Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-08-27

dead! drove them out last night In the
storm. | am brute, John. do you think
there is any help for mes Do you think
will ever get over this life of dissipation
be said, John, 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 longerr That prod
gal never got home. But will tel YOU of
prodigai that did get home
In this country two young men started
from their fathers house and went down to
Portsmouth. Tho father could not pursue
his children; for some reason he could not
leave home, aud so he wrote a letter down
to Mr.. Griffin, saying: ''Mr. Griffin, wish
you would go and see my two sons They
have arrived in Portsmouth, AMI they are
gong to take ship AMI going away from
home. I wish you woul1 persua ie them
back" Mr.. Griffin went and he tried
TO persuade them back He persuaded
one to go. He went with very easy
persuasion, because he was very homesick
already. The other young man said. 81
will not go. | have had enough of home.
I'll never go home" ssWen,n said Mr..
Griffin, then if you won't go home I'll get
yon a respectable position on respectable
ship" ''No, you WON'T said the prodigal;
no, you won't. am going as a common
sailor; that will plague my father most, and
him will please me best"
Years passed on and Mr. Griffin was
seated in his study one day wnen message
came to him saying there was young man
in irons on a ship at the dock-a young man
condemned to death-who wished to see this
clergyman, Mr.. Griffin went down to the
dock and went on shin board. The Young
man said to him, You don't know me, do
youg No" he said, Il don't know you. ~
why, don't you remember that young man
you tried to persuade to go home and he
wouldn't goT' "Oh, YES" said Mr. Griffin:
''are you that mani" eyes, | am that man, y
said the other 81 would like to have YOU
pray for me. | have committed murder and
must die, but don't want to go out of this
world until some one prays for me. You
are my fathers friend ami | would like to
have you pray for me-"
Mr.. Griffin went from judicial authority
to judicial authority to get that Young
mans pardon. He slept not night nor day.
He went from influential persons to influ-
entail persons until in some way he got that
young mans pardon. He cana down on
the dock, and as he arrived on the dock
with the pardon the father came. He had
heard that his son under disguised name
had been committing crime and was going
to be put to death. So Mr.. Griffin and the
father went on ships deck, and at the very
moment Mr. Griffin offered the pardon to
the yonng man the Old father threw his
arms around the sons neck and the son said;
Father, | have done very wrong and l am
very sorry. l wish had never broken your
heart. am very sorry" "Oh," said the
father, don't mention it, 1t don't make any
difference now. it is all over. | forgive you
my son." and he kissed him and he kissei
him and he kissed him
To-day | offer you the pardon of the Cos
pel-full pardon, free pardon. [ do not
hat hoe
you say you have committe crime against
God, against your own soul, against your
fellow man, against your family, against
the day of judgment, against the cross of
Christ-whatever your crime has been, here
is pardon. full pardon, and the very mo-
ment you take that pardon your heavenly
Father throws his arms about you and says:
"My son, l forgive you. 1t is all right
You are as much in Ny favor now as if you
had never sinnei." Oh, there is ioy on
earth and joy in heavenl Who will taxi
the Fathers embrace?