The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-10-13
A GREAT; OPPORTUNITY,
Right CT His Own Door. Yet He
Did Not See It.

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 1t may seem, his prayer
had never been answered. The seasons
rolled around with their accustomed
regularity, ard brought increase to his
aocks and plenty to his storehouses,
and as yet nothing u ,usua! had hap
pened. Still the worthy man prayed
on. until deacon Chambers Opportun-
ity'shad come to be almost 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
ton, 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 Dad boy. There
was no denying It, Toms mother was
the last one to admit it, but even she
had been forced to own sorrOwfully,
thatr-ssIhomas 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 ho1ae restraint, and
his natural wildness found vent in
variopSspettya misdelneanors, which
soon Won for him a bad name in his
natigs village. In vain his mother be-
sought him to mend lis ways; in vain
his father placed him under closer re-
straint, anil visited upon him more dire
penalties 1t was of 10 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.
Il don't know, y was thereby, why
is anything the matter?'
Before he could reply the door opened
again. and the subject of their CONVEX
sation came in. He was q tall, we'll
built boy of eighteen, but his youthful
features were already marked with
lines of dissipation, and in his handsome
brown eyes there was . daredevil ex-
preston that spoke volumes to one
who understood it.
Well sit, was Deacon Chandler'a
greeting. ~; '~l 49,.
WELL" came in insolent tones from
the boy, who remained standing.
"You are found out"
The stern tones of tho father rang in
the mothers ears like a death knell.
You may as we'll confess"
''rhere u no need, If you have found
me out, " replied the boy, de8antly.
perhaps you would like mo to tell.
Arc you proud that you and your gang
have been detected stealing fruit from
MIR. Deans orchard, and that unless
I settle you will be arrested? Can
you offer any excuse for removing the
gates from half q dozen houses in town,
and making q bonfire of them in nv
meadow lot2' i ~,.,-.
Mrs. Chandler looked hurriedly up at
her son.
Obi. Tom, it isn't soq Say it isn't, "
shs implored. e. s@:'
But he was silent Then the deacon
resumed: ,.n~ -.
II shall settle, to save your brothers
and sisters from disgrace; but from
this night you are no son of mine. I
disown you.''.
A slight pallor spread itself over the
boys face. as he open ed his lips to re-
ply: ~
''All right, father. If you had dealt
more sspantlyssSwith me i might have
been dt6erent boy now. own that
l tp the apples and helped to burn
the gates. But there" he burst out,
suddenly, ''what does it matter? /
won't stay to disgrace the family any
Longer. I've been ready to go for some
time" and he glanced around the COM
Portable room contemptuously.
When he finished speaking, q
me1es's=hand was: laid. on his arm,
and mothers voice, pitiful in it's sor.
row, said: -,
''nle'g> Tom. Your: father don't
meat IL He. is angry because you
mako him 50 much trouble. Ask him
to forgive you'll am sure he will, if
you ysi|l oply tn to be , better boy"
"NfstI lstefnly interrupted the
deacon; ''he Is no son Of mine, and my
house is no longer his home. Go, sir!
Do y6q hear
"Xd} need not ten me twice, . re-
turdedthe boy. ''Good- by, mother; I'm
going, " and before they realized it,
their eldest son had passed out Of the
home life forever.
After that, life went on. about Is.
usual at the Chandler farm. Thedeacon
still offered his accustomed prayer.
only now there was no Tom 10 make
fun OF him, for since that night Ton,
Chandler had not been seen. Deacon
Chandler Vas .still waiting for his OPP
postnnitt and stu wondering. too.
why : chance 90 earnestly desired was
- long withheld. Others oil shout him