It gets dark early now, so you had better take the lantern,” said Charley’s mother, as the boy was starting for an afternoon at his cousin’s farm.
“O, I don’t need it. I am not afraid of the dark. The lantern is just a bother,” and Charley ran down the path and on across the fields.
The boys had a good time together, and it was growing dark when Charley said he must go home; A lantern was offered to him, but he was too proud to accept it, because of his boast to his mother. He said,
“O, I could find my way blindfolded!”
For as little way he could see the path; then he came to a fence and thought he would climb over the old stile for the shortest way home. His coat caught on a nail, and he tumbled down into a patch of nettles.
After that there was a wooded lot to cross, which was very dark. He was afraid he would lose his way. Once he fell into a water hole, and his wet clothes felt cold and uncomfortable.
At last he came out to the open field and saw the light his mother had put in the window. He was very glad to get home, but he felt ashamed of his torn, muddy clothes, and said, “I’ll take the lantern next time, Mother.”
A few years later Charley was a tall young man, ready to start for work in the city, from which he would not be home often.
“Don’t forget your ‘lantern,’ my boy,” said his mother, as she handed him his Bible. “That will show you the right way.”
And Charley found he needed that “lantern” to keep from evil ways more than he had needed the lantern in the dark woods.
ML 02/20/1938