Connecticut western news., 1902-05-15

tue trumpet calleO, Dul tue Onlp SOunu heard by the captain was the echo of his own voice. A small boat was low cred. When the derelct was boarded, it was found to be the ship of death. That floating ship carried a dead crew. Tie wheelman had been frozen dead in the pilothouSe, the captain frozen to death in his cabin, the sailors frozen to death in their hunks. The derelict had been drifting around for thirteen long years, with it's crew unable to raise q hand, utter a sound or furl a sail.
 The far country is the land of sin, l where the inhabitants are dead to God. They are dead in their desire to make out of themselves what Christ would
 have made them. They are dead to spiritual love. They are so dead that | they will not hear the Divine Fathers | voice calling them back to the heavenly homestead.
 A Word to Young Men.
 Though the far country of sin may be anywhere, yet it is always great dis tance away from the fireside of Chris tian home. AS soon as the younger son determined to revel in sin he wanted to get away from the presence of his aged Christian father. He practically said: Father, give me the share of money which will come to me when you are dead, and will leave home and live in- dependently. do not want to see your loving eye and feel the kiss of holy af- lection upon my lips. I want to go with evil companions and not associate | with you, even though you are my fla | ther" The Christian home ought to be
 the happiest place on earth to child. It is a happy place if the child wishes and tries to do right. But the Christian home is repulsive place to live when the boy wants to do those things which should be left undone. When a boy or
 a girl does not wish to stay at home at
 night with the rest of the family or finds other companionship more desira- ble than that of mother or father, look out-bewarei ..a
 Where are you going, Charlie" said a mother to her son, who was putting
 on his coat and hat, preparing to leave
 the house. "Oh," answered the young man, "the firm wants me to collect a few bills. I will be home early, moth
 CT. Do not be anxious or sit up for me if am detained" The young man passed down the street. He sounded a low whistle. A couple of other young men met him at the corner. Boys" he said, mother is becoming suspicious. She did not want me to leave home. l
 must be more careful. Come, let's have
 some fun" That night in place of evil resort this group of young men gambled and smoked and sang their lewd songs. It was great sport! They did not cease their carousal until the morning sun announced to the night watchman that his work was done and it was time for him to go to bed.
 A few years later in an eastern city in a noted murder case the jury brought in the verdict of murder in the first de
 gree When the judge asked the de- fendant why sentence should not be passed upon him, young man arose. He turned a pale face toward the
 judge. As he began to speak we see he
 was the same young man of whom
 have just spoken "Your honor," said he, q am not afraid to die. If I con- mitted murder in that drunken row
 few months ago, I should be put to
 death. But, sir, before sentence is passed upon me I should like to speak word to the young men crowding this
 courtroom. I would like to tell them
 that started on the road which will lead me to the gallows when I used to leave my home at night to go out with
 evil companions. When I went out thus, I always directly or indirectly
 had to deceive my mother" The far country of sin may seem to be only a step to the corner saloon. It is as far away as if it was ten thousand million
 miles away from the fireside of Chris
 tian home.
 Mistaken Parental Kindness. The far country of sin generally has
 broader and smoother highway for the younger members of the family
 than for the older sons and daughters.
 Easy is it for every one to go to de- Struction unless sustained by the grace of God. The old as well as the young can have a satanic guide lead them
 into the valley of death if they are
 
 easy for the younger members of a
 family to fling themselves over the | precipice of eternal death. When the | older children were young, in all prob ability the father was having hard work to make financial ends meet. He had to work day and night and night | fld day. He economized wherever | possible. But after awhile the father | got foothold in a business or a pro- | fessional career. Then the money com. l menced to flow into the family treas
 ury. Then servants were able to be ] hired to do the work of the mother
 and sisters. Then the younger son was
 able to have his spending money and | drive a horse and go with the young
 scions of the wealthier families. Then 1 1t was easy for him to buy a through | ticket and go by the fast express to | the far country of sin.
 Mir. Moody well said: This father of
 the parable ought to be censured. We
 cannot help but blame him. When
 the son said, Father, divide and give | me my portion,' the father should have
 said: You show a bad spirit. I will
 make you go without your share That
 father could not have done a greater
 unkindness to the boy than to give
 him his goods and money and let him
 go. A true father would have said to
 such eontemptible filial spirit, 'Go
 and earn your own portion by the
 sweat of your own brow.'"
 | Parents, your very, kindnesses and
 self sacrifices may be the cause of
 your younger children's destruction
 You have no right to give your young
 CT son plenty of money and liberty to
 do wrong. It is your business to
 know how your children spend theil
 money. It is your duty to know where
 your younger son passes his nights.
 A Home1y Illustration.
 The far country Is the place where