The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1882-06-23
THE WILLING SUBSTITUTE.

"'S iu Aucrlcl. One day. while WIS.,
iting cemetery. noticed man occupied
in planting flowers upon the grave of sol
dier said to him,
''ls it your son who lies buried thorc ?'
"No, replied he.
Your brother or relative ?"
"No, no."
After moments silence he put aside
the little trowel he was using, and said.
"Well, / will tell you about it. When
the war burst out. becaue a conscrip,
l was poor, had sickly wife and sever
children. Bat there w,sn, alteru ,tive.-
[ must leave them, having no means to pro
care substitute. l was preparing - quit
my family to go and fight the cucmy T e
evening before my departure, a young man
whom knew came to my house and said tc
me:
your family is too large for your deli
cate wife to support; L will take your
place"
In fact he did 90 as my substitute, and
In great battle was wounded and taken &c
the hospital. After long suffering he died
and lies buried here Ever since, I have
! longed to visit his grave. To this end I
have saved what money 1 could arriving
yesterday, succeeded in finding out the spo,
to>day."
The eyes ofthe poor man were filled with
tears. Taking ab,ard from the ground, he
buried it in the earth to serve as a head
board. Above the name of the dead SOL
dier were written these words:
"He died for me ~
lfthis man, instead of shedding tears of
gratitude had forgotten the great service
done for him, you would have cried, He s
without heart! J! And now. you who read
these lines. permit ma to ask this question
Do you know what Jesus Christ the S IN of
God has done for the SINNER? yes, for the
sinner condemned by the law of a thrice
holy God ? His nfuite love, without
hounds, passing knowledge" what has i,
effected! Jesus gave himself for our
sins" He left the throne of his glory, tax
ing the form Of ii servant m,kin. him self
"hke uato I mtn," hs ren nl.rad himself
obedient unto DEATH even the death of the
cross.
What, then! shall our hearts be mnvea hv
grailkpde for the least sacrifice, sor -arsinple
proof of affection on the part Of our fellow
creatures, and yet remain insensible under
the boon of this great love Can it be
possible ? The love of an earthly father
can accomplish great things, of which wil
give You an instance. A father learns tha,
his son has just fallen on the field of battle
Soon after another message reaches him that
he is only wounded. Unable to bear this
uncertainty, the old man starts on foot for
the seat of war. He reaches the spot. The
American tents, filled with wounded, occu-
py an extent of several miles. To visit
them all would be valuable time lost The
fathers heart suggests another plan. He
begins TO traverse the whole plain, stopping
o'''iS ShSh tSu's anu Nfi al tHc
strength Of his voice, John Thomas 'tis
thy father calls thee!" Day by day, even
during the silent watches of the night, is
heard the sad cry, "John Thomas Johr
Thomas y All hearts are touched by these
tender and perseveriDg appeals to which nc
Voice replies.
At last they reach the ears Of the young
man-the first sounds heard upon recover
Ing from the delirium ola lohg fever. "It
s my fathers voice My father, l am
here"
Who can tell the joy of this reunion
But what feeble comparison Can the
love of this father be named with that OF
God for the sinner? God has shown his
love to us in that while VIC were yet sinner.
Christ died for us !'
-
MILK FOR Fowls Fowls are very fond
of milk, and young chickens will thrive
woundrousIy upon it. A pound Of poultry
to sell will always command double the price
~, l,c. l.;, M;lL.