Evening journal., 1916-02-14

cred in the home to pay their respects
to the memory OF the departed life.
The minister is about to rise at the
head OF the coffin to begin the SER
vice, when it is noted that the only
son is absent. One OF his business
friends quietly steps out side door
and goes 10 seek him. He finds him
down at his place Of business. sitting
at his desk, busily engaged upon H.
nancial affairs. He says to him, "Aly
friend. have you not forgotten some
thing today?" "What?" replied the
man. why do you not remember
that this is the afternoon OF your
mothers funeral?' "Oh, yes, | know
it," he replied. but this is one Of my
busy days. Il is so near the end of
the month, and / have many things 70
attend TO- There are some accounts
/ must see about collecting, some bills
will have to pay, and also ] expect
some men in on this next train with
whom ] am arranging a business deal
by which ! hope to clear several hun
dred dollars" The other man stands
there amazed He says, Was not
your mother a good mother?" "Oh.
yes; never did a man have a better
mother than ! had. She was always
so patient and unselhsh and loving
and kind During my childhood | was
not strong and my mother watched
over me day and night And ! want
TO tell you that the sickness which
resulted in her death. the doctors say
was largely due to her watching over
me during my long illness. She would
not entrust me to the care OF nurses.
She wanted TO be at my bedside con-
stantly She literally gave her life
for mine" Now the man with his
intensity almost at white heat eN-
claims, why, man, are you not go
/ ing to attend your mothers funeral
Are you not going to honor her men,
ory2" "Oh. | think ] will some time,
when feel just like IT, am too
busy new; / am not ready yet" Sup
posing a business man of your city
would treat in such a manner the
loving memory Of his mother. How
long would he do business in your
midst?
And yet there is One who loves you
with love infinitely stronger than
that of any earthly friend, Jesus
Christ the Son. Of God, who suffered
all manner of shame and reproach and
agony for you. What return are you
going to make for His love? Youl
condemnation is not for having done
wrong II is for rejecting Gods grea
gift. How shall you escape If yot
neglect so great salvation?
Is il not true in your own exper
ience that your greatest sorrows al
ready have been caused not by antag
onism, but by indifference and ne
glect2 It is with humiliation aud grie
that / speak of an incident from m.
own memory. Il was when | was
youth at home, thoughtless and care
less, as boys often are. II was on
Sunday evening, after supper, I wa
sitting reading a book when my sis
ter came down stairs from her room
and said Milford, will you go wit
me to church tonight?" Without look
= ing up from my reading, | answered
81 do not care to so to church"
had no interest then in religion
There was silence for a moment, anC
when ] looked up, she was standin
in the doorway, and I can see he
yet those large eyes filled with tear
as she said. 81 have asked you to &
Q with me several times lately. and 70
have refused. I will never ask yo
a to 90 anywhere with me again as Ion
r as | live And God knows that des
3, girl did not ASK me TO go with he
! anywhere again as long as she live
u 1t was only a few days after tha
r when she was stricken down with t,
phoid fever, and, on that New Year
p eve, as her twin sister and / knelt b