Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1891-07-03

wrong track. He would not go home. At
the door Of that beautiful home one night
there was a great outcry. The young man
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
tho Storm
The mother gathered them up and fed.
Tho next morning the brother, the young
man who had staid at home went out TO find
this prodigal brother and son, and he came
where he was, and saw the young man
wandering up aud down in front OF the
place where be had been staying, and the
young'man who had kept his integrity said
70 the older brother: Here, what does all
this meanf What's the matter with youi
Why do you get in this wayY" The
prodigal looked at him and said: "Who
am II Who do you take me to beT' He said,
"You are my brother" mo / am not;
am brute. Have you seen anything OF my
wife aud children' Are they dead7 drove
them out last night in the storm. am
brute. John, do you think there is any help
for meH Do you think 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: That will stop IL, and I'll stop it
before night. Oh! my BRAIN | can stand it
no longer" That proiigaf never got home.
But | will tell you Of q prodigal that did get
home
In England two young men started from
their fathers house and went down to Ports
mouth. The father could not pursue his
children; for some reason he could not leave
home and 50 he wrote a letter down to MIR.
Griffin, saying: "Mr. Griffin, wish you
would 90 and zee 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 70 go. He went
with very easy persuasion, because he was
very homesick already. The other young
man said: II will not go. have had enough
OF home I'll never 20 home" well, said
Mr. Griffin, then II you won't go home, I'll
able ship mo you won't" said the prodi-
gal; No yoI won't. am going as com
mon sailor; that will plague my father most,
and what will do most to tantaliZe and worry
him will please me best"
Years passed on, aud 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-
demned to death-who wished to see this
clergyman. Mr.. Griffin went down TO the
dock and went on ship5oar1. Tho young
man said to him. You don't know me, do
you" mo" he said; II don't knoY you
"Why, don't you remember that young rnan
you tried 10 persuade to go home, and he
wouldn't gor' 'Oh, yes, said Mr. Griffin
Are you that MANI Yes, l app that
man." said the other II would like to have
you pray for me. l have committed MUIR
der, and must die, but don't want to go
out Of this world until some one prays for
M. You are my fathers friend and l
would ike to havo 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
mans pardon. He came down on the dock,
and as no arrived on the dock with the par
don the father came He had heard that his
son, under disguised name. had been com-
mittiug 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 tho young
man, the old father threw his arms around
the sons neck and the son sal |: Father,
have done very wrong and an very sorry.
wish had never broken your heart. am
very sorry" "Ohm said the father. don't
mention It; it don't make any difference
now 1t is all over. forgiva you, my son."
and he kissed him and kisseI nim aud kissed
him.
To-Day offer you the parI N OF the Gospel
full pardon, free pardon. l DO not cure
what your sin has been. Thou n. you say
you have committed a crimo against God
against your own soul, against your fellow
man, against your family, against the day
of tu igment against the cross OF Christ
whatever your crime has been, here Is
pardon, full pardon. aud the very moment
that you take that pardon your heavenly
Father throws His arms around about you
and says: MY son, forgive you. Iti all
right. You are as much In My favor now as
IL YOU had never sinned" o. there Is Joy on
earth and Joy in heaven. Who will take the
Fathers enbraces
There was o gentleman in a 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 n ship dismasted,
was beating against n 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
years 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, dePravity and
despair. The Lin halted and he
was taken out to the penitentiary,
to which he had been condemned.
There was the third passenger, under
far different circumstances. She was
bride. Every hour WIS gay as marriage
bell. Life glittercd aud beckoned. Her
companion was takiug her to his fathers
house The train halted. Tho old man was
there to welcome her to her new home, and
his white locks showed down upon her as he
se.led his word with fathers kiss
Quickly we fly toward eternity. We will
soon be there. Some leave this life con-
denned. On may it be with us, that leav-
ing this fleeting life for the next we may
find our Father ready to greet us to our new
home with Him forever. That will be
marriage banquet Fathers welcomed
Fathers bosoml Fathers kssl HeavenI
Heavenl