Smyrna times., 1878-12-11
DEL, WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, DEC

fleu away III war with the HnlllStlneS.
Eli, hearing of the dreadful calamity, fell
from his seat and broke his neck. What
an end to both father and sons. Surely
" the wages of sin is death"
| shall take case now of which l have
some personal knowledge. Some years ago
there lived a very respectable family near
the city of West Chester by the name of
Patton. He was a farmer, and he with his
family were members of the NJ. E. Church.
There also lived family near them by the
name of Boyd who were very wicked. One
Sabbath while Mr.. Patton and family were
gone to church, leaving no one at home
save sick son, young man, a son, also
young man, Of this wicked family, named
Jacob Boyd, made up his mind to murder
the sick son Of Mr.. Patton and rob his
house, especially in search for money. lie
carried out his dreadful purpose-murdered
the sick son and robbed the house. When
the family returned from church and saw
what was done, the excitement became in.
tense, and the young murderer was soon
arrested and put into West Chester jail.
! When he.was interrogated in reference TO
the enormity of his crime, he did not seem
to evince scarcely any feeling, any concern
about it. When told it was a great >in
! against God he said he did not know there
was a God. When asked if he did not
know it was transgression of His law, be
said he knew nothing about His law.
| When informed that such a dreadful act
would send his soul to hell, he said he did
not know there was he'll. When asked il
he had not been taught these things, he
said no. In a word, he was left to himself.
The court convicted him of murder in the
first degree, sentenced him, and at the time
N-n hn i, L,
parents! In the Scriptures we read oil
murderers of fathers and mothers, a crime
at which you would doubtless shudder
But remember there are more ways of do
ing this than by poison or a blow. | have
read of an attorney in foreign country
who was desired to undertake the defence
OF young man charged with a serious
crime. lie consented and went to the
prison to obtain documents for the trial
and IN the criminal he recognized his owr
son of whom he had not heard for lonl
time. The sight upset his reason, and he
returned home and committed suicide
lie Is but one Of many who have dice
broken hearted from the same cause.
In this we see the retributive Justice o
God; for he has so ordered things, that if
man be not ashamed of his sin, he shall bc
put to shame by his sin. The child who nov
brings his parents to shame will be brough
to shame by his children when he comes t
sustain the parental relation. For will
the same measure ye mete to others, i
shall be measured to you again. DR.. bod
bridge says he knew son: in his passion
he struck his father and dragged him b,
the hair of the head. When he ha,
dragged him to certain spot, the fathe
cried out, Drag me no farther, for here
let my father go when dragged him.
But some will say, we have known chi
, dren seemingly left to themselves tha
never dishonored their parents, hut wer
an honor to them. grant it, and woul
such instances were much more numerou
than they are. But who is entitled to til
: honor for this good conduct? Certainl
not the careless parent who left the chill
to himself. He must not expect to rea
where he would not SOW. We are to a
| tribute his good conduct to the tende
t mercy of God, and the interest taken i
his case by pious neighbors and friend
e Such instances of success inspires and Ell
| cOurages the moral reformer, and to hin
/ rather the honor belongs. And, | am no
: tracing things in their general results, an
;. not merely in their accidental circumstal
+. ces. And the legitimate effect of a ne
e lected education, on the part of a parent,
e parental dishonor, parental shame.
a But when it is said, "a child left to hir
d self bringeth his mother to shame" it
g equally implied, if she train him for &c
v and heaven, he will not only not bring h.
!, to shame, but confer upon her worth
a name the purest honor. What has immo
d talized the name of Mrs. Wesley? | answe
/, the training which she gave to John ar
/. Charles. She is ever now receiving nc
r. and constantly increasing revenue
n honor and glory. May we all as parents
e fortunate as she. Let it be our consta
D. endeavor to train our children in the fe
,r of the Lord, that parent and child m
d mutually love and honor each other.
d WILLIAM URIE.
10 SMYRNA, Dec. 6, 1873.