Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-07-27
WHEN THE LONG LANE TURNED
Man Relates Boyhood Experience in Learning to Measure Life and
 Conduct by Gods Standard.

Almost forty years ago. when I, was lad of fourteen, crotchety Olds farmer named Josiah Stebbins ordered me and two other boys out of his, woods, where we were gathering chest nuts," said a gentleman recently, ill reminiscent conversation with friend. "Of course, MT. Stebbins was within his rights, but there were bush- els of nuts that he could never use, and his rough, abusive language an- gered us.
 "sWe'll get even with you for this,' Lyman Crosier shouted back defiantly, and he added in a lower tone: It's a long lane that don't turn somewhere.'
 "On the way home we discussed ways and means of getting even with Josiah Stebbins, but none of our boy ish projects were practicable. The other boys soon forgot the whole mat ter, but as for me, the adage about the long lane' was scarcely out of my mind for a day, and I repeated it to myself every time saw Mir. Stebbins. It did not occur to me that was nurs- ing revengeful spirit; on the con- trary, felt rather proud of standing up for my own rights.
 "One October afternoon the next year, as was crossing a corner of Ira Judson's pasture, l saw. eleven lambs jump over a low place in the fence into Mir. Stebbins' field. Something had started them, for they raced full speed the length of the back meadows and disappeared over the crest of a rocky ridge beyond.
 "When reached the top of the ridge the lambs were nowhere in sight. There was small, unused hay barn in the next field, and I found the frightened animals huddled. the sag ging door closed behind them. Plainly the lambs had jostled against the door when they crowded in. setting it aswing, and the high wind had done the rest. To my mind, the accident was full of possibilities. The heavy door was not likely to be pushed open. and when the animals were missed 1t would be easy to direct the search in i the right direction. Then I should find the turning of the long lane.
 "I decided to take Lyman Grosier into my confidence and actually set off | for the Crosier farmhouse but half way there halted. Could I state the 1 circumstances in way to reflect cred | itably on the part l was playing? I : did not intend to disclose all the facts, but only to tell Lyman that had found the lambs shut up in Josiah Stebbins' hay barn. I had always hated lying and deceit, and it shocked me to realize how near had come i to telling my friend falsehood. No, I would keep my secres.
 "Could I? stopped short as if a real questioner blocked my path, de manding an instant answer. Some times think he did. God knew all the details that I had hesitated to relate to schoolmate, and what must he think of me? Was the thought of petty revenge had cherished any more pleasing to him than the open deceit I had refrained from practic- ing? And could carry my project through without acting lie?
 "T opened the door of the hay barn and let the lambs out before return ed home. and told Ira Judson that they were in MT. Stebbin's field. Nc one else knew of the matter. That wat the turning point cf my whole life for out there in the silence of the au tumn fields I learned to measure life and conduct by Gods standard."-- Youths Companion.
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