The Red Cloud chief., 1892-09-02

solemn day IL was--I have been told OF
IL by my brother-whcn these twelve
men lay at the foot Of the pulpit and
he read over them the funeral service.
They came very near shore-within
shouting distance of the shore, yet did
not arrive on solid land. There are
some men who come almost to the shore
Of Gods mercy, but not quite, not
quite. To be only almost saved IL TO DO
lost.
/ will tell you of two prodigals, the
one that got back and the other that
did not get back. In Richmond, Va,
there Ia avcry prosperous and beautiful
home In many respects. A young man
wandered off from that home. He
wandered very far into sin. They
heard of him often but he was always
ON the wrong track. lie would not 20
home. AZ the door OF that beautiful
home n night there was a great out
cry. The young man of the house ran
down and opened the door to see what
was the matter. IL was midnight
The rest Of the family were asleep.
There were the wife and 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 children; I will dash their
brains out. Out into the storm!" The
mother gathered them up and fed. Tho
next morning the brother, n young
man who had stayed Mt home, went
out to find the prodigal brother and
son. and he came where he was and.
saw the young maj wandering up and
down In front Of the place where he
had been staying and the young man
who had kept his integrity said 70 the
older brothers: %"IIerc, what does this
mean? What Is the matter with you?
why do You act In this way?' The
prodigal looked ut him and said: "Who
am ~ Whom do you take me TO be?"
He said: "You are my brother" mo,
am not am n brute. Have You
seen anything Of my wife and childrcnp
Are they dead? drove them out last
night In the storm. I am n brute. John,
do you think there is any help for me?
Do You think l will ever get over this
life OF dissipation" lie said: "John,
there Is just n thing that will stop
this" The prodigal ran his finger
across his throat and said: ''That will
stop IL, and I'll stop 10 before night.
q! my brain; l can stand II no longer"
That prodigal never got home. But I
will tell you Of a prodignl that did get
home.
In this country, two young men
started from their fathers house and
went down To Portsmouth. The father
could not pursue his children; for some
reason he could not leave home, and so |
he wrote a letter down to Mr.. Griffin, |
saying: 'Mr. Griffin, ! wish you would |
go and sec my two sons. They have ar
rived In Portsmouth and they are going
to take ship, and going away from
home. I wish you would persuade
them back" Mr.. Griffin went and he
tried to persuade them back. He per-
suadcd n to go. He went with very
easy persuasion, because he was very
homesick already. The other young
man said: II will not 60. have had !
enough of home. I'll never go home"
SWELL" said Mr.. Griffin, ''then II you
won't go home, I'll get you a respect
able position on n respectable ship"
mo, you won't" said the p~rodigal;
mo You won't am going rs a COM
mon sailor; that will plague my father
most, and what will do most to tan
talize and worry him will please me
best"
Years passed on and Mr.. Griffin was
seated in his study one day when a
message came to him saying there was
a young man in irons on a ship at tho
dock-a young man condemned to death
who wished to sec this clergyman.
Mr.. Griffin went down TO the dock and
went on shipboard. The young man
said to him: You don't know Inc do
you" NO." he said, 81 don't know
YOU" "Why, don't you remember that
young man you tried to persuade to 90
home and he wouldn't go?" 'Or' yes"
said Mr.. Griffin, ARE you that man?"
YES, am that man." said the other.
u would like TO have you pray for me.
l have committed murder and ! must
die; but l don't want To go our of this
world until some one prays for me. You
are my fathers friend and l would like
to have You pray for me-"
Mr.. Griffin went from judicial author.
ity to judicial authority TO get that
young mans pardon. lie slept not
night nor day. lie went from i~nfiuen-
tial to influential person until in some
way he got that young mans pardon.
lie came down on the dock and as ho
arrived on the dock with the pardon the
father came. He had heard that his
son under IA disguised name had been
committing 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 MT. Griffin offered
the pardon to the young man the old
father threw his arms around the sons
and the son said: Father, | have
done very wrong and | am very sorry.
l wish had never broken your heart.
! am very sorry so" said the father,
don't mention it.. 1t don't make any
difference now. II is all over. l for
give You, my son." and he kissed him
kissed him and kissed him.
To-day | offer you the pardon of tho
gospel--full pardon, free pardon. do
not care what your crime has been.
Won snv Won haya onn,, ;..al