John E. Gunckel, a very desirable citizen of Toledo, has
accomplished a good work through the Newsboys’ Association of
Toledo, which he organized. At present (1909) he has 6,267
members on the roll. “Just as you are” is the appeal made to the
boy of the street.
Five years ago a prominent business man called Mr. Gunckel on
the telephone and inquired what he could say for W---- K----, a
young man who had applied for a position. Mr. Gunckel consulted
the book of errors and said, “He stole a package of papers
thrown from a train, and sold them. Stole twenty-five cents that
a man gave him in payment for a paper--”
“That’s enough; this is a position of trust. We must have an
honest young man.”
“Hold on, hold on,” said Gunckel, “that record is ten years
old; let me give you something up-to-date. Last Christmas eve,
just as I was retiring, I was called to the door and there was
W---- K---- with a horse and pung. He had twenty-one baskets of
turkeys, vegetables, fruit, and all conceivable goodies that he
was taking to as many families in the slums of his district.
He had raised the money himself, had investigated each case,
and was distributing the baskets. He has been an officer for
about nine years. Hasn’t stolen, lied, or gambled, used liquor
or tobacco for more than nine years. Has brought in scores of
valuable articles found that he might have stolen--”
“There, hold up, that’ll do; he is just the fellow I want.” He
has made good. (Text.)--_The World To-day._
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* * * * *
With Bunyan’s marriage to a good woman the real reformation
in his life began. While still in his teens he married a girl
as poor as himself. “We came together,” he says, “as poor as
might be, having not so much household stuff as a dish or spoon
between us both.” The only dowry which the girl brought to
her new home was two old, threadbare books, “The Plain Man’s
Pathway to Heaven,” and “The Practise of Piety.” Bunyan read
these books, which instantly gave fire to his imagination. He
saw new visions and dreamed terrible new dreams of lost souls;
his attendance at church grew exemplary; he began slowly and
painfully to read the Bible for himself, but because of his own
ignorance and the contradictory interpretations of Scripture
which he heard on every side, he was tossed about like a
feather by all the winds of doctrine.--WILLIAM J. LONG,
“English Literature.”
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