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

Y
%,U/HV was converted anil
,f'sNX,ySStI; |, began t" pray III
4tSy1fssSS2lJs. IN, the 1tti" wood ~
'F.LfTf Sit.Ghfkl church ON tia hill
tLslSktaTlA Vt SthiS: "<rnI
SsSSI.ssr assssSfS.. to Thy servant. on
Lord, some .rrlt
opportunity for doing good"
Strange as 1t may seem, his PRAYERS
had never been answered. Th" s,,.
sons rolled nrounl with their n..,..
i"med regularity aud brought in .",!s.
/" his flock and plenty to h,s :: ,r...
houses, and ns yet nothing unlsua. ha
happened. Still tn" worthy mnr
prayed on until "Dcacon CAln Her,,
opportunity" had come to be almos; u
byword with not II few of tn" vOun,nr
members of the congregation. And
when h" arose at each mcctinr, and
with bowed head uttered the funilinr
petition, his eldest son. Tom, away in
the back part of the room, was MIN
licking his father, to the intcns, amusc-
mcnt OF few unruly boys who were
his companions.
ON Chandler was Il bad bov. There
was no denying that. Toms mother
was the last one to admit it, hu, even
she was forced to own sorrowGnlly tina.
.'Thomas was little Wild" Dcncou
Chandler IL his own family laid down
the strictest rules, and they were fear
fully followed by all except the eldest,
Tom was incorrigible. He chafed nm
der the home restraint, and his natu-
raj wlldness found vent in various
petty misdemcanors, which soon won
Tor him bad name in his native viii
iage. In vain his mother bcsought
hlm to mend his ways; in vain his
father placed him under closer re-
straint and visited upon him more dire
penalties. 1t was no avail.
One night Deacon Chandler entered
his home with stern look on his face
that BODIED no good for whoever the
.culprit might be. His wife looked up
Nom her sewing as he entered.
"Wherc's Tom 2" he said shortly.
81 don't know" was In, reply.
'Why-is anything the matt"r?"
Before he could reply III" door
opened again and the subject Of their
conversation came in. He was tall,
well-built boy of eighteen, but his
youthful face was already maricl with
the lines of dissipation and in hs
handsome brown eyes there wGS dare.
devil expression that spoke yr;umcs TO
one who understood it,
''Well, sir?" was Deacon ChpGllar's
greeting.
"Well?" came in insolent tones fror.
the boy, who remained standing.
You are found out.
hn
In the mothers ear like dcathkncll.
'You may as we'll confess"
There is no need if you have found
me out replied the boy dciiantlv.
Perhaps you would like me 10 tell.
Are you proud that you ana your Ganc
have 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 nnl
making n bonfire of them in my
orchard lot?"
Mrs Chandler looked hurrielly uu
at her son.
"Oh, Tom, it isn't SO? Soy it isn I
so, she implored.
But he was silent Then the deacon
continued:
81 shall settle to save your brothers
and sisters from disgrace, but from
this night you are no son of nine. J
disown you"
A slight paIIor spread over the boys
face as he opened his lips to ryrly.
"All right, father. If you had dealt
more gently with me | might have
been n different boy now. | own that
j took the apples and helped to burn
the gates. But there, he burst out
suddenly, "what does it ma;trr? /
won't stay to disgrace the family any
longer, Pvc been ready to go for
some time. And he glnncci around
the comfortable room contemptuousIy
When he finished speaking
mothers hand was Ibid on his arm and
a 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 so 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, IN
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.