07.02.13. A Real Mother

13. A REAL MOTHER

One night he came into a town and made his way to what had the appearance of an humble home to ask for something to eat. There came in answer to his knock a motherly looking old lady, and when told that he was away from home and out of work she said, "Come in, young man, supper will be ready in a few minutes. Daughter and I live here alone, but I have two boys somewhere in the world tonight and I would be mighty thankful if some one would be kind to them." When they sat down to the table the old mother bowed her head and prayed, "Lord bless this young man and save him from sin. He probably has a mother tonight who is praying for him; and bless my own two boys who may be alone and hungry and may some mother be kind to them." When she had prayed she began to pass him things to eat, but her prayer had spoiled his supper and he was anxious to get away as soon as possible. When he started to go she said, "I have no place for you to sleep, but you can eat here until you get a job and are able to pay." He thanked her and hurried away, anxious to leave town and put distance between him and those things that reminded him of mother, God and home.

"Can a boy forget his mother’s prayer,
Although he’s wandered, God knows where?
No! down the path of sin and shame,
A mother’s prayers are just the same.
Come back my boy, come back I say,
And travel in your mother’s way."

Todd in many ways was not a bad boy; he was not criminal, but just like thousands of mothers’ boys today, bound by habits, broken in spirit and will power, he was staggering along the shores of time where the alligators of crime were likely to drag him down at any moment; and it isa miracle indeed that he kept free from those things. He often met vicious criminal characters and because of his youth they talked freely before him. At one time such a man tried very hard to get him to take dope and it must have been the mercy of God that held him back, for one taste would have no doubt meant his ruin forever.