The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-08-26


but he was always ON the wrong track.
He would not go home. At the door of
that beautiful home one night there
was great cutlery. The young man of
the house ran down and opened the door
to see what was the matter. 1t was
midnight, The rest of the family were
asleep. There were the wife and chill
dren 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; / will dash their
brains out. Out into the Storm The
mother gathered them up and fed The
next morning the brother, young man
who had staid at home, went out to find
this prodigal brother and son, and he
came where he was and saw the young
man wandering up and down in front
OF the place where he had been staying,
and the young man who had kept his
integrity said to the older brother:
Here, what does this mean? What
is the matter with your Why do you
act in this way?" The prodigal
looked at him and said: who
am II Whom do you take me to be?"
He said, You are my brother" mo,
| am not. l am brute. Have you seen
anything of my wife and children?
Are they dead? | drove them out
last night in the storm. am a
brute. John, do you think there is any
help for me? Do you think l will
ever get over this life of dissipation"
He said, "John, there is just one thing
that will stop this" The prodigal ran
his finger across his throat and said:
THAT will stop it, and I'll stop it before
night. Oh. my brain; can stand it no
longer" That prodigal never got home.
But | will tell you of a prodigal that did
get home
In this country two young men start
ed from their fathers house and went
down to Portsmouth. The father could
not pursue his children; for some rea-
son he could not leave home, and so he
wrote letter down to Mr.. Griffin, say
ing: "Mr. Griffin, l wish you would go
and see my two sons. They have az
rived in Portsmouth and they are going
to take ship and are going away from
home. l wish you would persuade
them back" Mr.. Griffin went and he
tried to persuade them back. He per-
suaded one to go. He went with very
easy persuasion because he was very
homesick already. The other young
man said: II will not go. l have had
enough of home. I'll never go home"
"Well," said Mr.. Griffin, 'then if you
won't go home I'll get you respectable
position on a respectable ship" ''No,
you won't" said the prodigal; ''no, you
won't. I am going as common sailor;
that will plague my father most, and
what will do most to tantalize and
worry him will please me BEST"
Years passed on and Mr. Griffin was
seated in his study one day when a mes
sage came to him saying there was a
young man in irons on 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 shipboard. The young man said
to him, You don't know me, do your
"No," he said, II don't know you."
"Why, don't You remember that young
man you tried to persuade to go home.
and he wouldn't go?" "Oh, yes," said
Mr.. Griffin; ''are you that MANI" eyes.
l am that man." said the other. 81
would like to have you pray for me. l
have committed murder and l must die;
but don't want to go out 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 au-
thority to judicial authority to get that
young mans pardon. He slept not |
night nor day. He went from infuen-
tial person to influential person until in |
some way he got that young mans par
Ion. He came down ON the dock and |
rs he arrived on the dock with the par
Ion the father came He had heard |
that his son under disguised name had
been committing crime and was going
70 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 young man the old father
threw his arms around the sons neck
md the son said: Father, have done
very wrong and l am very sorry. |
wish l had never broken your heart. |
I'm very sorry" "Oh," said the father,
don't mention it. 1t doesn't make any
Inference now. 1t is all over. / for.
give you, my son." and he kissed him
md kissed him and kissed him.
Today offer you the pardon of the
pardon, flee pardon. 1 do
lot care what your crime has been.
Though you say you have committed
rhine against God, against your own
oul, against your fellow man, against
'our family, against the day of judg-
nent, against the cross of Christ-what-
'ver your crime has been, here is par
lon, full pardon, and the very moment
'ou take that pardon your heavenly
Father throws his arms about you and
avs: MY son, 1 forgive you. 1t is all
light. You are as much in my favor
low as if you had never sinned." Oh,
here is joy on earth and joy in heavenl
Who will take the Fathers embrace?