SOME years ago, three boys of an English family, which had recently emigrated to Canada, resolved to take a ramble through a neighboring forest in search of a, river which flowed a few miles from where they lived; not doubting that they could easily find the way. I regret to say that they entered upon the journey without the knowledge or consent of their parents. The eldest boy was fourteen years old; and he, as well as the others, ought surely to have known that it was their duty to gain the permission of either father or mother to their thus leaving home. The word of God requires, not only that children should obey their parents, but that they should honor their father and mother, which certainly implies that they should consult them upon all important occasions, and obtain their consent to any fresh undertaking. But this, these boys neglected to do.
The brothers started on their journey upon a bright day in autumn, and for awhile all passed agreeably enough, for the first portion of their walk was through a pleasant part of the forest, where there were beautiful maple, beech, and birch trees. The sky also was clear over their heads, and they enjoyed the singing of the birds, and the agile tricks of the squirrels. This is the way that “the pleasures of sin” usually take. They are mostly sweet, and captivating at first, and it is easy to glide along the path of temptation; but, sooner or later, they are sure to bring forth their bitter fruits, to the sorrow and pain of those who have been betrayed into sin and folly.
Thus, after a time, our young travelers entered a dense part of the forest, through a cedar swamp, which was thickly strewed with prickly brushwood. A cold, drizzling rain also came on, and the sun set in clouds. They then thought of retracing their steps and returning home, but discovered, to their dismay, that they could not find the way out of the forest, and that they were lost. They were, therefore, obliged to pass the whole of the night in that dismal place, sitting together on the stump of a tree, almost up to their knees in mud, with the cold sleet beating upon them, and in fear of bears and wolves. They were also very hungry, as they were quite unprovided with food.
See what trouble and distress they had brought upon themselves in consequence of their rash and unsanctioned departure from home. Bitterly did they repent of the course which they had taken; reaping the fruits of that which they had sown by in subjection to their parents, and disregard of the word of God.
Not only were these boys in trouble themselves, but they were the cause of intense grief to their dear parents. The mother, however, knowing to whom to turn in their distress, cried unto the Lord, beseeching Him to protect and preserve her children, wherever they were. The father, in company with a neighbor, went in search of them, lighting fires and firing guns, hoping that the lost ones would either see the fires, or hear the reports. Finding their attempts fruitless, they started off to an encampment of Indians to obtain their assistance in searching for them; but this effort was also unavailing, as the Indians were gone away from the camp on a deer-hunt.
As soon, however, as the day began to dawn, the weary wanderers renewed their attempts to find their way home, and at length, after much difficulty, reached it, to the great joy of their sorrowing parents, and delight of their own hearts. The mother, who only was at home when they arrived, after embracing her once lost, but now found, children, hastened to prepare some food for them, of which they were greatly in want, having been without for more than twenty-four hours. While they were refreshing themselves, the father returned, dispirited with his unsuccessful search, to be gladdened by finding them all safe at home.
Although their sons had acted so wrongly in leaving homer so great was the joy of the parents at seeing them again, that they could not find it in their heart to chide them; though doubtless they afterwards pointed out the error of the course which they had taken. And does God ever reprove a poor lost one, who comes to Him, in the true acknowledgment of his sins, and looks to Him for mercy and forgiveness in the name of His dear Son? No, indeed, but “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15. I trust, dear reader, that this joy has already been expressed in heaven on your account, or, if it has not, that it may now be thus expressed, by your coming to God in this name of His only begotten Son.
ML 01/17/1904