` In your rambles do n't you find a great deal of misery ? ' said I , to change the subject , for he was evidently old-fashioned in his notions . ` Many sad sights ! ' And he shook his head with a sigh ; then added , briskly , ` But there is a deal of charity in our city , and it does its work beautifully . By the by , I heard of a very sweet charity the other day , -- a church whose Sunday school is open to all the poor children who will come ; and there , in pleasant rooms , with books , pictures , kindly teachers , and a fatherly minister to welcome them , the poor little creatures find refreshment for their hungry souls . I like that ; it 's a lovely illustration of the text , `` Suffer little children to come unto me ; '' and I call it practical Christianity . ' He did like it , my benevolent old bird ; for he rustled his great wings , as if he wanted to clap them , if there had only been room ; and every feather shone as if a clearer light than that of my little fire had fallen on it as he spoke . ` You are a literary woman , hey ? ' he said suddenly , as if he 'd got a new idea , and was going to pounce upon me with it . ` Ahem ! I do a little in that line , ' I answered , with a modest cough . ` Then tell people about that place ; write some stories for the children ; go and help teach them ; do something , and make others do what they can to increase the sabbath sunshine that brightens one day in the week for the poor babies who live in shady places . ' ' I should be glad to do my best ; and , if I 'd known before ' -- I began . ` You might have known , if you 'd looked about you . People are so wrapt up in their own affairs they do n't do half they might . Now , then , hand me a bit of paper , and I 'll give you the address , so you wo n't have any excuse for forgetting what I tell you . ' ` Mercy on us ; what will he do next ? ' thought I , as he tweaked a feather out of his breast , gave the nib a peck , and then coolly wrote these words on the card I handed him : ' Church of the Disciples . Knock and it shall be opened ! ' There it was , in letters of gold ; and , while I looked at it , feeling reproached that I had n't known it sooner , my friend , -- he did n't seem a stranger any more , -- said in a business-like tone , as he put back his pen , ` Now I must be off .
Old Ben reads an article on the `` Abuses of the Press at the present XXXXX , '' and I must be there to report . '
Disciples Mercy bird charity day people sigh stories wings words