MY MOTHER died when I was about ten years old and about two years later, my father married again — to a lady who had been a great friend of my mother’s. I had no reason to dislike this kind lady, but for some reason, I objected to her and made myself as disagreeable as possible. My new mother did all she could by kindness and gentleness to win me to her, but I would have none of it, and at last my father decided to send me to a boarding school.
I was not long at this school before I decided to run away. I did not like the studies and I rebelled at the strict rules. Dear young friends, to run away from trouble is not the right way. If I had only gone to the Lord Jesus and confessed to Him my rebellion and naughty ways, He would have been ready to forgive and then to help me. But I didn’t think of turning to Him, but thought only of myself and my imagined wrongs.
Soon after this a circus came to town and we boys were all excited and determined to see the animals perform. Then the thought came to me; why not join the circus and work my way to Buffalo? I had a cousin there and he would find work for me. I could support myself and live as I pleased.
And so it came to pass that I began to work for the circus and traveled from place to place. About three months after I joined the circus, I heard some men discussing a boy who had run away from the very school where I had been. I knew they were talking about me, and I heard the men say my father had offered a reward to anyone who could tell him where I was to be found.
The men were all eating their supper, so I slipped out and ran off once more. Reaching a canal, I saw the lights of a slowly moving boat and hailed the man at the stern. He made no answer at first, but presently brought the boat alongside and took me aboard.
Now indeed, my troubles began. The captain was a brutal, ungodly man who was very hard on me, beating me when he thought I should have done more work than I did, or when I was not fast enough to suit him. He boxed my ears at the least offense and showed me no mercy whatsoever. Truly “the way of transgressors is hard.” Prov. 13:1515Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard. (Proverbs 13:15). And I had to learn it to my sorrow.
I determined once more to run away, but the captain watched me closely and I was as miserable as any boy could be.
One evening I was walking by the canal when I heard the sound of singing. It brought back to me all the scenes of home and my family, and I burst into tears. At this moment a kind voice behind me said, “What’s the matter, my boy?” Turning around I met the kind eyes of the captain of one of the other boats.
I told him the whole story — how I had run away from home and how unhappy I was. I begged him to send word to my father. He promised, but before he left me, my new friend said, “You have done very wrong, but do not despair. Remember the prodigal son. Return to God and He will receive you back, as the father did the prodigal. He can hear you here by the canal, and He will, too, if you will seek Him truly.” Then he jumped aboard his boat and was gone.
The captain of our boat questioned me about what I had been telling my kind friend, but I told him only that he had given me some bread as I was so hungry. I crept away to bed as soon as I could, but not to sleep. My thoughts had been turned to God forgotten and sinned against by me. I repeated to myself the parable of the prodigal son, long since learned by heart. I confessed my sins and sought earnestly for forgiveness and a wonderful peace and quietness came into my heart. I was so glad the verse said, “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from ALL sin.” John 1:77The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (John 1:7).
All the next day my head and limbs ached terribly and I could hardly sit up, but I was happier than I had been for many a day. I believed that I was going to be very sick and I thought that I should probably die. Oh! how earnestly I prayed that I might be spared to see my dear father once more, if it were only long enough to beg his forgiveness. By the time we reached Rochester I was very ill, though the captain forced me to work. I tried hard, but fell, and rolled into the water.
A man who saw me fall, instantly jumped in after me and brought me to shore. I was ill enough after that, and unconscious part of the time, so that I did not know where I was. But when I recovered my senses, I found myself in a hospital and saw a lady sitting by my bed. As I looked at her I gradually realized who she was!
“Mother,” I said, “Is that you?” It was the first time I had ever called her Mother.
She was very kind and good to me, and when my father came to see me, I remember how sad it made me to see how old and worn he looked. He freely forgave me and when I was well enough, he took me home with him. My stepmother was so good to me, that I wondered how I could have disliked her.
When I grew up, I gave my life to preaching the gospel and the first time I preached, I took for my sermon, the prodigal son.
How much sorrow I would have saved myself if I had only submitted to my parents. God’s Word says, “Children, obey your parents,” and “Honor thy father and mother... that it may be well with thee.” Surely it is best to obey God’s Word always, rather than to follow our own willful ways.
ML-02/24/1963