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

Chandler had never omitted from his pray
srs since he was converted and began to
pray in the little wooden church on the
hin. 1t was this, "Send to thy servant, 0
Lord, some great opportunity for doing
good"
Strange as it may seem, his prayers had !
never been answered. The seasons rolled
around with their accustomed regularity |
and brought increase 10 his flock and plenty |
to his storehouses, and as yet nothing un
usual had happened. Still the worthy man /
prayed on until Deacon Chambers op.
portunity" had come to be almost byword |
with not a few of the younger members OF
the congregation And when he arose at
each meeting, and with bowed head uttered
the familiar petition, his eldest son, Tom,
away in the back part Of the room, was
mimicking his father, TO the intense amuse-
ment of a few unruly boys who were his
companions
Tom Chandler was a bad boy. There was
no DENYING that. Toms mother was the
last one to adElitit, but even she was forced
To own sorrowfully that Thomas was
little wild" Deacon Chandler in his own
family laid down the strictest rules, and
they were fearfully followed by all except
the eldest. Tom was incorrigible. lie
chafed under the home restraint, and his
natural wildness found vent in various
pettv misdemeanors, which soon won for
him bad name in his native village. In
vain his mother besought him to mend his
ways; in vain his father placed him under
closer restraint and visited upon him more
dire penalties. It was no avail.
One night Deacon Chandler entered his
home with stern look on his face that
bodied no good for whoever the culprit
a.I FNFVU har
sewing as he entered
where's Tom?" he said shortly.
81 don't know" was the reply. why
Is anything the matterY'
Before he could reply the door opened
again, and the subject of their conversation
came in. He was "A tall, well built boy of
IS. but his youthful face was already
marked with the lines Of dissipation, and
I'm his handsome brown eyes there was a
daredevil expression that spoke volumes to
one who understood It,
well. sirfi was Deacon Chambers greet
ing
"well2' came in insolent tones from th'
boy, who remained standing.
"You are found out
The stern notes Of the father rang in TIT
mothers enrs like n deathknell.
"You may as well confess"
"There is no need it you have found mi
out" replied the boy deiiantly.
perhaps You would like me to tell. Ar
YOU proud thar you and your gang hav
been detected stealing fruit from Mr.. Dean
orchard, and that unless ! settle you will
be arrested2 Can you offer any excuse TO
removing the gates from half dozel
houses in town and making a bonfire o
them in my orchard lot:'
- d L.. a ss. a he
son.
"oh. Tom, it isn't so' Say it isn't" sh
implored
But he was silent. Then the deacon cor
tinued:
IL shall settle to save your brothers an
sisters from disgrace, but from this nigh
you are no son of mine disown you"
A slight pallor spread over the boys fac
as he opened his lips to reply.
IAN right, father. If you had dealt MOI
gently with me, might have been diffe
emit boy now. / own that took the apple
and helped to burn the gates. But there,
he burst out suddenly, what does it ma
teri ] won't stay to disgrace the famil
any longer I've been ready to go for SON
time" And he glanced round the con
Portable room contemptuously.
When be finished speaking, n mother
hand was laid on his arm, and a mother
voice, pitiful in its sorrow, said:
Don't 60 Tom. Your father don't mes
it. He is very angry because you make hi
SO much trouble. Ask him to forgive 20
am sure he will. II you will only try TO
better boy"
"Neverin sternly interrupted the deaco
"He is no son of mine, and my house is
longer his home Go, sirl Do you heart
Az
the boy "Goodby, mother. Pm going
and before they realized it the eldest 8
had passed out Of home life forever.
After that life went on about as usual
the Chandler farm. The deacon still off
ed his accustomed prayer, only there W
no Tom to make fun OF him, for since th
night Tom Chandler had not been Sc,
Deacon Chandler was still waiting for
opportunity and still wondering, too, W
a chance so earnestly desired was so 10
withheld Others all about him were dol
great things toward building up the XII
dom, vet, search and wait as he would, no
ing ever came in his way.
So the time went on for eight or
years, until one day Deacon Chand
awoke suddenly TO the fact that his "
was slowly dying. His love for his "
was one of the things that no one doubt
and when he noticed how pale and thin
had become he spoke to her at once in
unusually anxious way.
is there anything I can do for y
wife?" he asked
mol don't know as there is"
rs there anything you want"
Her eyes filed with tears.
"Shall / tell your" she whispered.
"Yes-do"
sadly and firmly she told him then
whole pitiful story.
II want my boy. want Tom TO c
back TO me. He was my firstborn, al
cannot forget how loved him when he
baby in my arms. Yes, and whel
grew to be boy loved him still. and
love could have saved him. But you
-. -. t.,~1 o,,d cold With him CousC