In the city of Colosse the Christians met in the large house of a kind-hearted man named Philemon. He, and his wife Apphia, and his son Archippus were so kind to the poor Christians that the people in other cities knew about the kindness of this fine Christian family in Colosse.
In those days even Christian people did not think it wrong to keep slaves to work for them. So in the home of Philemon there was a slave named Onesimus. Philemon and his wife and family were kind to Onesimus, but he was often ugly and did not like to be a slave. One day he made up his mind that he would be a slave no longer. He stole from his master some money which he put into his own pocket and ran far away to the great city of Rome. He thought he would be safe there and could do as he pleased without any one knowing who he was. He soon spent all the money he had stolen and became a tramp without money, food, work, or home. Every moment he feared lest some one should find him and take him back to his master, for he knew that a master had the right to put any slave to death for stealing money and running away. One day he was walking along a street in great sorrow wondering what to do, when suddenly he heard singing, which sounded like that which he used to hear at his master’s house. This made him more homesick than ever. He listened to the singing, wondering what it could be. Some one came out and said pleasantly, “You are welcome to come in.” He went in and saw a strange-looking little old man chained to a soldier and talking to a large group of people, who were listening eagerly as the speaker said: “I was a great sinner once. I did many things that were wrong. But Jesus saved me and made a new man of me. He can save you too.” Onesimus said to himself, “He means me. He says Jesus will save any one who is poor and lonely and miserable. That means me.”
He looked again at the preacher and heard some one call his name. Then he knew that this was Paul, the missionary, who was the friend of his master, and whose name he had so often heard Philemon mention. As soon as the sermon was ended and many of the people had gone home, Onesimus went to Paul and, full of sorrow for what he had done, told him how he had stolen money from his master and had run away. He asked Paul to pray that the runaway slave might become a Christian. Paul did so, and Onesimus became a new man too—a Christian like Paul and Philemon. Then he was very happy and said he would stay with Paul always and help him. But Paul said, “No, my son, you must go back to your master.” “Oh, no,” said Onesimus; “if I do he has a right to kill me for stealing and running away.” “Yes,” said Paul, “I know that, but you must go back.” “But what shall I say?” asked the slave. “You need not say anything. I will write a letter to Philemon and tell him to forgive you and receive you back as a Christian brother.”
Paul asked one of his friends for pen and ink and paper, and this is what he wrote:
Dear Philemon, Apphia, and Archippus: I often think of you and remember you in my prayers here in my prison in Rome. I want to ask a favor of you for my son Onesimus, who ran away from you as a slave, but now returns to you as a Christian brother. He has told me his story and is sorry. If you think of me as a friend, receive him back as you would receive me. If he has stolen anything, I will pay it for him. Love to all.
Your friend,
Paul.
The letter is a little longer than this, but you can read all of it in your own New Testament. This letter Onesimus took with him as he returned to the home of his master. Philemon treated him kindly, no longer as a slave but as a dear son. And many people say that Onesimus, the unprofitable slave, became one of the most profitable Christians in all that land, ever true to Jesus and to Paul, and to his master-friend, Philemon.
VIII
GENERAL HISTORICAL STORIES
(Adapted for Children, Six to Twelve Years.)