THE DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

Hoa Maori, Issue 14, 1 October 1889, Page 6

THE DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

(to the children).

4I|J)00 E little Maurice leant wearily Vlffli against a drinking fountain which had been erected in a public thoroughfare. He was very hungry, friendless, and alone. No one cared for him, no one seemed to love him. It was a hot summer’s day, and the sun’s rays heat upon the unprotected head of the sad and lonely orphan boy. If you had asked him, “ Maurice, where do you live?” “Anywhere,” would have been the answer. Had you asked him, How he lived, “Anyhow,” would have been the reply. Now Maurice greatly longed for a drink of the pure fresh water, but was afraid to take a drink, thinking the owner might observe him and hand him over to the police. Poor boy, he didn’t know the water was free that there was nothing to pay. Soon a group of school children gathered round the fountain and drank to their hearts content, the last was a very little girl, so small that she was unable to reach the water to hold the cup steady in her hand. Maurice slowly approached her, and handed her the cup of water, and then ventured to ask the little girl, “ What’s to pay for a drink?" “A drink of water! oh, nothing, its free to everybody.” “Nothing to pay, and free to everybody!” exclaimed Maurice; with that he filled the cup and drank it up gladly and eagerly. “ Nothing to pay !” he repeated . “ Well, now I know I’d like to see the man who set up that ’ere. I’d like to say a thank you.” Maurice daily frequented the fountain ; it seemed so strange to the poor boy that anything should be got for nothing. “ Nothing to pay!” was a new thought for the little fellow. The little girl was again at the fountain, and this time Maurice thought he would venture to ask what the writing was on the well. The little girl read it to him“ Sim that drinketh of this water shall thirst again ; but whosoever drinketh of the Water that I shall give him shall never thirst, And then

“ Whoso-mr will let him take op the water OP LIKE FREELY,” Dear young vender, do you know where these sweet words are to be found ? Do you know the name of the precious Book in which they are written ? 1 It. is the Bible—the Book of —the Book which tells of God’s love, of man’s sin, ruin, and guilt—the Book which tell of Christ’s precious blood- its value to Godand it cleanses from all sin. (1 John i. 7) Johvi. 13-14 Eev. xxii. 17. The free waters of life —the wells of salvation which God has provided for the thirsty are for young and old. rich and poor, —lsaiah Iv. 1. 11 Without money and without price ” are the terms on which He gives those waters, and for which He invites you to the well. Oh, come to Jesus then, and drink freely, deeply, and you shall never thirst again! I heard the voice of Jesus say, Behold I freely give The living waterthirsty one, Stoop down, and drink, and live. I came to Jems and I drank Of that Life-giving stream, My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I live in Him. Mam-ice was greatly puzzled to know who gave the water free. He thought, “ Perhaps he might be a friend to me; and, besides, I must thank him for providing the fountain.” Poor boy, how unlike the nine Jewish lepers, who, when they were cleansed by Jesus went their own way 1 How like the stranger leper, who turned back when he was cleansed, and with a loud voice glorified God (Lukexvii. 12-19.) Our poor Maurice sought for the giver of the waters to “ thank him.” How many of us, having received salvation, are found glorifying the One who has saved us and brought us to God ? May the knowledge of a present salvation, and a frank and full forgiveness of all our sins, lead us to praise Him and adore Him day by day until we see him in the regions of Glory which are nor far off 1 A kind lady interested herself in the poor boy, brought him home, taught him to read the Bible, and soon Maurice could read for

himself the blessed life-giving words of Isaiah liii.— “He (Jesus) was wounded for our transgressions: He was bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement of ourpeaoewas upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed.” The boy learned to know what flowed from the Saviour’s pierced side—“the water and the blood.”—Jno. xix. 34. Oh the loving invitation of those precious words, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink!” Now, won’t you come, dear young friends? You are right welcome to these waters : they have been most freely provided, and flow to all, even to you. “ Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not : for of such is the kingdom of God."—Mark 10. 14.