A Child’s Prayer.

A teacher among the Sioux Indians relates the
following incident:

An Indian baby was dying. It lay in its father’s
arms, while near by stood another little daughter,
a few years older, who was a Christian.

“Father,” said the little girl, “little sister is
going to heaven to-night. Let me pray.”

As she said this she kneeled at her father’s knee,
and this sweet prayer fell from her lips:

“Father God, little sister is coming to see you
to-night. Please open the door softly and let her
in. Amen.” — Ez.

Tx truest end of life is to know the life that
never ends.