The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-10-15
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
Right at His Own Door, Yet He
Did Not Sec 1t.

There was one sentence 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
mad never been answered. The seasons
rolled around with their accustomed
regularity, and brought increase to his
f1ocks and plenty to his storehouses,
and as yet nothing unusual had hap
Pened. Still the worldly man prayed
on, until Deacon Chandler's Opportun-
ity" had 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
tion, his eldest son, Tom, away in the
back part of the room, was mimicking
his father, to the intense amusement of
a few unruly boys who We're his COM
panions.
Tom Chandler was bad boy. There
was no denying it. Toms mother was
Me last one to admit it, but even she
had been forced to own sorrowfully.
Ghat-'Thomas was little wild"
Deacon Chandler, in his own family,
laid down the strictest rules, and they
were fearfully followed by all except
Che 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 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 u stern look on his face
that BODIED no good for whoever the
cnlprit might be. His wife looked up
from her sewing as he entered.
''Where's TOm?' he said, shortly.
II 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
Sq.tion came in. He was tall, we'll
Euilt boy of eighteen, but his youthful
LS-dLLllttA NClC hCU WIFI
1iEles of dissipation, and in his handsome
brown eyes there was daredevil ex-
preston that spoke volumes to one
EVho understood it.
''Well, SIR" was Deacon Chandler's
greeting.
'-Well," came in insolent tones from
Che 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 founc
me OUT replied the boy, defantly.
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
I settle you will be arrested? Car
you offer any excuse for removing the
gates from half dozen houses in town
and making a bonfire of them in my
meadow lot?"
Mrs. Chandler looked hurriedly up a
her son.
''oh! Tom, it isn't so? Say it isn't,
she implored.
buI ne was SllenI' linen Jne ueacOl
resumed:
81 shall settle, to save your brother
and sisters from disgrace; but from
this night you are no son of mine.
sdisown you"
A slight pallor spread itself over thu
boys face, as he open ed his lips to re
ply;
IAN right, father If you had deal
more gently with me l might hav,
been different boy now. l own tha
i took the apples and helped to burr
she 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,
mothers hand was laid on his arm
aDd mothers voice, pitiful in its sor
row, said:
"non't &c, Tom. Your father dom
mean it. He is angry because yor
make hin 50 much trouble. Ask hin
80 forgive you-I am sure ne will, il
you viii only try to be better boy"
"Neyer!' sternly interrupted the
deacon; ''he is no son of mine, and nay