The Republican., 1892-10-14
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY,
Right at His Own Door, Yet He
Did Not See It.

There was one sentence tn at Deacon
Chandler had never omitted from his
prayers since he was first converted,
and began to pray in the little wooden
church on the hill 1t was this: "Send
to thy servant, O Lord, some great op-
portunity for doing good"
Strange as it may seem, his prayer
had never been answered. The seasons
rolled around with their accustomed
regularity, and brought increase to his
focks and plenty to his storehouses,
and as yet nothing unusua. had hap
pened. Still the worthy man prayed
on, until Deacon Chandler's Opportun-
ity" had come to be almost a byword
with not few of the younger mem.
bers of the congregation. And when
he arose at each meeting, and with
bowed head uttered the familiar petit
tion, his eldest son, Tom, away in the
back part of the room, was mimicking
his father, to the intense amusement of
few unruly boys who were his COM
panions.
Tom Chandler was bad boy. There
was no denying it. Toms mother was
had been forced to own sorrowfully,
that-''Thomas was little Wild"
Deacon Chandler, in his own family,
laid down the strictest rules, and they
were fearfully followed by all except
the eldest Tom was incorrigible. He
chafed under the home restraint, and
his natural wildness found vent in
various petty misdemeanors, which
soon won for him a bad name in his
native village. In vain his mother be-
sought him to mend his ways; in vain
his father placed him under closer re-
straint, and visited upon him more dire
penalties. 1t was of no avail.
One night Deacon Chandler entered
his home with stern look on his face
that BODIED no good for whoever the
culprit might be. His wife looked up
from her sewing as he entered.
where's Tom?" he said, shortly.
81 don't KNOW" was the reply, "why
is anything the matter?"
Before he could reply the door opened
again, and the subject of their CONVEX
sation came in. He was a tall, we'll
built boy of eighteen, but his youthful
features We're already marked with
lines of dissipation, and in his handsome
brown eyes there was a daredevil ex-
preston that spoke volumes to one
who understood it.
well, SIR" was Deacon Chandler's
greeting.
We'll" came in insolent tones from
the boy, who remained standing.
You are found out"
The stern tones of the father rang in
the mothers ears like death knell
You may as well confess"
"There is no need, if you have found
me out" replied the boy, defiantly.
perhaps you would like me to tell.
Are you proud that you and your gang
have been detected stealing fruit from
Mr.. Deans orchard, and that unless
! settle you will lie arrested? Can
you offer any excuse for removing the
gates from half a dozen houses in town.
and making bonfire of them in nv
meadow lo.?"
Mrs. Chandler looked hurriedly up at
her son.
"oh! Tom, it isn't so? Say it isn't VI
she implored.
But he was silent Then the deacon
resumed
II shall settle, to save your brothers
and sisters from disgrace; but from
this night you are no son of mine.
disown you"
slight pallor spread itself over the
boys face, as he opened his lips to re-
ply:
"Al right. father. If you had dealt
more gently with me l might have
been different boy now. own that
took the apples and helped to burn
the gates. But there" he burst out,