A Good Watch Dog

In one of our large industrial centres lived for many years a man who was a bold leader of all opposition to religion, and always ready to publish abroad any delinquencies which might be discovered in any professor of religion. At length he made up his mind to remove from the town to another part of the county. Meeting the devoted pastor of the Congregational Church one day, he said, after passing the usual salutation, "Well, I suppose you know that I am going to leave town soon; and you will probably be glad of it."

"Glad of it? Why, no," said the minister; "you are one of our most useful men; and I think I shall hardly know how to spare you."

Taken aback somewhat by such a reply, he immediately asked, "How is that?"

"Why," rejoined the minister, "there can't be a sheep that gets a foot out of the fold of Christ, but that you will always bark from one end of the town to the other."