THE KING’S BUSINESS
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my father, and he intended soon to retire and give me the business, but I picked up with gay companions and stayed out late at night and began to drink, to the great grief of my parents, who, though not professed Christian people, yet lived very moral and circumspect lives. “They remonstrated with me again and again, until things became very strained indeed, and I ran away without giving them any indication I was going to do so; and1 I am now ashamed to tell you, Sir, but I have never sent them a line or any tidings since that day, which is over seven years ago now. Oh, the pain and sorrow I have caused them, and I am determined to go home and ask their forgiveness; and, if they will allow me, to settle down and give them all I can in their last days, and by that means offer some little atonement for the great wrong I have done them.” He was then completing an important piece of work for his masters, and he made up his mind that when that was finished he would, like the Prodigal, return home. He wrote to his parents telling them of his conversion, and expressed his sorrow for his waywardness and ingratitude, asked their forgiveness for the sorrow, anxiety and pain he had caused them, and informed them of his decision to return home. By return of post came a reply couched in the most tender and affectionate terms, and begging him to come home at once, that they were “wearying” to see him, and his mother added her postscript, advising him to wrap himself up well, to prevent taking cold in the long railway journey from Wales. M----- was received with open arms and loving hearts, and the friends and neighbors were called together as of old to rejoice because the son that was dead was alive again and he that was lost was now found.
foreman bricklayer, who had been a boon companion of C---- - since he came to Pontypool, said: “C----- , I ’ll come to the Mission Hall with you tonight.” This encouraged him, and he arranged to call for M——. They came together on a Sunday evening. The Gospel was preached, Christ was lifted up as the Saviour of sinners, God honored His Son and blessed His Word, and many seekers entered the inquiry room. Among the first were M----—and C----- , and they went home together rejoicing in God and the power of His grace. M----- was at the prayer meeting on Monday night, and in his public prayer said: “O God, I am only a wee lamb, one day old, but I want to be fed with the sincere milk of the Word, that I may grow strong and be of some use in Thy service.” He was present on Tuesday again, and repeated the same prayer, substituting “two days old” for one. Wednesday night, Thursday night and again Friday he was there, offering much the same prayer, adding day after day till Saturday, when he completely broke down in prayer, and it was evident that he was in anguish of spirit. At the close of the meeting he came and asked for a few minutes’ conversation alone. I took him into my private room, and he introduced the subject at once by saying: “Mr. Wintle, I am sorry I shall have to leave you.” “So am I sorry, M----- ,” I said. “But why will it be necessary to go away? Are you out of work, or is there anything that I can do to help you so that you might stay?” “No, I have a good, regular job; but the fact is I feel I must go home. My father and mother are living in Westmoreland, and I .am the only child. My father is a builder in a good way of business and in comfortable circumstances. I was assisting
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