I WILL tell you of a boy who had to learn what it is to be really "outside of a good treat just because he would choose his own way. Some of you no doubt go to a Sunday school, and know the pleasure of an hour spent with a dear teacher who delights to speak of the love of the Lord Jesus. Our first acquaintance with the boy of whom I write was in a Sunday school carried on in a poor neighborhood, where many rough children had been gathered in from the surrounding houses, and there I made his acquaintance.
Latty B. attended our school during many Sunday afternoons, but I am sorry to say he was not a good boy, but gave his teacher much trouble, and often upset the other boys by his bad behavior. As the summer went on, many of the children began to look forward to the pleasant outing which they generally had with their teachers, who used to take them for a whole day to the sea-side.
Now Latty was not a good boy, and there came a day when the superintendent had to expel him from the school. He put Latty “outside" of the door, and forbid him to come back until he should be truly sorry for his conduct, and really repentant.
Latty had had good opportunity to repent of his naughtiness, but he would not, and so at last he was expelled; he was shut outside from all he might have enjoyed, cut off from belonging to the school: he had no part with those he once was with.
The time for the long-looked for treat came, and on a Sunday afternoon the names of all going to it were called over. Now, though Latty knew that he had been expelled, he stole into the school unabashed, and afterwards actually presented himself at the desk and asked for a ticket! Of course he was refused, so. away he went to try some other resources by which to get to the long-looked for treat. But all was in vain. There was but one way by which he could go, and that was through having his name written on the ticket. No ticket could he get, but for all that Latty was determined to go. I am sure he never thought of the parable he had heard at school of the man who came to the wedding feast without putting on the garment provided for the guests. You remember that when the king came in, he had that presumptuous man put “outside.” If only Latty would have remembered what he had been taught, how different it would have been for him.
The morning came, and the happy children met and got into the conveyances to drive to the seashore, and Latty stood by in his best clothes trying to go too! He hid himself amongst those already seated for the long drive, but was discovered and sent back.
Then the foolish boy made a scheme of his own; he would not be defeated. A wagon passed on the road, and up he jumped behind, and was driven on till he came to the shore. There the children were running about with bright and happy hearts, some on the sands, some in the sea, and others exploring the rocks and caves.
Poor Latty, however, did not find it quite so pleasant as he had expected. He was out on his own account, he was "outside" still, an outsider to all the pleasure that was going on. But he kept up the appearance that he belonged to the school. Alas! for false pretenses.
The large bell rang on the shore for dinner, and the children gathered together on the grass to partake of refreshments. Hungry Latty heard the names called out as the cups were given to each child, but his name was not mentioned, so he crept a little distance off and laid himself down amongst the tall reeds and rushes that grew upon the bank of the small river which flowed through the meadow. How he wished he had been good! He was really unhappy, but still he kept up an empty show all the day long.
One of the teachers had spoken very faithfully to him, but Latty would not be broken down. Then tea-time came.
Again the large bell rang and the children collected together as before to enjoy plenty of tea, plum-cake, and bread and butter, but there was nothing for Latty. At last he was feeling that he was only an "outsider."
No dinner, no tea! There was not much fun for Latty in the way things were going on, and how was he to get back? for the friendly wagon would not be returning to give him a lift. Nine long miles were before him, but still, thought he, I may manage to get off with the rest of the school. Anyway, he would try.
The time for starting came, the children got into the conveyances, and one unhappy boy was hiding, hoping to get home undiscovered.
The drivers cracked their whips, the horses galloped along the plain by the shore, and then mounted the steep hill, while to ease them, the teachers and bigger boys got down to walk.
There Latty was found, as with shamefacedness he stood on the roadside, determined to brave it out and keep up with the boys. But at the top of the hill all jumped in and left him “outside" the wagon. The horses trotted off, Latty ran after them, and seeing no hope of a drive he ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
Alas! it was all to no purpose, the horses outdid him. Then all the poor boy's pretension fled to the winds. Night was gradually creeping on, the darkening sky and deep falling shadows on either side of the road were anything but cheerful to his breaking spirit. Tears at last began to roll down his cheeks, and he took out his red pocket-handkerchief and mopped his face, which steamed with perspiration from the exertion he made to keep up with the conveyances.
But Latty's repentance came "too late!” Beloved children, think of these five words which we may read in God's Book, "Now is the accepted time" —now. Will you listen to God's “now” when He offers you salvation? which is His feast for the poor sinner.
Latty repented, and tried to get in when the favored moment was past, and there, poor boy, on that lonely roadside the night found him, sobbing and crying, footsore and hungry, having to tramp along every weary mile, and not reaching his home until nearly ten o'clock at night. If he had been good how different all would have been, Dear children, we must pray for Latty, for this is a true tale, and he is still unrepentant, still careless, and determined. May the day never come which should find any of you “outside" and not inside heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives forever, with all whom He has saved and brought home to God to be always happy.