WHO WAS RIGHT IN THIS STORY?

Evening Star, Issue 23680, 13 September 1940, Page 3

WHO WAS RIGHT IN THIS STORY?

This story has been told in Philadelphia by a lady who declares it to be true. She was driving through beautiful country when she overtook a small Amish boy clad in characteristic costume. The Amishes are a small religious sect living in the Pennsylvania Dutch region. The lady stopped and said, “ Can I give you a lift?” and the* boy replied politely:— “ No, I thank you just the same; but Mom says I should never ride with strangers.” “ I certainly do not want you to do

anything Mom tells you not to do; and she is probably right,” said the lady. “ But Mom isn’t always right, and she tells me, too, that I should let my conscience be my guide,” said the boy. “ And what does your conscience tell you now?” “ My conscience tells me that if I walk all the way home, maybe I will catch a cold.” As he climbed in the lady said, “ Are you sure this is all right?” and, quite positively, he said, “ Yes, it is all right; I hear no inner voice.” In due time he said, “ Around the next bend I live. My conscience tells

me I had better get out here where Mom can’t see me.” So the car stopped and the lady said, “ Are you sure that was your conscience?” “No; I ain’t sure it was my conscience,” he said, “ but something tells mo I had better get out here where Mom can’t see me.” “ Could tliat something have been the inner voice?” “No, it ain’t the inner voice.” Then, after a pause, he added, “ I guess the inner voice wasn’t working so good this afternoon.” As the car left him in the road he waved and called his thanks again.