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

fRzfSEll the little wooden
"A HfN'MII church on the hill.
&f4kYkEA0 1t was this: ''Send
~ to Thy servant, oh,
( Lord, some great
opportunity for doing good"
Strange as it may seem, his prayers
had never been answered. Ths sea-
.,ns rolled around with their accus-
toned regularity and brought increase
to his flock and plenty to his store
houses, and as yet nothing unusual ha ID
happened. Still the worthy man
prayed on until "Deacon Chandler s
opportunity" had come to be almost a
byword with not few of the younger
members of the congregation. And
when he arose at each meeting, and
with bowed head uttered ths familiar
petition, his eldest son, Tom, away IN
the back part of the room, WAS MINI
licking his father, to the intense amuse-
ment of few unruly boys who were
his compsnions.
Tom Chandler was bad boy. There
was no denying that. Toms mother
was the last one to admit it, but even
she was forced to own sorrowfully that
"Thomas was little wild" Deacon
Chandler in his own family laid down
the strictest rules, and they were fear
fully followed by all except the eldest.
Tom was incorrigible. He chsfed I'M
der the home restraint, and his natu-
raj wildness found vent in various
petty misdemcanors, which soon won
for him bad name in his native viii
lage. In vain his mother besought
him to mend his ways; in vain his
father placed him under closer re-
strsint and visited upon him more dir,
penalties. It was no avail.
One night Deacon Chandler entered
his home with a stern look on his face
that boded no good for whoever the
culprit might be. His wife looked up
from her sewing as he entered.
"Where's Tom?" he said shortly.
81 don't know" was the reply.
"Why-is anything the matter?"
Before he could reply the 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 marked with
the lines of dissipation and in his
handsome brown eyes there was dare.
devil expression that spoke volumes tc
one who understood it.
"Well, sir?" was Deacon Chandler s
greeting.
"Well?" came in insolent tones from
the boy, who remained standing.
"You are found out"
The stern notes of the father rang
In the mothers ear like deathknelL
"You may Us well confess"
"There is no need if you have found
me out" replied the boy defiantIy.
"Perhaps you would like me to tell
Are you proud that you and your gang
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 a dozen houses in town and
making a bonfire of them in my
orchard lot?"
Mrs. Chandler looked hurriedly up
at her son.
'Oh, Tom, it isn't so? Say it isn't
So" she implored.
But he was silent. Then the deacon
continued:
'1 shall settle to save your brothers
and sisters from disgrace, but from
this night you are no son of mine.
disown you"
A slight palIor spread over the boy'i
face as he opened his lips to rerly.
"All right, father. If You had deal,
more gently with me I might have
been different boy now. I own that
I took the apples and helped to burn
the gates. But there" he burst out
suddenly, "what does it matter?
won't stay to disgrace the family any
longer, I've been ready to go fol
some time" And he glanced around
the comfortable room contemptuously
When he finished speaking {
mothers hand was laid on his arm ant
. mothers voice. p1tifuI in its sorrow
said:
Don't go, Tom. Your father dom,
mean it. He is very angry because
you make him SO much trouble. Ash
Jim to forgive you. I am sure he will
If you will only try to be . bette
BOY"
"Neverl" stern1y interrupted the
deacon. ''He is no son of mine, and
my house is no longer his home. Go
Do you hear?"
"You need not tell mo twice." re
urned the boy. Goodbye, mother
I'm going" and before they realized
it the eldest son had passed out o
home life forever.
After that life went on about a
usual at the Chandler farm. Tn
deacon still offered his accustomed
prayer, Only there was no Tom te
make fun of him, for since tina
night Tom Chandler had not beel
seen. Deacon Chandler was still wait
ing for his opportunity and still won
dering, too, how q chance SO earnestl,
desired was 80 long withheld. Other
nll about him were doing great thing
toward building mp the kingdom, yet
search and wait as he would, nothing
ever came in his way.
So the time went on for eight or te,
years, until one day Deacon Chandle
awoke suddenly to the fact that hi
wife was slowly dying. His love 70
bss Nife WAs o0A Of thN thinkAL thA8 q,