Floyd's Flowers Or Duty and Beauty For Colored Children Being One Hundred Short Stories Gleaned from the Storehouse of Human Knowledge and Experience Simple Amusing Elevating — A Lamp Unto My Feet
LXXVIII.
“A LAMP UNTO MY FEET.
” Once upon a time, so it is said, a little ragged boy was carefully printing these words with a stick upon the ground, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet.
” On looking up from his work, the little fellow was surprised to find a kind-looking old man watching him.
“Where did you learn that, my boy?
” asked the man.
“At Sunday-school, sir.
” “What’s your name?
” “Crawford.
” “So, Crawford, you learned that text at Sunday-school.
Do you know what it means?
” “No, sir.
” “What is a lamp?
” “A lamp?
Why, sir, a lamp is a thing that gives light!
” “That’s correct.
Well, what is the word that the text speaks of?
” “The Bible, sir.
” “That’s right.
Now, how can the Bible be a lamp and give light?
” “I don’t know,” said the boy, “unless you light it and set it on fire.
” “There’s a better way than that, my lad.
Suppose you were going down some lonely lane on a dark night with an unlighted lantern in your hand, and a box of matches in your pocket, what would you do?
” “Why, I’d light the lantern.
” “Why would you light it?
” “To show me the road, sir.
” “Very well.
Now, suppose you were walking behind me some day, and saw me drop a quarter; what would you do?
” [Illustration: “A LAMP UNTO MY FEET.
”] “Pick it up and give it to you, sir.
” “Wouldn’t you want to keep it yourself?
” Crawford hesitated; but he saw a smile on the old gentleman’s face, and, smiling himself, he finally said: “I should want to, sir; but I shouldn’t do it.
” “Why not?
” “Because it would be stealing.
” “How do you know?
” “It would be taking what wasn’t my own, and the Bible says we are not to steal.
” “Ah!
” said the old man, “so it’s the Bible that makes you honest, is it?
” “Yes, sir.
” “If you had not heard of the Bible you would steal, I suppose?
” “Lots of boys do,” said Crawford, hanging his head.
“The Bible, then,” continued the old man, “shows you the right and safe path—the path of honesty, does it?
” “Like the lamp!
” exclaimed Crawford, seeing now what all the old man’s questions meant.
“Is that what the text means?
” “Yes, my boy,” the man answered, “there is always light in the Bible to show us where to go and what to do.
Don’t you think it would be a good thing to take the Bible, the good old lamp, and let it light you right through life?
” “Yes, sir.
” “Do you think you will be safer with it?
” “Yes, sir.
” “Why?
” “Because if I’m honest I will never go to prison.
” “And what else?
” asked the man.
Crawford thought awhile.
By-and-by he said,— “If I mind the Bible I shall go to heaven when I die.
”
