Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-02-27

Il p8t0 anu t010 cn0 010 OcCOu1o no bpOko
to her at once in An unusually anxious
way.
'Is there anything I can do for you.
Wife2" he asked.
'sNo-I don't know as there ia"
ISIS there anything you want?"
Her eyes filed with tears.
''Shall I tell you? she whispered.
''Yes-do."
Sadly and firmly she told him then
ihe whole pitiful story.
II want my boy. I want Tom Il
,ome back to me. He was my Arst1
born, and I cannot forget how I loved
him when he was baby in my arms.
Yes, and when he grew to be Q boy ]
loved him still, and my love could have
saved him. But you-yon were SO
hard and cold with him. Conscious
of your own virtue, you could not
pity his infrmity and bear with him,
as I would have done. No, hear me
OUT" as he would have spoken. "You
have always prayed-prsyed to the
Lord for some opportunity to do some
great good, and when it was here, in
your own son, you neglected it. You
might have been more gentle; you
might have led him out of his evil ways,
but you would not, and all these years
my heart has been aching for a sight
Of my sonny eldest born.
The words came sharp and fast now
and ended in o smothered sob.
The deacon was surprised. Never
before had his wife questioned his wis
dom or censured him for what he did.
But the mother love SO strong in her
had wened up and filed her heart to
overhowing, and she must be heard.
Her words had their effect, too, for
Deacon Chandler saw, as he had never
seen before this, his mistake and the
hypocrisy of the fervent prayer he had
30 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 willfully. He was n
man Of few words, and those he spoke
now carried healing balm to the heart
Of the woman who had SO loved he
wayward boy.
81 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.
81 will find our boy and bring him
aome," he said.
how he has fallen you will bring him
home to his mother?"
81 will" And she was satisfied.
To those who wish to learn all things
.re plain, and Deacon Chandler traced
his son, by constant effort, to a small
Western city. Of the fact that he was
there he became convinced, but could
learn nothing more. A week found
him standing in a railway station OF
the city of c., inquiring of the by
standers if they knew Thomas Chan.
der.
'Know Thomas Chandler? Waai,
reckon do" drawled one loafer whc
was warming himself in the sun.
"Can you tell me where I can find
aim?" asked the deacon.
"Waal, kinder reckon about thin
sime er day he's ter be found over tc
che Senter House"
Having learned where the Sente.
House was, Deacon Chandler 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 weary 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 SOD
It any cost.
His naeditations were cut short by
che gilded sign directly in front of
his eyes and he saw in large letters SEN
ter House. He was almost ashamed to
ask this gentlemenly fellow about his
erring son, but he did.
az am a stranger here, SIR" he be
gan. Scan you tell me where caI
find Thomas Chandler"
"Yes, SIR" answered the brisk clerh.
Then he turned to a boy who stood
iear and said, go and find Mr.
! Chandler"
The boy sped away on his errand
and Deacon Chandler waited. Then
/ no heard steps, a 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 a we'll
dressed and prosperous-looking man,
holding out his hand to him and bid
ding him welcome. And it was Tom
/ VIo< %ba f,,nrv mont 0f IL
| "Come. father" and he lead the old
nan away to private parIor ana
,Iosed the door. ''Dont you know
ne, father? I would know you any.
where"
"Yes---but it's SO strange" gaspej
| he old man.
Tom laughed good natur edly.
"Oh, you mean that am not W hat
you expected to find? Well, hardly,
Judging from early indications; but,
iather-I must say it"-and the mans
eyes grew moist-''all that I am ]
awe to mother"
''God bless her, Tom," heartily re
ponded his father. Then after pause,
"Can you forgive me, my son, for my
aarshness?"
| 1uefe ID no moro 1Or me 10 1of-
| i've than you," returned his son. 81
nave lived all these years to learn, and
[ think I may safely say now that am
! IN honest man. This house is mine
Ind, God willing, I mean in the future
to be An honor and not q disgrace to
the old home"
| So. after all, Deacon Chandler's
| opportunity was q wasted one, for now
there was no need of any effort on his
part in his sons case. The opportun-
ity had come to him in his sons youth
MD he had neglected it.
As it happened, everything had
turned out right, but the chances for
that had been so few and for another
and more painful one SO many that he
| nonld only AhanL God that ha had