The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-07-08

mouth The tither could nos pursue hfs
children. for some reason be could not leave
bo,,a md 40 he wrote letter down to Mr..
Gr;fin saving: ''Mr Griffin, wish you
would pe. and ace my two sons. They nave
arrived in Portsmouth, and they are gong
to. take ship and going away from nome i
wish you would persuade them oeek. Af.
Griffin went, and he tried to persuaae tnen
hack. He persuaded one to 60. he Went
,n;st, very easy persuasion because be was
verv ho,nesick already. The other young
maj, said: "I will not go have had enough
Of homo. III never 60 home, w al sas1 az,
M Griffin. "then IL you wont 60 home III
oct you respectable position on q respeSS
Able ship" 'tNo you won't" said she psoai-
oal. mo yod won't. am going as com
mon sailor: that will plague my fathes moss,
and what will do most % tahtaliIs auu "o7'S
him will please me best.
Wears passed on, and Mr.. Griffin was seated
in his study one day when q message came
to him that there was young man IN Irons
IN a shin at the dock-a young man con-
dsmned to death-who wished to sse tnls
eIaroyman. MIR. Griffin went down TO the
docS and went on shipboard. Inc young
man said to him, You don't kno" me. W
von y .No," he said: II don't know you"
XVII yy.Vhv don't YOU remember that young man
,o,, tried to persuade to 60 home, and he
ywon,dn't roY' sOh, yes" said Mr.. Griffin.
WoI a9ra von that man?' "Yes, am that
- ssii the other. II would like to have
yo,, nray for me. I have committed mur-
der and I must die, but don't want to go
out NJ this world until some one prays for
me. You are my fathers friend and
would like to have You pray Tor me.
Mr.. Griffin went from judicial authority TO
judicial authority to get she young mans rs
vent from influential person to influential
nerson until some way be got that young
pp,an;s nardon. he came down on the dock,
and "a he arrived on the dock with the par
don the father came. BE had heard that his
ON under disguised name had been COM
hitting crime and was going to be put to
death. So Mr.. Griffin and the father went
on the ships deck, and at the very moment
Mr.. Griffin offered the pardon to the young
man. the old father threw his arms around
tha son's neck and the son said: Father, l
have done very wrong and am very sorry
T wish had never broken your heart. am
verv sorry" sOh!" said the father. don't
mention It; it don't make any difference
now. It is all over. ] forgive you, my son,
and he kissed him and kissed him and Kissed
him. ,c,
full pardon, free pardon: 40 not care
what your sin has been. Though you say
aeainst your own soul, against your fellow
man. against your family, against tue day
NJ Indictment, against the cross of Christ
whatever your crime has been, here Is
nardon. full pardon, and tho very moment
fhat Won take that pardon your heavenly
Father throws His arms around about yoT
and says: MY SOD, forgive you. ltls all
rI1ht. You are as much in My favor now as
if YOU had never sinned." y! there Is Joy On
earth and joy in heaven. Who Will take the
Fathers embraceS
There was a gentleman in q rail car who
saw In that same car three passengers OF
very different circumstances. The first was
a maniac. He was carefully guarded by his
attendants. His mind, like ship disnastsd,
was beating against dark, desolate coast,
from which no help could come The train
stopped, and the man was taken out into the
asylum to waste away, perhaps, through
wears of gloom. The second passenger was
culprit. The outraged law had seized on
him. As the cars jolted the chains ratified:
On his face were crime, depraVlty, ana
despair. The train halted and he
was taken out to the penitentiary,
There was the third passenger, under
far different circumstances. She was
a bride. Every hour WAS gay as marriage
bell. Life giittered and beckoned. Her
companion was taking her to his fathers
house. The train halted. The old man was
there to welcome her to her new home. and
his white locks showed down upon her as be
sealed his word with fathers kiss.
Quickly we fly toward eternity. We will
soon be there. Some leave this life con.
demned. Oh, may it be with us, that. leav-
ing this feeting life for the next, we may
find our Father ready to greet US to our new
home with Him forever. That will be q
marriage banquet Fathers welcomed
Fathers bosom! Fathers kiss! Heaven
Heaven!