The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-05-14

Meeting the stupified boy on the stair
landing, he ordered him to leave the
house at once; he could stay only at
the peril of his life. The poor mother
begged that he might be allowed to re-
main until morning; but no, into the
street he was driven, with the threat
that if he ever entered the house again
he should be expelled with still greater
harshness. Lorraine crept silently to
the most convenient shelter, which was
the carriage house, and there slept on
the carriage cushions till morning.
There his mother found him, as she
arose before her husband. i,
INV dear DOy, Sne Salu, winning
her arms about his neck, sit will not
answer for your father to find you here,
so will bring you out some breakfast,
and some money with which to get out
of this town, where you had so many
vile associates and hope you will find
something to do and become good and
steady. After a few days write me
where you are, and | will send you a
trunk of clothes and another of books.
In future shun all evil company, and
when you next meet your father let him
see one who has entirely reformed, and
who will bring him no further dis
honor"
"I will, dear mother, do just as you
say. did not mean to get into dis
grace last night. l started for church
and should have been at home at an
carly hour, only that l was fairly drag
ged in another direction by my COM
panions. l think if father had taken a
different course with me l would not be
where | am now. You know how stern
and grabbed he has been, and never
since 1 left college have l felt that l
could enter his office and study under
his tuition. Had he been kind and
gentle like you, dear mother" !" said Lo
raine, kissing her fearful cheek, she
might have induced me to do just what
he wished but after this | will endeavor
to do right. That text, 'As ye SOW, so
shall ye reap is continually in my
mind, and l am going to begin anew
and try to do right"
Four years passed, and his name had
neven been mentioned in his father
household to his hearing. And just
four years from the day he left home a
Mr.. Bliss, from no one knew whittier,
had an appointment to preach at the
Congregational church, where Loraine's
parents usually attended. On this Oc-
casion the old gentleman said to his
wife:
"We must go, suppose, to hear this
Bliss; perhaps he may be some relation
! .or odT5 q, ,---a-as5l- 49,
never known relative Of mine to be a
minister" d"
eyes, we will go" Mrs. Bliss replied,
"and if we learn that he is relative it
would be very proper to ask him to come
home with us and spend the night"
81 do not know that | would have any
objection to that" her husband replied.
Somehow he appeared to be in a
more melting mood than common
probably he was reminded that it was
the anniversary of the fourth year since
his son left them at all events, he this
evening, on his way to church, spoke
Loraine's name for the first time in his
wife's hearing.
'It is four years to-day" he said,
''since Lorraine went away, isn't it ?"
eyes," she said, mournfully.
"Wonder where he is now? Some
times, wife, think l was little hasty
with him."
"Then you would be glad to see him,
perhaps -
eff | could be sure he had reformed. "
By this time they had reached the
church, finding they were little late, as
the minister was giving out his text
GAS ye sow, SO shall ye reap" Quiet
ly they entered the door, and there for
a moment Mr.. Bliss speechless stood,
and then tremblingly moved along to
his seat, where his wife was sitting with
her head leaning on her seat ahead of
her. Could it be possible, he asked
himself, that the long lost one stood be-
fore him-that he really beheld him
again-not as before but still the same?
Yes, it was most assuredly his son,
whom. lie drove as a vagabond from his
door, clothed in the garb of holiness, a
commissioner from God. And he,
listening to him, stood like a guilty
wretch, transfixed to the spot. His in
Justice toward the one now SO superior
to him rose before him and he felt con-
demned.
1t was observed by the audience that
the preacher was becoming deeply af-
fected as he looked in the direction of
the old remembered pew, and each mo-
ment waxed more and more eloquent as
he enlarged upon the subject of his text:
GAS ye SOW, SO shall We reap"
eyes" thought the old gentleman,
Gas | sowed, so l have reaped. For the
last four years l have lived in constant
regret of my unjust treatment, my harsh
language to thee, my son. Had been
kind and forbearing with him from the
first he would not have been led away
to the haunts Of dissipation which came
SO near proving his ruin. But by his
mothers gentle conduct and the grace
of God his feet have been arrested in
the slippery downward course he once
pursued" "
After the services were ended Mr.. and
Mrs. Bliss remained in their pew until
part of the congregation had left the
aisles, and then moved forward to the
pulpit to meet their son and pour their
tears upon his neck. Then all was for
gotten, and he went to their home,
never to be turned from their door again.
DB-An exchange says some people get
terribly worried if man breaks the
commandments by working a little on
Sunday, but they can loaf around six
DAYS of the week, and never dream that