One day, when the sun was shining brightly, the sick man ventured once more to leave his bed, and father and son sat at the door of the cabin. At their feet was lying the faithful dog, Caesar. The older sons had gone into the forest to shoot game. Before the father’s accident, they had done so secretly; but since he was obliged to stay in the house, they went poaching whenever they chose, keeping a good look-out, of course, for the game-keeper. The father noticed it with sorrow, but his admonitions and warnings were not heeded. As the two were comfortably seated together, the father began: “O, my child, my dear boy! how wrongly I have acted towards you and your brothers when they were young. I have never spoken to them about the Lord Jesus. I never drew their attention to their responsibility towards a holy God, and now I am reaping the fruits of my unfaithfulness. My sons do wickedly, without fear; and my word has no power. They mock me and turn their backs on me, and walk in the paths of sin, but I have deserved all this.”
“These words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:6-76And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:6‑7)).
A sob arose from the heart of the old man, and the tears were running down his pale cheeks. William noticed it, and asked with deep emotion, “Why have you deserved this, Father?”
“Alas, my dear boy,” said the sick man, while fondly putting his thin hand on his son’s head, “for several reasons. I was a naughty and disobedient boy, and for this alone I deserve to have disobedient children. My mother was a widow who loved the Lord Jesus and feared God. Her little house was on the other side of this forest, several days’ journey from here. I was her only child; she brought me up with great love and tenderness, and early instructed me in the Word of God, but I would not mind her. When I grew older I spent most of my time loitering through the field or forest; at last I drifted into bad company, and committed all kinds of roguish tricks, and to escape the reproof of my mother, I ran away. Since that time I have not seen her, nor heard of her. If I only had the strength to go to her, and ask her forgiveness; but it is too late, forever too late!”
“Is she still alive?” asked William, greatly interested.
“I do not know, my boy,” responded the woodchopper; and again came a heavy sigh over his quivering lips. “I hardly think so; she would be very old now. But even if she still lives, I shall never see her in this world again. My days are numbered. I desire only one thing: if she is still on the earth, that she might know how deeply I have repented of my sins, and that I have found refuge in Jesus, who is now my hope, and who has washed me from all my sins in His own precious blood.”
The old man was silent, but after a little while he said, “Alas, my sons, my sons! It is my fault they are so wicked and hardhearted. I have not been a faithful father to them. I have neglected their training, and allowed them to grow up like trees of the forest. I did not instruct them in the Word of God, nor bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Now they despise and mock me, and are deaf to my pleadings, and harden their hearts against God. O God! Thou art just, but terrible are Thy judgments!”
The feeble body of the sick man trembled because of his great emotion. He wept no more, but stared at the ground in agony. William did not know what to say to his sorrowing father. At last he whispered, “Father, could not the Lord Jesus change their hearts? Would He not do so if we asked Him?”
“My dear child, you are right; the Lord can change their hearts. I have often asked Him for this, and I have confidence that He will answer my prayers in His own time. But let us now together ask the Lord for this again.”
Both knelt at the door of the cabin, and in touching words the sorrowing father prayed for his lost children. Although William did not understand all his father said, this hour never left his memory all through his life.
After this talk with his little son, the father did not live many days. William was more attentive than ever in serving his beloved father. He would leave him for only a moment at a time to get water or anything the sick man needed. He was continually at his bedside, while Caesar was lying at his feet. It seemed as though the faithful animal knew what was going on.
Again and again the old woodchopper would lift his eyes and voice heavenward, and then William would fold his hands too, and join in prayer.
When his father’s last morning began to dawn, he said to William that the Lord had given him the full assurance that his prayers would be answered.
“My sins are forgiven,” he whispered, “and I am going to Jesus, my Lord. He will keep you, my dear boy, and also save your brothers, through His grace. O, forget not thy Creator in the days of thy youth, as I have done! Give Him your heart, my child; trust Him fully, and do not forget to pray for your brothers.”