aid of a detective, they tracked him to a
gambling den, where they found that he had gambled away the whole of his
money. In hopes of winning it back again, he then had sold his team, and
lost that money too. He had fallen among thieves, and like the man who
was going to Jericho, they stripped him, and then they cared no more
about him. What could he do? He was ashamed to go home to meet his
father, and he fled. The father knew what it all meant. He knew the boy
thought he would be very angry with him. He was grieved to think that
his boy should have such feelings toward him. That is just exactly like
the sinner. He thinks because he has sinned, God will have nothing to do
with him. But what did that father do? Did he say, "Let the boy go"? No;
he went after him. He arranged his business, and started after the boy.
That man went from town to town, from city to city. He would get the
ministers to let him preach, and at the close he would tell his story.
"I have got a boy who is a wanderer on the face of the earth somewhere."
He would describe his boy, and say, "If you ever hear of him or see him,
will you not write to me?" At last he found that he had gone to
California, thousands of miles away. Did that father say, "Let him go"?
No; off he went to the Pacific coast, seeking the boy. He went to San
Francisco, and advertised in the newspapers that he would preach at such
a church on such a day. When he had preached he told his story, in hopes
that the boy might have seen the advertisement and come to the church.
When he had done, away under the gallery, there was a young man who
waited until the audience had gone out; then he came toward the pulpit.
The father looked and saw it was that boy, and he ran to him, and
pressed him to his bosom. The boy wanted to confess what he had done,
but not a word would the father hear. He forgave him freely, and took
him to his home once more.

I tell you Christ will welcome you this minute if you will come. Say, "I
will arise and go to my Father." May God incline you to take this step.
There is not one whom Jesus has not sought far longer than that father.
There has not been a day since you left Him but He has followed you.

[Illustration: Mary Magdalene. GUSTAVE DORE. Mark, xvi, 9.]

Lady Ann Erskine and Rowland Hill.

There is a very good story told of Rowland Hill and Lady Ann Erskine.
You have seen it, perhaps, in print, but I would like to tell it to you.
While he was