A band of young men, with hands and faces blackened, and dressed in very grotesque costumes, arranged themselves before a book shop door for an exhibition of their peculiar “performances.” These people used to be called “Ethiopian Serenaders.” After they had sung some comic and some plaintive melodies, with their own peculiar accompaniments of gestures and grimace, one of the party, a tall and interesting young man, who had the “look” of one who was beneath his proper position, stepped up to the door, tambourine in hand, to ask for a few “dropping pennies” of the people. Mr. Carr, taking one of the Bibles out of his window, said to the youth― “See here, young man, I will give you a shilling, and this Bible besides, if you will read a portion of it among your comrades.”
“Here’s a shilling for an easy job!” he chuckled out to his mates; “I’m going to give you a ‘public reading!’”
Mr. Carr opened at the fifteenth chapter of Luke’s Gospel, and, pointing to the eleventh verse, requested the young man to commence reading at that verse.
“Now, Jim, speak up!” said one of the party, “and earn your shilling like a man!”
And Jim took the book and read, “And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.”
There was something in the voice of the reader, as well as the strangeness of the circumstances, which lulled all to silence; while an air of seriousness took possession of the youth, and still further commanded the rapt attention of the crowd.
He read on― “And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”
“That’s thee, Jim!” ejaculated one of his comrades― “it’s just like what you told me of yourself and your father!”
The reader continued, “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.”
“Why, that’s thee again, Jim!” said the voice― “Go on!”
“And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”
“That’s like us all!” said the voice, once more interrupting, “We’re all beggars; and might be better than we are! Go on; let’s hear more of it!”
And the young man read on, and as he read his voice trembled― “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father!”
At this point he fairly broke down, and could read no more. All were impressed and moved. The whole reality of the past rose up to view; and, in the clear story of the Gospel, a ray of hope dawned upon him for his future. His father―his father’s house―and his mother’s too; the plenty and the love ever bestowed upon him there; the servants, all having enough; and then himself, his father’s son; his present state, his companionships, his habits, his sins, his poverty, his outcast condition, then his very questionable mode of living―all these fairly overcame him.
That day―that scene―proved the turning-point of that young prodigal’s life. He sought the advice of the Christian friend, who had thus interposed for his deliverance. Communications were made to his parents, which resulted in a long-lost and dearly loved child returning to the familiar earthly home; and, still better, in his return to his Heavenly Father!
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The Lord Jesus says:―
“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, all I will give you rest.”