MANY men do not discover the true relation of father and son until it is too late to save the boy. But some who have been neglectful take warning in time, and apply that "love that covereth a multitude of sins"—in the boy. Not long ago a gentleman related his experience to me, as follows:— "Once a friend said to me, 'Do you know that your boy is reading bad books?' I said, 'No, I don't believe any such thing.' My friend said, 'Perhaps you would better investigate.' I was inclined to treat the whole matter with contempt, for I did not think it possible for my boy to be reading bad books without my knowing it. Finally, however, I decided that common sense was better than pride, and that I would investigate. So I went to my boy's room, looked over his belongings, and at last, under the mattress, found the books. I put them back where I found them, and hunted up the boy. I said to him, 'My boy, what kind of books are those you have been reading lately?' He was taken by surprise, and did not know just what to say. So I said to him, 'I would like to see the books; I've made up my mind to read the same books that you do.' Finally he stammered out, 'Papa, I don't think you would like those books very well.' I said: 'I would like to look at them. I want your opinion of them.' "That threw him into a very peculiar state of mind, but we went up to the room and he brought out the books. We sat down side by side; I put my arm around him, and as we turned the pages of the books I said to him, 'Well, what do you think of that?' as we looked at the pictures and I read here and there a sentence. His only reply was, 'Well, papa, I guess it isn't very good.' Then I said to him, 'Lay the books aside, and this evening762let us come up and read together; I have something I want to read to you.' "My boy was delighted. The evening came, and we went to his room. I placed the lamp beside the bed and lay down where he had lain to read his book. I read to him a story; but before I had finished, he had crawled up and was leaning on my side. Then I read him a story with illustrations from Science. When I stopped, he laid his head on my shoulder, put his arms around me, and said, 'Papa, why can't I have such reading as that?' As soon as I could control myself—for he had shown me that I was the sinner—I said, 'My boy, you shall have all you want; let us go downstairs.' I led the way right down to the stock I had laid in, and put out my books and papers before him. He looked at them a moment, then picked them up and fairly hugged them. We soon decided what to do with the bad books; we took them out in the back yard and burned them. "Then and there my boy and I started out on a new career. When I can I spend the evening with him; one reads and the other listens. Henceforth my boy and I are going to be confidential friends, even if it takes a little time from business." That father discovered some very important and valuable secrets. Would that others would set about the same work. Usually when the Christian teacher approaches the wayward boy or young man, he finds the boy's father—by his neglect, or wrong example, or both—standing between him and the boy. Quite frequently the father is a professing Christian, and his influence decides the boy's case against religious influence. The question is often asked, Why does not the church reach the boys? and it usually suggests the still more perplexing question, How can we reach the fathers, and through them the boys? The gentleman referred to above said: 'I believe God has forgiven my sinful neglect of my boy; henceforth my service of God will include a loving and watchful care over the precious soul he has committed to me.'—Michigan Christian Advocate.