The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-07-29

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Chandler awakened suddenly to the
fact that his wife was slowly dying
His love for his wife was one OF the
things that no one doubted, and
when he noticed how pale and thin
she had become he spoke to her al
once in an anxious way
Is there anything | can do for
you, wife? he asked.
No-I don't know as there is.
Is there anything you want?
Her eyes filled with tears
Shall l tell your she whispered.
Yes-do.
Sadly and firmly she told him
then the whole pitiful story.
want my boy. | want Tom to
come back to me. He was my first
born, and | cannot forget how
loved him when he was a baby i'll
my arms. Yes when he grew to be
boy loved him still, and my love
could have saved him. But you
you were so hard and cold with him.
Conscious of your own virtue, you
could not pity his infirmity and bear
with him, as would have done.
No, hear me out, as he would have
spoken. You have always prayed
prayed to the Lord for some oppor-
tunity to do some great good, and
when 1t was here, in your son, you
neglected it. You might have been
more gentle; you might have led
him out of his evil ways, but you
would not, an& all these years my
heart has been aching for sight OF
my SONNY eldest born.
The words came sharp and fast
now and ending in a smothered sob.
The deacon was surprised. Never
before had his wife questioned his
wisdom or censured him ior what he
did. But the mother love so strong
in her had welled up and filled her
heart to overhowing and she must
be heard Her worls had their
effect, tco, for Deacon Chandler saw,
as he had neve seen before this, his
mistake and the hypocrisy of the
tervent prayer he had SO often
breathed out to his Heavenly Father
when he was an unmerciful-nay,
even cruel parent. How he had
prayed for an opportunity of doing
good and when it came let it pass
nay, threw it away willtully. He was
a man OF few words, and those he
spoke now carried healing balm to
the heart of the woman who had so
loved her wayward boy.
| have been wrong, wife. Can
you forgive me?
Oh, freely! she answered him.
He read in her wistful eyes the un-
spoken wish and answered it.
| will find our boy and bring him
home, he said.
And now matter how sinful he is
or how he has fallen you will bring
him home to his mother?
l will. And she was satisfied.
To those who wish to learn, all
things are plain, and Deacon Chand
Ter traced his son, by constant effort,
to small western city. OF the fact
that he was there he became con-
yinced, 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 Thomi5 Chandler.
Know Thomas Chandler7 Waal,
reckon do, drawled one loafer
who was warming himself in the sun.
Can you tell me where l 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 Senter
House was Deacon Chanler walked
slowly up the main street of the well
kept western city. How should he
find Tom? He inferred, 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 years ago. But
it did not matter. He had promised
the mother-and then was not here
his opportunity? He would see that
he grasped it now and would save
his son at any cost.
His meditations were cut short by
the gilded sign directly in front of
his eyes, and he saw in large letters
Senter House. He entered and
made his way up to the clerk. He
was almost ashamed to ask this gen
tlemanly fellow about his erring son,
but he did
| am a stranger here, sir, he
began. Can you tell me where |
can find Thomas Chandler?
Yes, sir, answered the brisk clerk.
Then he turned to a boy who
stood near and said, go and find
Mr.. Chandler.
The boy sped away on his errand,
and Deacon Chandler waited. Then
he heard steps, mans surprised
voice called Father, and he looked
up and saw his son. But where was
the sinful, dissipated man he had
thought to see? Here was well
dressed and prosperous looking
man, holding out his hand to him
and bidding him welcome. And it
was Tom. That was the funny part
OF it.
Come, father, and he led the old
man AWAY 10 a nriYate narlnr and