The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-29
From the Presbyterian Banner.
Tins Turning Point.
"A Story for Boys.
az II. EL-IoTT N BRIDE

BY H. ELLIOTT NJ BRIDE.
Tim Smith was friendless boy, and
it might also be said that he was home
less. His father was drunkard and his
drunkenness had brought him down to
AFFECT poverty. The cabin which he in
habited was on the outskirts OF the viii
lage, and Tim, his son, was in such con-
slant fear and dread of his unnatural
father that he but seldom entered the
howell. When he did go, he was careful
to ascertain beforehand that his father
was not drinking.
Tins mother had died two years be-
fore. She was pious woman and en-
deavored to train her boy in the right
way. She taught him to fear God and
to be honest and upright in all his do
ings. She died broken-h hearted because
of the dissipation and brutality of her
husband, and the boy was left friendless
and alone His father cared no more
for him than for any other in the vii
lage.
OF course a boy left in this way and
surrounded by evil companions was
liable to step from the path of truth and
right, and Tim cid go astray. He was
considered one of the worst boys of the
village, and it seemed that he had for
gotten all his mothers kind teaching and
was going to follow rapidly in the foot
steps of his father.
If orchards were robbed or any little
pilfering was done in the village, Tim
got the credit of being the thief. 1t is
but just, however, to say that he was of
ten wrongly blamed Other boys and
men pilfered and Tim received the cen
sure.
One Summer night when Tim had lain
down to sleep in meadow with no COW
ering but little hay, he commenced to
think about his mother The thought of
all the instruction she had given him and
how she had prayed for him and besought
him to live an upright life and not be
such man as his father was He won
dered if she could look down from heav-
en- now and see him as he was and know
that he had gone astray already. He
wondered if she would not feel sad if she
could see him. Then he thought of how
she used TO weep before she died, and
how she would pray that when forgotten
and uncared for by his earthly father his
heavenly father would guide him and
guard him and lead him in the wilderness
Of sim
This all came to Tim as he lay there,
and we wept bitter tears when he thought
how he had neglected his mothers warn
ings and advice and had gone astray. He
could not sleep he knew he had been
wicked, and he felt sure his mother was
sorely grieved. Would he 90 on as he
was going now? Would he continue to
steal, and would he grow up to be
wicked man, Stunned and despised by
all?
No, he would not?
The determination came to him sud
denly, and he resolved that this should |
be the turning point Of his life. He
would never again take anything that
did not belong to him-he would turn
around and would walk with frmness
and determination in the right way. I'll
his mother could see him she should no
more be grieved because Of his wrong
doing
And then Tim got on his knees out
there in the open meadow and prayed
that the God Of the fatherless would
shield him and guard him and help him
to do right. He prayed earnestly that
strength might be given him from on
high to enable him to hold fast to his
good resolutions and never to let them
90.
Then he lay down again on the ground
and slept sweetly.
The sun was shining upon him when
he awoke, and springing up he went
directly to a farm honse and asked for
employment.
Pooh r. said the farmer when he