OBEDIENT SONS.
When Washington was a young man he wanted to be a sailor, and his mother gave a reluctant consent. All things were ready. The ship lay off in the river. His trunk was in the boat which waited to take him to it. Going to bid his mother good-bye he found her in tears. At once he ordered his trunk returned and sent word to the ship that he would not go. “I will not break my mother’s heart to gratify myself,” he said, and his mother replied, “George, God has promised to bless those who honor their parents and He will surely bless you.” Did He not do it? He lived to be nearly seventy years of age and became not only a prosperous man, but the first President of his country. “I was sure,” said his mother, “that George would be a great man, because he was a good boy.”
Coming home from the hay-field, a tired and hungry youth was met by his father at the gate and requested to go on an errand to the town, two miles away. His first impulse was to refuse. A better thought came into his mind, and he consented cheerfully. “Thank you,” said the father; “you have always been good to me. I was going myself, but somehow I don’t feel very strong.” Again the father thanked his son and turned to the house. The son hurried away, and soon returned. As he neared the house he saw that something unusual had occurred. The farm hands instead of being at the barn as usual at that time of the day were standing about the door of the house. As the son approached, one of the men turned to him with tearful eyes and said, “Your father is dead. He fell just as he reached the door. The words he spoke to you were the last he uttered.” Years passed, and that son relating this incident said, “I have thanked God over and over again for the last words of my father on earth, ‘You have always been good to me.’”
A boy should obey his parents because of the happiness and influence that come through it. A disobedient boy can in no wise be happy, while he who loves his parents and seeks their pleasure will have no reason to the contrary.
In St. Stephen’s Church, Philadelphia, one Sunday a tramp was numbered among the worshippers. His face was seamed by the lines caused by dissipation. His shabby clothes were in striking contrast with the handsome attire of those in the audience. When Dr. Wood, the blind organist, touched the keys of his instrument, and began to play a soft, sweet melody, the man’s eyes filled with tears and he buried his face in his hands. During the singing of the Litany he sobbed aloud, but when Dr. McConnell in reading the commandments came to “Honor thy father and thy mother,” the man, unable to restrain himself longer, cried, “Would to God I had done so, I would not be where I am.”
When Charles Lamb was a lad his father sent him to the school of Christ’s Hospital. He was very unfitted to make his way among the boys, for he was small and delicate. There was a great dislike throughout the school against certain articles of food; Charles was seen to gather up the morsels left after dinner and carry them away. Persevering in this practice two of his school fellows determined to follow him and find out the mystery. Charles entered a large old building in Chancery Lane, went upstairs and knocked at one of the doors at which an old man and woman presented themselves. The boys went back and triumphantly told the steward what they had discovered. He, being a just man, investigated the matter and found that the old people were Charles’ parents, who had been reduced to great need. The news went from one to another. His fellow pupils immediately fell in love with him, the governor heard of it, and gave relief to the parents, and presented the boy with a silver medal.
DID WHAT NAPOLEON COULD NOT DO.
In this connection a few words are not amiss regarding one’s duty to those in authority. Honor is becoming those who are set over us at school or work. The spirit of obedience is not so much in words as deeds. Deeds show what we are, words what we claim to be.
On one occasion an English farmer saw a party of horsemen riding over his farm. He had a field he was particularly anxious they should not enter as the crop was in condition to be greatly injured by the tramp of horses. He therefore dispatched one of the young farm hands, a lad of about thirteen years of age, to shut the gate and on no account permit anyone to open it. The boy went as bidden, but was scarcely at his post when the hunters came up and ordered the gate opened. This the boy declined to do, stating the orders he had received and his determination to obey them. Neither threats nor bribes would move him. After a while one of lofty dignity advanced and said in commanding tones, “My boy, do you not know me? I am the Duke of Wellington. I am not accustomed to be disobeyed, and I command you to open the gate that my friends and I may pass through.” The boy lifted his cap and stood uncovered before the man whom all England delighted to honor, and in firm tone said, “I am sure the Duke of Wellington would not wish me to disobey the orders of my master, who has told me to keep this gate shut, and not suffer anyone to pass.”
Greatly surprised and pleased at this reply, the sturdy old warrior lifted his own hat and said, “I honor the man or boy who is faithful to his duty, and who can neither be bribed or frightened into doing wrong. With an army of soldiers as trustworthy as that, I could conquer not only the French but the world.” Then handing him a glittering sovereign, the old Duke put spurs to his horse and galloped away with his companions, while the boy ran off to his master shouting at the top of his voice: “Hurrah! hurrah! I’ve done what Napoleon could not do. I’ve kept back the Duke of Wellington!”