St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-05-23
A Touching Incident


Lane has been making trouble
again. / dislike to tell you, bit what
can we do with him9
Mrs. Houston stood by the gd with
the tears running down her cS 9ks, as
her husband, after an absence day
and night, drove up to his IL :.
''What is it now 2" he askedANFight-
ing from his wagon and gOingS ( his
wife's side with dark, disco Urged
look settling down upon his face.
''Oh, that poor boy has sold his watch
his grandfather gave him, to pro cure
one of those little pocket revolvers that
are so temptingly advertised in our
papers. He got angry at his sisters
this morning, and presently hearing
him say i'll loud voice, "Take care
there or l will draw my seven-shootel
on you =" | entered the room to find
him standing on one of the chairs brand
lsbing a loaded revolver, and pointing
it at the girls head. | commanded him
us calmly as | could to go to his room,
but the scene gave my nerves such a
shock that / have been in tremble
ever since"
HE obeyed you, did he ?"
"He refused to give up the murder
Gus little weapon, but left the parlor
for his room, saying that he had got the
best of this family now, and would
bring them all to terms before he got
through with this quarrel. have been
mOmentarily expecting that he would
shoot himself, OF some one of the fam
lily, and have listened for the report of
the revolver till am quite unnerved.
am thankful that you have come, but
do not, | entreat you, go near the des-
perate boy till his parOxysm of temper
has had time to subside."
''We shall have to send him to the
Rofo,.., Soh~.I,n e..>:l A. H-~-t--- j.
cidedly. "His offences heretofore have
been grave enough to send him to a
worse place. l will have lunch, and
then Immediately start for NJ OH
the twelve O'clock train. Oh it is hard /;
it is humiliating beyond measure to be
obliged to acknowledge to the world
that | have a son whose conduct is such
as to bring him within the statutory
provisions concerning commitments to
the Reform School, even."
Mr.. Houston returned from his mourn
full erraDd just in time for the six o'clock
make his toilet his wife followed him.
''What is the result of your journey p
she asked as soon as they were alone.
Her husband looked so distressed that
she began to tremble again, and when
he attempted TO reply it was some mo-
ments before he could command his
voice, or find words to make himself
intelligible.
1.-The Superintendent of the School
very pleasant, agreeable man, and q
Christian, to whom had confided, some
time since, my anxiety in regard tc
Lane, listened to this new trouble with
a grave sympathy which quite won my
heart. When l had finished speaking
he said, Yes, Mr.. Houston, yOutmust
have him sent here now by all ohieans
He needs the discipline of this ,ltsItitu-
ton. But before definite arranS SPments
are made, want to ask you or "ques-
ton: you say he has always zen q
hard case to manage that 'rf have
tried every way to effect hi tn ,9rma-
tiOn that love, fear and fOrf,z!arrsve al
been employed in the elnises and
that you have even tried to hire him to
alter his behavior, paying him certain
sum of money per day so TsDng as he
should commit no misdeed; but all
these measures have failed. Now |
want to know whether you have tried
praying with him2'
"'No,' said l, very much taken by
surprise. Il have never thought of do
ing that
"'Well,' said the Superintendent,
you must go home and pray with him.
| don't feel as if l could receive him
here or have anything to do with the
case until the power of prayer at his
home, and that in his presence, has
been tried
'''I cannot pray before my family l
said.
"'What you church member, and
do not have family prayer p he replied.
"'No Sill was my answer, very deep
ly humiliated by the confession.
$50 home and set up family altar
tonight he said.
"'I cannot pleaded: Il have not
the courage to brOach the matter, even
to my wife. We never speak upon the
subject of religion
1t is high time you take up this
cross, If a cross it is,' he urged. 'How
can you expect that son to submit his
will to yours when you do not submit
your will to the Master? Tonight, at
nine O'Clock, call your family together.
read chapter of the Word of God, and
lead in prayer. At that time nv wife
and will go into our closets and prav
for you all, especially for Lane. Let
us now take Lord Jesus Christ into our
council
II came away upon that. But what
am going to do about its l don't
know. l can never pray aloud in the
presence of my family"
"Dear husband" J" replied Mrs. Hous-
ton, sobbing. "I have been thinking
for long time that we are shirking our
duty in this direction. Do not have
any more misgivings about it; do not
hesitate another moment. l will ar
range everything this evening
fear. The Lord will pardon us, let US
hope, and give US strength when the
hour arrives