Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1881 — The Power of a Father’s Love. [ARTICLE]

The Power of a Father’s Love.

There was a family in Manchester, England, composed of two sons, * daughter and their father. The poor mother had died, happy in the Lord. One of the lads, however, was addici ted to many vices. His character was blasted, and >ll hope of doing better blighted; his home* was' deserted by him; but his father, who had a loving heart never turned the key against him, but the door was always open for him whenever he would return. The brother and sister professed religion, and considered their dissolute brother a disgrace to them and their father’s house. They tried, therefore, to induce their father to tyrn him out of doors. The father told them, however, that he would do no such thing, because he was his father, while they were only his brother and sister. Finding that they could not prevail upon h(m, they induced a friend to go to Mis father, and persuade him to shut the door against the prodigal; but the old man’s only reply was, “You pretend to be his friend, but I am his father, and can never do it; but,” said thfrfather, “we will meet’on a given day and try to bring this unpleasant business to a conclusion. We will meet there with his brother and sister and himself, and see whether we are to shut the door against him or not.” The day- came, and they met at the father’s house and had tea together. All sat around the table except the poor prodigal, whose tea was handed to him as he sat in the corner, as the brother and sistercould not allow him to sit with them. After tea the father said:'

“Now we must have a conference rs to what is to be done with this poor renegade.” Looking at him with tears in his eyes he turned to the brother and said: ‘ You are his-brother, and lam hie father; can you sit by and see me turn yotrr brothemririftr” - “Oh, yes,” said the Pharisaical brother. Then turning to his daughter the old man said: “You are his sister, and lam his father; can you sit by and see me turn your brother adrift?” ‘Oh, yes, father,” said the unnatural sister, “or he’ll bring disgrace upon us all.” Then he turned to their heartless friend, saying: “You profess to be his friend, do you not? and can you sit by and see me turn my son out?” “Yes, I could,” replied the cruel man. Amazed at their disdainful and haughty responses, the father turned to them all and said: < t “You are his. brother, and you are fils sister, ydu are his friend, but I am his father,’’ and he went and fell upon the neck of his despised and deserted son, and said: “God bless thee, my lad; though all. should shut their hearts against thee, thy fattier will never disown thee, nor turn thee out of d >ors.” The poor lad put his arms around his fatnerM neck and said: “Oh, father, will you forgive me?” His father forgave him and he found peace and pqrdouon his bended knee, and is now b breachdr of Christ and Him cruelfled.— Selected.