It has been our habit to give our classes in the Sunday School an outing to the seashore, on a summer Satuay. My class of boys were in great glee over this, and had been discussing among themselves what they would do at the shore. There were two fields at our disposal, for games, and the long shore being quite safe, and free from rocks and deep pools, they were allowed to wade in the shallow water. But it was distinctly under stood all were to keep together, and that there was to be no bathing or boating on that day. For we had proved, by past experiences, that when boys get a measure of liberty for these, they exceed their limits, and get into serious danger. So the teachers had definitely decided, and intimated these prohibi tions to their classes, before we started on the trip that summer day.
But as the folks say, “Boys will be boys,” so a few of my class of boys had secretly arranged among themselves, that if a suitable opportunity occurred, they would get a boat and row across to the point, a short distance across the bay. So when they saw their teachers engaged with tht junior classes, a few of the elder boys slipped down to the jetty, and seizing one of the boats, used by the workmer in the boatyard, without either obtaining or asking permission, they sailed away in grand style, across the main sea.
But disobedience always, sooner or later, has to pay for its adventures, and ere they had gone far, a sharp breeze sprang up, one of the oars fell into the water, and the boys began to find difficulties in rowing. When they were seen, loud shouts from the shore called them to return. But this was more difficult. For in addition to the want of an oar, the tide had turned, and was against them, and they were both frightened and exhausted, so they could do little in getting back to where they had started from.
Two of them could be seen off the Point, wading in shallow water trying to get the boat off. Three of the teachers hired a boatman to pull them out to the Point, and brought the boys safe to land.
The lesson the boys learned, has not been forgotten. They learned the folly of taking their own way, and I have had the of seeing three of them converted, and following their Lord and Master.
ML 11/17/1946