Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-06-20

would not, and all these years my heart mas
been aching for sight of my SONNY eld-
est born" -r.....f
The words came sharp and fast now and
ended in a smothered sob.
The deacon was surprised. Never before
had his wife questioned his wisdom or cen
sured him for what he did But the moth
err love so strong in her had welled up and
filed her heart to OVERLOOKING, and she
must be heard. Her words had their effect,
too. for Deacon Chandler saw, as he had
never seen before this, his mistake and the
hypocrisy of the fervent prayer he had SO
often breathed out to his Heavenly Father
when he wasan unmerciful-nay, even cruel
parent. How he had prayed for an loppor-
tunity of doing good and when 1t came let
it pass-nay, threw it away willfully. he
was man of few words, and those he spoke
now carried healing balm to the heart OF
the woman who had so loved her hayward
boy.
II have been wrong, wife. Can you for
give me-" s, ....t,
"Oh, freely, freely" she answered him.
He read in her wistful eyes the unspoken
wish and answered it.
Twill find our boy and bring him home"
he said
"And no matter how sinful he is or how
he has fallen you will bring him home to
his mother" f,.
81 will" And she was satisfied.
| Tothose who wish to learn, all things are
plain, and Deacon Chandler traced has son,
/ by constant effort, to a small western city.
| OF the fact that he was there he became
convinced, but could learn nothing more.
| A week found him standing in railway
station of the city of c., inquiring of the
bystanders if they knew Thomas Chandler.
! "Know Thomas Chandler? WAL, reck-
on | do" drawled one loafer who was
warming himself in the sun.
Can you tell me where can find HIM"
asked the deacon.
"Waal, kinder reckon about this time
er day he's ter be found over to the Senter
House"
Having learned where the Senter House
was. Deacon Chandler walked slowly up
the main street OF the well kept western
city. How should he find Tom? He in
ferred. from the manner of the man with
whom he had Just talked that his son was
still the wild young man he had turned
from home so many weary years ago But
il did not matter He had promised the
mother-and then was not here his oppor-
tunity? He would see that he grasped it
, ! now and would save his son at any cost.
/. His meditations were cut short by the
, pilded sign directly in front of his eyes, and
he saw in large letters Senter House. lie
=, entered and made his way up to the clerk.
) He was almost ashamed to ask this gentle
! manly fellow about his erring son, but he
r did
II am stranger here, sir" he began
"Can YOU tell me where | can find Thomas
- Chandler"
Eyes, sir. answered the brisk clerk.
A Then he turned to a boy who stood neal
\ and said, go and find Mr.. Chandler"
4 The boy sped away on his Grand anC
= Deacon Chandler waited. Then he hearC
4 steps "A mans surprised voice called ia
a Their" and he looked up and saw his son
. But where was the sinful, dissipated MAJ
he had thought TO seer Here was wei
+ dressed and prosperous looking man, hold
ing out his hand to him and bidding hin
~ welcome And it was Tom. That was tn
funny part of it,
Come, father and he led the old ma
10 away to a private parlor and closed th
door Don't you know me, father?
should know you anywhere"
40 "Yes-but it's so strange" gasped the oil
man.
30 Tom laughed good naturally.
'On. you mean l4lttL am hp1 NhoO ~
=. expected to findy Well, hardly, Judgin
m from early indications; but, father-I mus
49, say it'-and the young mans eyes gre
~, moist-"all that am | owe TO my mother.
- God bless her, Tom, heartily respdnde
his father. Then after pause, Can yo
or forgive me, my son, for my harshness"
"There is no more for me TO forgive tina
YOU" returned his son. II have lived a
ne these years 20 learn, and / think l ma
safely say now that | am an honest ma
III This house is mine-and, God willing,
mean in the future to be an honor and nj
l iu a disgrace to the old home
III SO, after all, Deacon Chambers opport
nifty was a wasted one for now there W
VOC no need Of any effort on his part in his son
-. case The opportunity hud come to him
' .o his sons youth, and he had neglected it.
81. As it happened, everything had turn
| :, out right, but the chances for that had be
:. so few and for another and more paint
~: ~ one 80 many that he could only thank G
ny that he had taken into his own hands t
Ile most successful working out of Deac
III Chambers opportunity. Exchange.