The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-10-13

-. LaIJtiHJkeASsY1< III was tins: 'SrnI
A$sT3rS&S.. to Thy servant, OH,
Lord, some rrcat
opportunity for doing good"
Strange as it may seem, his prayers
had never been answered, Th" SCI
sons rolled around with their n.,u,.
toned regularity and brought inr"s,s,
1" his flock and plenty to his .t,r.'.
houses, and as yet nothing unr,suni Ia |
happened. Still tho worthy mnr
prayed on until "Dcacon Oh "a Hers
opportunity" had come to bc almost II
byword with not n few of tho younger
members of tho congregation. And
when ho arose ut each meeting, and
with bowed head uttered tho familiar
petition, his eldest son, Tom away in
the back pnrt of the room, WAS MIN
licking his father, to the intense nmusc-
mcnt of n few unruly boys who were
his companions.
Tom Chandler was II bad boy There
was no denying that. Toms mother
was tho last one to admit it, hut even
she was forced to own sorrowfully that
"Thomas was little Wild" Deacon
Chandler in his own family laid down
the strictost rules, and thew were fear
fully followed by all except the eldest.
WAS incorrigible. He chafed un-
Tier the home restraint, and his natu-
raj wildncss found vent in various
petty misdcmcanors, which soon won
tor him II bad nnmc in his native vii
iage. In vain his mother bcsouvht
him to mend his ways; in vain his
father placed him under closer re-
straint and visited upon him more dire
penalties. 1t wns no avail
One night Deacon Chandler entered
his home with stern look on his face
that boded no good for whoever the
. ..cnlprit might be. His wife looked up
nom her sewing rs he entered.
"Wherc's Tom? ?" he snid shortly.
81 don't know" was thn reply.
'Why--is anything the mattcr?"
Before he could reply tho door
opened again and the subject Of their
conversation came in. Ho wns toll,
well-built hoy of eighteen, but HE
youthful face was already marIcd with
tho lines of dissipation and in h.s
handsome brown oycs there wns dare.
devil expression that spoke v>iumcs to
ono who understood it,
"WelI, sir?" was Deacon Ch,niInr's
greeting.
"Well?" came in insolent tones fror.
the boy, who remained standing
"fom ::TU found out.
The stern notes of the father rang
In the mothers ear like doathkncll.
''You may as we'll confess"
'',I'here is no need if You have found
me OUT" replied the boy dciiantly
Perhaps you would like me to tell.
Are you proud that you and your game
hnve been detected stealing fruit from
Mr.. Deans orchard, and that unless /
settle you will be arrested? Can YOU
offer any excuse for removing the gates
from half dozen houses in town anil
making bonfire of them in my
orchard lot?'
Mrs. Chandler looked hurricdly up
at her son.
ooh, Tom, it isn't so? Soy it isn't
so, she implored.
But he was silent. Then the deacon
continued:
II shall settle to save your brothers
and sisters from disgrace, bat from
this night you are no son of mine. J
disown you"
slight pallor spread over the boys
face as he opened his lips to ryrly.
"All right, father. If You had dealt
more gently with me I might have
been n different boy now. | own that
took the apples and helped 10 burn
the 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 comfortable room contemptuously
When he finished speaking IA
mothers hand was laid on his arm md
mothers voice. pitiful in its sorrow,
said:
"Don't go, Tom. Yonr father don't
mean it. He is very angry because
you make him 30 much trouble. Ask
him to forgive you. [ am sure he will
if You will only try to be better
boy"
Never" sternly interrupted thc
deacon. "Hc is no son Of mine, ,ni
my house is no longer his home. Go.
Do you hear'"
''You need not tell me twice." re.
turned the boy. "Good-bye, mother.
I'm goIng," and before they realized
it the eldest son had passed out OF
home life forever.