Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-15

or chicago. fear he Is NOT doing
right. You may be able to save him.
He has written me that he has attend
ed your church. VIII you pray for
him. The far country of sin Is some
times found among tho evils Of politi-
cal life, in the legislative halls Of the
state and the national capital. Some
times sin Is intrenched in pulpit OF
the land where a minister has become
an apostatc and. Judaslike, has sold
his Christ for thirty pieces of silver.
Wherever the far country Of sin may
be there 1t is the place where the
nobler and purer and better parts Of
mans life are being strangled.
Once a smiling vessel was sighted
floating among the icebergs of the arc
tics. The captain Of the approaching
vessel put the trumpet to his lips and
shouted: "Ship ahoy! Whittier bound ?
whittier bound?' No answer. Again
the trumpet called, but the only sound
heard by the captain was the echo Of
his own voice. A small boat was low
cred. When the derelict was boarded,
1t was found to be the ship Of death.
That floating ship carried a dead crew.
The 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 its crew unable to raise a
hand. utter q sound or furl sail.
The far country is the land Of sin.
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
lance away from the frcside of Chris
tan 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. ! want to 20
with evil companions and not associate
with you. even though you are my ia
Their" The Christian home ought to be
the happiest place on earth to a child
1t is 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 boy or
a girl does not wish to stay at home at
night with the rest of the family or
finds other eompanionship more desira-
Bile than that of mother or father, lool;
out-beware.
"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 q
few bills. | will be home early, moth
er. Do not be anxious or sit up for mt
if I am detained" The young man
passed down the street. He sounded q
low whistle. 4 couple OF other young
men met him at the corner. Boys" he
said. mother is becoming suspicious
She did not want NE to leave home.
must be more careful. Come, let's have
some fun" That night in place OF
evil resort this group of young men
eambed and smoked and sang theil
lcwd songs. 1t was great sport, They
did not cease their carousal until the
morning sun announced to the night
Waterman that his work was done and
it was time for him to go to bed.
a few years later in an eastern city
in noted murder case the jury brought
in the verdict of murder in the first de
gree. When the judge asked the de
PENDANT why sentence should not be
passed upon Him, q 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" sale
he, Il am not afraid to die. If l com
mitted murder in that drunken row 6
few months ago ] should be put tC
death. But, sir. before sentence il
passed upon ne | should like TO speal
word to the young men crowding this
courtroom. | would like to tell then
that | started on the road which will
lead me to the Gallows when / used Il
leave my home at night to 80 out witt
evil companions, When ! went on
thus, | always directly or indirectly
had to deceive my mother" The IA
country of sin may seem to be only ;
step to the corner saloon. 1t is as IA
away as if it was ten thousand million
miles away from the fireside Of a Chris
tan home.
Mistaken Parental Kindness.
The far country of sin generally hal
broader and smoother highway 70
the younger members of the famll.
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 youn!
can have satanic guide lead then
into the valley of death if they ar
willing to be led, but it is especial,
easy for the younger members Of
family to Zine themselves over tn
precipicc Of eternal death, When tn
older children were young, i'll all prob
ability the father Was having har,
, work to make financial ends meet. III
had to work day and night and nigh