Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-07-25
81sGEHEA!sN.,'|Eleps q Is \
DiSOwned.
THE DEACON'S OPPORTUNITY.

There was one sentence that Dea.
con Chandler had never omitted
from his prayers since he was con-
verted and began to pray i'm the lit
tie wooden church on the hill. 1t
was this: "Send to Thy servant, O
Lord, some great opportunity for do.
ing good"
Strange as it may seem, his pray
ers had never been answered. The
seasons rolled around with their ac-
customed regularity, and brought
increase to his flock and plenty to
his storehouses, and as yet nothing
unusual had happened. Still the
worthy man prayed on, until "Dea-
con Chandler's Opportunity" had
come to be almost a by-word with
not few of the younger members
of the congregation. And when he
arose at each meeting, and with a
bowed head uttered the familiar Pc
titiOn, his eldest son, Tom, away in
the back part Of the room was,
mimicking his father, to the intense
amusement Of few unruly boys
VINO were MS companions.
Tom Chandler was a bad boy.
There was no denying that Toms
mother was the last one to admit it,
but even she was forced to own sOr-
rowfully that "Thomas was little
wild" Deacon Chandler, in his
own family, laid down the strictest
rules, and they were fearfully fol-
lowed by all except the eldest. Tom
was incOrrigible. He chafed under
the home restraint, and his natural
wildness found vent in various petty
misdemeanors, which soon won for
him bad name in his native village.
In vain his mother besought him to
mend his ways; in vain his father
placed him under closer restraint,
and visited upon him more dire pen
alties. 1t was of no avail.
One night Deacon Chandler en-
tered his home with stern look on
his face that BODIED no good for Who
ever the culprit might be. His wife
looked up from her sewing as he en-
tered.
Where's Tom ?" he said shortly.
81 don't know" was the reply ;
WHY'S anything the matter ?"
Before he could reply the door
opened again, and the subject of
their conversation entered. He was
tall, well-built boy OF eighteen,
but his youthful face was already
marked with lines of dissipation,
and in his handsome brown eyes
there was daredevil expression
that spoke volumes to one who un-
derstOOd it.
uWell. sir?" was Deacon Chan
dler's greeting.
Well ?" came in insolent tones
from the boy, who remained stand
ing.
"You are found out"
The stern notes of the father rang
in tbe mothers ears like death
knell. -,
nYou may as well confess"
uThere is no need, if you have
found me out" replied the boy, de-
family.
tell. Are you proud that you and
vour gang have been detected
stealing fruit from Mr.. Deans or
chard. and that unless | settle you
will be arrested? Can you offer any
excuse for removing the gates from
half a dozen houses in town, ana
making a bonfire of them in my or
chard lot ?" 49,, ,u;o,u,
Mrs. Chandler looked hurriedly
up at her son. Ga, :,
nOh! Tom, it isn't so? Say IL
isn't" she implored. ~
: But he was silent. Then the Dea'
con continued ,
~ shall settle, to save your oroth,
ora and sisters from disgrace; Du,
from this night, you are no son o'
mine. disown you"
A slight pallOr Overspread tnt
hov,s face as he opened his lips t'
. reply. c Ic vou bad
dealt more gently with me, l migh,
;, howe been a different boy now.
: n~n % that took the apples and helped
: to burn the gates. But there" nt i,
h,rst ~ ont, suddenly, "what does II
8 matter? ] won't stay to disgrace
d the family any longer. I've peer l
D r"sdv , to 90 for some time;" and h'