The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-10-18
Safety in Obedience.

| Children, obey your parents In the Lsrd."
Did you ever think, my dear children,
of the great safety in prompt, cheerful
obedience to the will or wish of those
whom an ever kind, ever-w atchful Pro-
violence has appointed guardians over our
early years
Toward the close of lovely June day,
accompanied by little nephew, who was
an invalid, and had been sent by his
parents to spend the summer months at
his grandma's mountain home, went out
to take an evening ramble along the
river bank, where broad gravel walk
divided the stream from the canal. Lit
tie Arthur, clinging to my hand, went
skipping along with all the happiness of
returning health, and which the pure
mountain air imparts to the youthful
blood, when suddenly, just rounding the
curve, at place called the Five Locks
$50 called from having five chambers
and gates, or wickets, through which
boats passed, in order, you see, to get
them from the higher to the lower level
of water in the canal below, we saw a
lad driving three mules. The patient
sturdy creatures came stepping along, as
if keeping time to the tinkle of the little
bells which surmounted the collar of the
leader"
Arthur exclaimed: ooh, Aunt Hattie
do stop, and let US see this beautiful new
boat pass that loaded one coming up the
canal, below the locks. Look how high
it floats on the smooth water I guess
it will fly by it on its way to the land
ing to get its load just as Johnny Rays
little cutter did last winter, when we boys
were coasting on the mountain roads.
Why, Auntie, it just spun by all the
other clumsy sleds, SO we named it
'StOyt Jlmmy."
So we stopped, and soon found seat
on the stump of tree by the river side,
waiting the approach of the loaded boat,
and mentally conjecturing where, on the
smooth water, would be their meeting
place. The teams passed each other, the
towing-lines crossed, the two lads who
were driving saluted one another with
various questions as to the destination OF
each coal-bearing barge, as each went on
his way, one whistling merrily, the other
humming tune.
The loaded boat being but few inch
es above the surface of the water, could
other. The man on the bow passed the
rope along over the matches, along the
deck, when Just as he raised it somewhat
higher, in order to have it run above the
water tank, as it passed, little son Of
the captains came tripping up the cabin
steps, chatting to his father, who was at
the rudder steering the boat along the
channel, and who, on seeing his son s
danger, raised his hand, and made mo-
ton to the boy to lie down. Quickly, in
the twinkling of an eye, the little fellow
threw himself fat on the running
board" beside the hatchway, and the line
passed over him. One minute more, and
he would have been caught by the pass
ing rope, and been dashed into the water
between the boats.
We sat in silent fear. Arthur turned
pale with fright, and when the crisis was
past, his eyes filed with tears as he
watched the chubby little fellow spring
up-run up to his father, and clasp him
by the knees, while the "landsman"
talked with the father Of the narrow es-
cape from drowning his little son had
made.
Ny heart swelled with gratitude as I
watched the manifestation of tender feel
ing on the parent part, as his sun-burned
hand rested on the child's head, while
heard, as the boat Aoated by, the calm,
earnest tones Of the parent, commencing
the boy for his ready obedience to even
sign.
Dear Auntie did you ever see any
one obey so quickly as that little fellow
did his father?" said Arthur, after he
had recovered from the terror of the
scene.
Not often, my dear boy"
But here we see the wisdom of God, in
charging children, all through his written
word, and in the holy example Of our
blessed Saviour, who, even after the age
of twelve years, we are told went back
to Nazareth with his parents, and was
"5ubject to them which means that
he kept his will at all times in allegiance
to their wishes-EpiscopaL Register.