The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-08-22
what Shall the Harvest Be?
Rv Ruth Argyla

by NULL AiSyio
Some little boys were playing be
hind the big barn on Mr.. Thompson's
farm. and, sad to tell. they were using
had language, also, two or three were
irving to smoke cigarettes. Now, it sc
CHANGED that Mr.. Thompson himself
was in the barn at that time, busy
over the repairs needed by some o.
the farm implements, and, shocked by
hearing such words, accompanied by
the smell of tobacco smoke, he looked
out cautiously to see who were the
bows so misconducting themselves. I'm
agine his grief at seeing his own son
Willie, with a cigarette between his
teeth! And, alas! just as his eyes fell on
him the filthy roll of paper and stale
tobacco was removed from the boys
Inns. while he used some of the very
words that had so shocked MI
Thompson. ,
Grieved beyond measure, the loving
father resolved upon teaching his SOL
a lesson which he should never forget
Early upon the following morning he
called Willie down stairs to prepare fol
q DAVIS work in the field.
1--WE will plant the corn lot, to- day
nv son. Come with me and L will
show YOU what seed to use."
To the boys surprise, Mr.. Thompson
led the way to the ash heap and began
filling his sack with the rubbish there
accumulated. When the bag was full
he gave it to his son and proceeded to
fill another for himself ; this done they
,ook up their hoes and passed on to the
oorn.field.
When the rows were all ready for the
seed, Willie said, "Shall run back tc
the house, father. and get. some corr
to plant?" ,,,.
Certainly not, my son, we have plen.
ty of seed here in these Sacks" and
forthwith he proceeded to drop bits
of trash in the ground he had carefully
prepared. Seeing, Willie strucs
dumb with amazement, ne askeu
"Why are you not planting? You
have an abundance of seed.
"But. father, you surely don't thlnk
corn will come up if you don't plant
any thing but rubbish ?'
mo, Idon't think so but you seem
to be of q different opinion, and l
thought I would try your way just
for once, to see how it would Work.'
More astonished and mystified than
ever, Willie said But, father, l never
helped you to plant before 80 l DOM
see how could have different 'opln
on or way"
NV son, I was in the barn yesterday
when you and your friends were play
ing behind it and saw you planting
the seeds of bad habits-seeds which
cannot fail of yielding a large crop one
of these days. ," :,
Willie hid his fade behind his hands
while his father talked kindly ano
earnestly concerning the harvest he
must expect to reap by-and-by.
'.Could suppose you INTENDED Sc
riously to SOW the seed off bad chal
acter? No; must infer that you
expected to gather in harvest of good
things grow from the seeds of evil you
were sowing; hence 1 am following
your example. Now, my boy, lei
this thought sink deeply into your
heart to-day; when you may reason.
ably hope to reap crop of corn OF
wheat perfected from seed taken from
that heap of rubbish yonder. then-not
till then-may you expect to reap the
harvest of q good character, an honor
ed name, from the seed you were SOW
ing yesterday-bad Language and the
use of tobacco. Ifyou wish to be 8
good man, you must be good boy,
for Whatsoever a man soweth, that
shall he also reap.''
"Indeed, I won't sow any more
rubbish seed, father; but the other boys
were all talking slang and some were
smoking"
"WelI, my son, whenever you start
out toiplant any kind of habit seed,
just stop and ask yourself: What shall
the harvest be-wheat for the Masters
garner, or tares for Satan?' You will
be safe then. Now we will 60 back
for some corn. "-Christian Observer.