p. 14 | He Knew His Father by William A. Westworth

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 24, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 33.

He Knew His Father

By William A. Westworth

A LITTLE story that I heard Brother S. H. Lane tell, I have never forgotten. He said that there was an aged brother who used to come and visit at their house once in a while, and they all thought he was a pretty good man. They loved him. One time he was to stay at the house two or three nights.

The boys had always been taught that they must say their prayers at night, and they did it conscientiously. But one night it so happened that the good old brother went to his bedroom at the same time the boys retired. They undressed quickly, and then kneeled down to say their prayers; but they were not through when they heard the old cord bedstead squeak, and they knew he was in bed before they were.

Brother Lane thought a while, then he turned to his brother, and said: "Did that man go to bed without saying his prayers? Did you hear the bed squeak? Didn't he say his prayers?" His brother suggested, "Tomorrow night we will watch him."

Above their bed was a little trapdoor leading to the loft; and from the loft they could look down through the cracks into the adjoining

room, where the old brother slept. So the next night, about time for bed, the boys hurried upstairs. They went up the ladder, and lay down on the attic floor, waiting for the brother to come up to bed. When the old man came up, the first thing he did was to kneel down, and say:

"Lord, another day is past. If there is anything I ought to make right before I go to sleep, tell it to me now." He waited a moment, then said: "I don't think of anything. Keep me till morning. Good night!"

Then he got up and went to bed. It was a strange thing to hear a man say "Good night" to God. Brother Lane said it made a wonderful impression on him. There is something so simple about it, it takes a hold of you more and more as you think about it. That is peace. That man could not have prayed that prayer unless he was used to talking to God. He was acquainted with his heavenly Father, and he knew his Father would tell him if there was anything wrong. There is such a thing as getting acquainted with God.

W. A. WESTWORTH.