The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-03-18

that makes me glad TO be an American.
In North Carolina, one OF the poorer
States-poor financially, but rich IN
men-there was farmer who had
bright boy. He had poor farm out
he said, MY boy is going to get
just as good an opportunity as a
millionaire's SOM" and that poor
farmer worked and scraped until ne
was able to send that boy to the state
university. The boy did well. and
his letters home delighted his fathers
and mothers hearts, and they felt
we'll paid for all their sacrifice. But
after awhile the fathers heart grew
lonely, and he said to his wife, MO
Their, l cannot stand II any longer;
Just must see the boy" II was
long way from the farm to the uni
versity, and he loaded his wagon and
started on his long drive. and as he
drew near to the town he said TO
himself: well, won't the boy be
surprised, He don't know I'm coming.
Won't he be delighted to see his old
father?" He whipped up the old team
and hurried on, and entered the town.
He was driving up the hill to the
college, and as he went. whom should
he see coming down but his boy with
some gay college companions. The
old man was driving slowly, for II
was up hill, but when he saw the boy
he jumped out and rushed up to him
and said. "Oh, my boy, my SOM" The
son was ashamed of his poor old faith
er. and he Strengthened himself up
and said, There must be some mis-
take. sir; you are not my father ]
don't know you" am told don't
know II to be positively true-but ]
am told that father turned round
with a broken heart and went home
to die. can well believe II. IL
would break my heart for my boy TO
treat me that way t-3 pa
Men and women, what do YOU say
to a boy like thatl say he ought TO
be horsewhipped say he was an
infamous migrate But want TO say
that he was not so UNANIMOUSLY ungrat-
full as you men and woman In this
hall tonight, who know that Jesus
Christ poured out His life unto death
on the cross OF Calvary. and who are
so mean and contemplate and coward
ly that you won't stand up and confess
Him.
| will not stop with that story
IL Is too dark. | am going TO tell
you another story-and thank God
IL is true-of our home land. A poor
woman in one Of our towns. who had
to work for her living. for she was a
widow-she took In washing. | think
had a boy. and he was a bright boy
and proved a bright man. | think
some OF you have heard him. She
sent her boy to school. lie went
through the schools. did well. came
out at the very top of his class, and
was valedictorian OF his class. the
highest position, and took a gold med
al for special excellence in study. The
day he was to graduate he said TO
his mother: You know. / graduate
to-day. mother" She said. Yes.
know" well. get ready" he said,
1T is time to get off to the church"
where the graduating exercises were
to be held. "oh. my boy. cannot 20
up there" she said; Il haven't any
thing tit to wear. Why, all the finest
people in the town viii be there.
You would be ashamed OF me II
went" Ashamed OF you mother2"
he said; never! / owe all have
in the world to you. What is more, /
cannot graduate unless you do go:
and WON'T" And he helped his
mother to get ready, and pinned the
old faded shawl round her, and made
ii look as good as possible. and put
on her plain old bonnet, and took her
or his arm, and walked down the
main street with the plain old mother
on his arm to the church. When they
got there he took her up the centre
aisle. and sat her among the finest
people in town. When the time came,
he went up to deliver his valedictory
address and to receive the gold med
al amid the applause of his COM
panions; and when he had received
1t he walked straight down to where
his mother sat, and pinned It on her
old faded shawl, and said, Mother,
that belongs to you; you earned IT,"
That IS a boy worth having. Now
ladies and gentlemen / want to ask
a question: Do you mean tonight TO
be like that rascally, scoundrelly in
CRATE. that was ashamed OF his old
father and broke his heart, and be
ashamed OF that glorious Christ that
died for you or will you be like the
other boy. and. knowing that you owe
everything to Jesus Christ, stand up
and cOnfpss Him Tonight and min all