The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-02-27

she says, 1T is your father: he Is a
maniac. He Will kill us.'
They go in and shut the doors and
bolt them, and they stand trembling.
and they hear him coming up the
steps, and he raps-no sound--raps
again.
"oh. Mary. Mary. don't be afraid to
let me in. Open the door. I will be
a loving husband to you and q kind
father to the children. / have seen
Jesus Christ and he has set me free.
6 * M &. .atxS ST, af A rs sae tsEss
She Slips to the door, 1t sainGs on
It's hinges: they rush into each others
arms~-a picture of many home to-
night if you would only do the same
thing with Jesus Christ and take him
home as companion. You are lost
to heaven without IL.
Zaccheus gained everything. and
II you are lost It will be because you
stumbled over the love of God into
hell.
During the Civil War Abraham Lin
coin issued an order that no soldier
should be privileged to return home
for certain period, for they needed
every man on the firing line.
While that order Was still in forca,
man campaigning in Virginia
that his wife was sick and for him
to hurry home. They did grant him
permission to go TO Washington to
the president, and up TO the presi-
dents room, and he asked to see him.
The guard said, mo orc can see
him now. Ny orders are not to dis
turb him"
He cried and begged and the SEN
tinel said. Il feel sorry, sir, but you
can't get in
The soldier walked down the steps
and toward the treasury building. and
child at play heard him sob. and he
ran up to him and said. Mr.. Soldier.
what Is the matter?''
And he made no reply. And then
the ca id ran after him and grabbed
him by the hand and said, Please.
sig, what Is the matter?"
And you know. as Joseph Parker
said, There Is 4 time in every mans
life when the touch of child's hand
seems to give courage
Erskin, when heufas n Young bar
rister, had no clients. and his wife
and children we're hungry. He got
triflinr case. and he pleaded II so eio-
quertly that the Judge came Off the
bench, walked down and shook hands
with him and said to hiV, How
could you ever do it?"
He said, Your honor, ] saw the
hungry faces of my wife and children
in front of me, and they were pulling
at my coat for bread, and 1t nerved
me-"
So the little boy took the soldier
by the hand and said, MIR. Soldier.
what is the matter? 2"
And the nthe soldier told him, and
the child said, Come on, don't ycu
cry. l will take you in to see the
president"
He smiled through his tears and
said, WHY, / am "A man and 81 soldier
and you are only a little boy. You
can't get in"
oh" said Tod, 'the president Is
my father. and will take you in
He took him by the hand and
walked back. Their passed the sentl-
rel back and forth. Tod was not dts
couraged, and he stood and waited
until the door opened and he caught
sight of that f4cc that every true
American loves, and he said, Father.
tell the soldier to let me come"
Abraham Lincoln forgot that he
was president, forgot the burden OF
the war was on his shoulders, and
he remembered that he was the father
of that little boy. and he said, Sol
dior. let him in"
The sentinel stood back and saiuted
Tod and his friend. and they walked
IN. Lincoln looked and said. Well
my dear fellow. what brings you
here and what is the cause OF your
sorrow"
And then the soldier told him, ard
dent Lincoln arose and walked
across to the window and framed hi;
face In the glass. He looked across
the Potomac river over into Arlington,
and the tears trickled down his checks
and he sobbed. He turned and
walked hack. There passed the senti-
Up his pen and dipping ii in the ink,
he signed the order that sent that
soldier hack to Ohio. to the bedside
Of hts dying wife.
On, that story is without flaw.
Here We are. wandering because OF
our sins, burdened and overwhelmed
with them. and we ara trying to get
in. Our sins stand there and the
door Is barred. y cant get Gods
ear. j can't get his pardon"
Hold on He sa-s. Put your hand
in mine. Let me lead you into thu