CAN'T YOU FORGIVE ME?

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, November 25, 1884

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 61, No. 47

"CAN'T YOU FORGIVE ME?"

THERE are two great mistakes made by parents, one is to remit threatened punishment for little or no reason, and the other is to stubbornly refuse to modify it, no matter what occurs. It is related of a minister, whose son had done a wrong and confessed it, that he sentenced him to three days on bread and water. For two days the lad bore it well. On the morning of the third day he asked the boy how he liked his fare. He said, “I can eat it very well, papa, but I don't much like it. Can't you forgive me, papa?” “No, sir, I cannot; my word has passed, and you must take your three days, as I told you.” The boy repeated, “But really, can't you forgive me, papa?” “No, I cannot break my word.” The boy said, “Then, papa, how could you say the Lord's prayer this morning?” The father ordered the fare to be changed, and said he had heard a better sermon than he had ever preached himself.—Golden Censer.