Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-04-17
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do you take me to be?' He said, "Yor are
my BROTHER" mo- am not lam brute
Have you seen Anything OF my wife and chill
dren2 Are they dead2 drove them out last
night in the storm. an brute. John, do
you think there is any help for me? Do you
think will ever get over this life OF ilssipa-
tion?" He said. "John, there is one thing
that will stop this" The prodigal ran his
finger across his throat aud saidi THAT Will
stop it, aud will stop It before night. GA,
my brain! can stand 1t no longer" That
prodleal never got home. But will toll you
Of a prodigdl that did get hon1e. In Eng
land two young men Started from their
fathers house and went down to Portsmouth
i have been there--a beautiful seaport.
Some OF YOU have been there. The father
could not pursue his children-for some rea-
son he could not leave home-and so he
wrote letter down TO Mr.. Griffin, saying:
"Mr. Griffin, l wish you would 90 aud
ace nv two Sons. They have arrived
in Portsmouth. and they are going to
take ship AMI going away from homo.
I wish you would persuade them back.
Mr.. Griffin went and tried to persuade
them back. He persuaded one to go. He
went with very easy persuasion, because ne
was very homesick already. Tho other
young man said II will not go. have had
enough Of home. I'll never 80 home"
"Weli," said Mr.. Griffin, "then if you won't
90 home I'll got you respectable position
on a respectable ship" "No. you won't"
said the prodigal. "No, you won't. [ am
going as a private sailor, as common
sailor; that will plague my father most, and
what will do most to tantalize and worry
him will please me best" Years passed on,
and Mr.. Griffin was seated in his study one
day when messenger came to him, saying
here was young man In irons on ship at
The dock-~a young man condemned to death
who wished to see this clergyman. Mr..
Griffin went down to the dock and went on
shipboard. The young man said to him,
"You don't know me; do youW "No. ne
said, ~ don't know you" "Why, don't
you remember that young man you tried to
persuade to 90 home and he wouldn't COY"
"Oh, yes" said Mr.. Griffin. "Are you that
mann" "Yes, am that man, said the other.
II would like to have you pray for me-.
have committed murder, and l must die.
But don't want to go out Of the world I'M
xii some ona prays for me. You are my
fathers friend, and I woul like to have you
pray for me-"
MIR. Griffin vent from judicial authority to
judicial authority to get that young mans
pardon. He slept not night nor day. He
went from influential person to influential
person Until in some way he got that young
mans pardon. He came down on the dock,
and as he arrived on the dock with the
pardon the father came. He had heard that
his son; under disguised name, had been
committing crime and was going to be put
to death: SO Mr.. Griffin and thefather went
On ships deck. and ut the very moment MIR.
Griffin offered the pardon to the young man
the old father threw his arms around the
sons neck, AMI the son said: "Father, L
have done very wrong, and am very sorry.
/ wish I had never broken your heart. l
am ve.y sorryr ''Ob," said the father,
'don't mention it, It won't make any differ
ence now. It's all oyer. l forgive you, my
son." And he kissed him and kissed him
and kissed him. To-day 1 offer you the par
don Of the gospel-fu pardon, free pardon.
l do not care what your crime has been.
Though yOusa you have committed crime
against God, against your own soul, against
your fellow man, against your family,
against the day of judgment. against the
cross of Christ-wna,eye- your crime mas
been, here is pardon, full pardon, ana the
verv moment YOU take that pardon your
Heavenly Father throws his arms round
about YOU and says my son, forgive you.
It is ali right. You are as much in NY favor
now as If you hal never slnned." On, there
is ioy on earth and JOY in heaven. VINO Will
take the Fathers em6raceH