The “Blue Line” streetcar stopped I at the corner, and an anxious-looking young woman put a small boy inside.
“Now, Rob,” she said as she hurried out to the platform again, “don’t lose that note I gave you; don’t take it out of your pocket at all.”
“No, Mother,” said the little man looking wistfully after his mother. Then the door closed and the car was away.
“What’s your name, bub?” asked a mischievous-looking young man sitting beside him.
“Robert Cullens Deems,” he answered. “Where are you going?”
“To my Grandma’s.”
“Let me see that note in your pocket.”
The look of innocent surprise in the round face ought to have shamed the child’s tormentor, but he only said again, “Let me see it.”
“I can’t,” said Robert.
“Here, bub, I’ll give you this peach if you pull that note half vvay out of your pocket.”
The boy did not reply, but some of the older people looked angry.
“I say, chum, I’ll give you this whole bag of peaches if you will just show me the corner of your note,” said the tempter. The child turned away, as if he did not wish to hear any more, but the young man opened the bag and held it just where he could see and smell the luscious fruit.
A look of distress came into the sweet little face. I believe Rob was afraid to trust himself and when a man left his seat on the other side to get off the car, the little boy slid quickly down, left.the temptation behind, and climbed into the vacant place.
A pair of prettily gloved hands began almost unconsciously to clap, and then everybody clapped and applauded until it might have alarmed Rob, if a young lady sitting by him had not slipped her arm around him and said, with a sweet glow on her face: “Tell your mother that we all congratulate her upon having a little man who resisted temptation and was wise enough to run away from it.”
I doubt if that very long, hard message ever reached Rob’s mother, but no matter, the note got to his grandmother without ever coming out of his pocket.
I think I hear some of my young readers say, “Well done. Hurray for brave little Rob.” And if you thus admire his obedience, ask the Lord to help you follow his noble example. We cannot resist temptation in our own strength, but the Lord will give strength if we look to Him.
Dear Christian reader, may I encourage you to learn those verses and always seek to carry them out in your young life. You cannot disobey or dishonor your parents and expect the Lord’s blessing upon you.
ML 06/20/1954