Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-07-24

never entered 1t. / was at East Hampton
and went into the cemetery to look around,
and in that cemetery there are twelve graves
side by side-the gra -es OF sailors. This
crew. some years ago n a ship went into
the breakers at Amagah7 EFT, about three
miles away. Ny brother, then preaching at
East Hampton. had been at the burial.
These men of the crew came very near being
saved.
The people from Amagansett saw the YES
sci and they shot rockets, and they sent
ropes from the shore, and these poor fellows
got into the boat and they pullef nightly
for the shore, but just before they got to the
shore the rope snapped and the b>at capslZed
and they were lost. their bodies after ward
washed up on the beach. Oh, what solemn
day it was-I have been told 1t by my
brother-when these twelve men lay az the
foot Of the pulpit and he read over them the
funeral service! They came very near shore
within shouting distance OF the shore-yet
did not arrive on solid land. There are some
men who come almost to the shore of Coos
mercy, but not quite, not quite. To be only
almost saved is not to be saved at all
I will tell you of two prodigals, the one
that got back and the other that did not get
back. In Virginia there Is a very prosper
Gus and beautiful home in many respects. A
young man wandered off from that home:
He wandered very far into sin. They heard
of him often but he was always on the
wrong track He would not go nome. AG
the door of that beautiful home one night
of the house ran down and opened the door
to see what was the matter. 1t was MID
night The rest of the family were asleep.
There were the wife and the children OF this
prodigal young man. The fact was he had
come home and driven them out. He said:
''Out of this house. Away with these chill
dren; will dash their brains out. Out into
the Storm
The mother gathered them up and fed.
The next morning the brother, the young
-hoh cI toiI of T. find
this prodigal brother and son, and he came
where he was and saw the young man
wandering up and down in front of the
place where he had been staying, and tcs
young man who had kept his integrity said
to the older brother: Here what does all
this mean? What's the matter with you?
Why do you get in this way? The
Drodical looked at him and said ''Who
am /? Who do you take me to beT' he Salo,
"You are my brother" ''No, I am not;
am brute Have you seen anything of my
wife and children? Are they dead? drove
them out last night in the storm. am a
brute. John. do you think there Is any help
for me? Do you think I will ever get over
this life Of dissipation%' He said, 'Brother
there is just one thing that will stop this"
The prodigal ran his finger across his throat
and said: THAI will stop it, and pll stop it
before night. Oh my brain: L can stand 1t
no longer" That prodigal never got home e.
But will tell you of prodigal that did get
home.
In England two young men started from
their fathers house and vent down to Ports
mouth. The father could not pursue MS
children; for some reason he could not leave
home and so he wrote a letter down to MI.
Griffin, saying: "Mr Griffin, L wish you
would go and see my two sons. They have
arrived in Portsmouth, and they are going
to take ship and going away from home
wish you would persuade them back" Mr..
Griffin went and he tried to persuade them
back. He persuaded one to 60 He went
with very easy persuasion, because he was
very homesick already. The other young
man said Il will not 60 have had enough
of home Pn never go home.' ''Well, )" said
Mr.. Griffin, ''then if you won't go home, I'll
get you respectable position Oh respect
able ship" mo you WON'T" said the prodi-
gal; No you won't. am going as COM
mon sailor: that will plague my father most,
and what will do most to tantalze and worry
him will please me BEST"
Years passed on, and Mr.. Griffin was seated
in his study one day when message came
to him that there was young man In irons
on a ship at the dock-a young man con-
denned to deathcwho wished 10 see t ms
dock and went on shipboard. The young
man said to him, ''You don't know me, do
you" mo" he said; II don't know you"
'sWhy, don't you remember that young man
wouldn't goF' "On, yes" said Mr.. Griffin.
care YOU that MANI" Eyes, I am that
man." said the other. II would like to have
you pray for me. I have committed MUIR
der. and must die, but don't want to go
out Of this world until some one prays for
me. You are my fathers friend and J
would like to have you pray for me-"
Mr.. Griffin went from judicial authority to
judicial authority to get the young mans
pardon. He slept not night nor day. He
went from influential person to influential
person until some way he got that young
mans pardon He came down on the dock,
and as he arrived on the dock with the par
don the father came. He had heard that his
son. 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
the sons neck and the son said: Father, L
have done very wrong and am very sorry.
l wish had never broken your heart. am
very sorry" ''Ohw said the father don't
mention it; it don't make any difference
now. 1t is all over. forgive you, my son."
and he kissed him and kissed him and kissed
him.
To-day offer you the pardon of the Gospel
full pardon, free pardon. do not care
what your sin has been. Though you say
you have committed a crime against God,
man, against your family, against the day
of jul lgment, against the cross OF Christ
whatever your crime has been, here is
pardon, full pardon, and the very moment
that you take that pardon your heavenly
Father throws His arms around about you
and says: My son, Iforgive you. 1t is all
right. You are as much in Ny favor now as
if you had never sinned." o, there is jog on
earth and JOY in heaven. Who will take the
Fathers embrace?
There was a gentleman in rail car who
saw in that same car three passengers of |
very different circumstances. The first was |