p. 46 | The Boys’ Raft

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 7, 1878

The Boys’ Raft

In the Current. "Father, has the sea come to us ?" said John Haywood as he looked out of the window one morning and saw the wide meadows of the valley covered with water.

"No," said Mr. Haywood, "the sea has got too much to do to come up among the mountains; it has too many ships to carry."

"Where did all that water come from ?"

"It came from the clouds; it rained very hard all night. I presume it has rained longer up toward the head of the stream. There is more water than the channel can carry off, hence the overflow on the meadows."

After breakfast Robert Brett and Henry Vogel came to Mr. Haywood's to play with John. It was vacation in their school.

"I say, boys, would n't there be a chance for a fine sail if we only had a boat," said Robert.

"We can make a raft," said Henry.

"So we can," said John. "I'll get some nails and a hammer, and we will nail some boards together in a hurry."

Robert and Henry went to the barn, which stood near the meadow, and hence near the overflowing water. They got some boards and took them to the water's edge, and laid them across one another; when John came with the nails and hammer they began to fasten them together.

"I'm afraid it won't be large enough to bear us all," said Henry. "What will be done in that case ?"

"We must n't all get on it. I'll try it alone first, and if it is strong enough I'll take you on it," said Robert.

"What if it is n't ?" said Henry.

"I'll sail alone."

"I'm not going to help build the raft if I'm not to sail on it."

"Well, you can get on it with me if you are willing to risk a ducking."

The dispute continued for some time. I do not care to record what was said. Robert was a selfish, domineering boy. The result was that Henry and John withdrew from the partnership, leaving Robert to finish the raft and to sail on it alone.

When he was fairly launched, and was moving onward by means of a pole, John said to Henry, "Come with me."

They went to the barn-yard and found a large door which had belonged to a building that had been torn down.

"Just the thing," said Henry; "quite large enough to hold us both."

"Selfish folks do n't always get the best of every thing," said John.

They took the door to the water, got two bean-poles, and were soon sailing more rapidly than Robert. They soon overtook him. The water was not very deep.

"I'm going where the water is deeper," said Robert.

"You had better not," said Henry; "we are safe here even if we get overboard."

"We are safe enough anywhere. I am going out into the stream."

"You won't be able to reach the bottom with your pole."

"The stream will carry the raft without the trouble of poling."

"But how will you get out of it when you want to ?"

"Easily enough."

"I do n't see how."

"No matter, I'm off. You had better not follow."

"We do n't mean to."

Robert soon reached the stream, which ran quite rapidly, while the water on the meadow was nearly still.

"Good-by," said Robert, as he moved down the stream.

"How are you going to stop ?" said Henry.

"I can stop when I want to."

John and Henry rested on their poles and watched him. When he had floated nearly to the end of the meadow they saw him try to use his pole, but it was too short to reach the bottom. He then tried to use it as a paddle, but could not by that means move his raft toward the shore. He then lay down and tried to use his hands as oars, but with very little effect. The raft moved on with increasing velocity.

"What will become of the fellow ?" said John.

"He will be brought up at the mill-dam." The dam across the stream was about two miles distant.

"The water is running over the dam. He will be carried over and will be drowned."

"That's so; I'll tell you what we must do. We must go ashore, and run down to the pond, and get the miller's boat and row out and take him off his raft."

They both used their poles vigorously and soon got on shore; but they saw that they could not get to the pond before Robert did, for the current was very swift.

"We can 't do it," said Henry.

"Hear him halloo," said John.

"He may make some one hear him and put off in the boat."

They walked on down the stream very anxious respecting Robert. There was a bend in the stream which hid him from their view.

They could do nothing for him. They hoped that some one would help him before he reached the dam.

Their hope was realized. Before the stream reached the pond it became very narrow. A man heard Robert's cries and saw his condition. He took a fishing-pole that some one had left by the stream, and placed himself at a point where he was pretty sure the raft would come within reach of his pole. It did so, and Robert by taking hold of the pole extended to him was drawn toward the shore.

As soon as he got near enough he jumped on shore, leaving his raft to take care of itself. He was very pale, and could scarcely walk. The man took him to his house, which was near. When he had in a measure recovered his strength, the man asked him: "Why did you get into the current without any means of getting out of it ?"

"I thought I could stop when I wanted to."

"And found out you could n't. I have known a good many persons who thought they could stop when they wanted to, and, to their sorrow, found out they could n't. I have known young men to indulge themselves with a glass of wine, or something stronger. They thought they could stop when they wanted to, but erelong, they found the current too strong to be resisted. They were swept onward in spite of their struggles, till they were swept to the drunkard's grave. I have known young men engage in gambling, at first for amusement, and then for small stakes. They never meant to go far. They could stop when they wanted to. But they found the chain of habit too strong to be broken. Wreck of character, ruin followed. I have known persons to indulge in sin, thinking that they could turn to the Lord when they pleased, but the consequence was increasing hardness of heart, till repentance was impossible. Let your experience to-day be a warning to you for life."

By this time John and Henry had reached the house where Robert was.

"Glad to find you safe," said John.

Robert made no reply. He was conscious that his own folly had exposed him to danger, and put his friends to trouble. He thanked the man for saving his life.

"It will be all right if you make a good use of it," said the man.

The three boys then started for home. At first Robert was silent. After awhile he says,

"Boys, I have behaved very badly."

The boys were not disposed to dispute his assertion, and, therefore, kept silence.

"I mean to make an entire change," said he. "I've resolved to do better a great many times, but my resolutions have not seemed to amount to much."

When persons leave out of view the strength of the current of sin—the strength of the sinful tendencies of the unrenewed heart—their good resolutions will not amount to much—will never result in salvation. The only safety is in breaking off bad habits at once; in changing entirely their lives by giving their hearts and wills to Christ, to do his will and possess his heart.