Closing the Gap

Closing the Gap By A. A. Anderson

The scoutmaster had planned a trip, in which each scout should be sure to do all in his power to get his father to go, so that the fathers might know first hand, what the great Boy Scout movement is, for the good of the boy. Antone went home from scout meeting with his boy-heart longing with the desire to have his father go. Fearful that the many duties of the farm might cause his father to refuse, very shyly he approached the subject the next morning, as the rows of weedy beets were counted out for his day's work. "Father, how many rows are there yet to weed?" "I don't know exactly, but at the rate you've been working, it will take until snow flies; you're doing only 15 a day, and

there's most five hundred yet to do." With a faint glimmer of hope in his soul, Antone said: "Next Monday morning early, the Boy Scouts are taking a threedays' fathers and sons' outing. Every boy is expected to get his father to go. If you will help me every day until Saturday noon, this patch will be done, if I have to work nights to do it. Then we can go for three days, can't we?" "I wish that scoutmaster of yours would think of something else than an outing for you boys, right in this busy time." "Father, our scoutmaster, who is interested in both boys and fathers, said that he felt sure if we would 'dig in' right hard, we might get our fathers to 'cut loose' and go with us. Each scout is to report at scout headquarters, with his father, to receive instructions what to take. Oh, father, please go, I do so want you to go." But neither the eloquent defense of his scoutmaster, nor his earnest plea for his father's companionship, made the desired impression upon his father, who, upon turning to go, with the thought of the welfare of the farm, and forgetting for the moment, the great desire of his son, said: "It is impossible, my boy, these weeds must be pulled, after that we've got the hay to get up. I can't, for the life of me, see how we can get away this summer." With this he left his son to his tears and disappointment. Out there alone the little fellow manfully, as a true scout, fought the feeling arising in his soul that his father was unjust; fought and conquered that terrible feeling that sought to poison his

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mind against his own father, who above all men, it was his duty to love and obey. Antone remembered that the scout law teaches that a scout must be loyal, and obedient. He also thought of the lesson his Sunday school teacher had taught just the Sunday previous, "Honor thy father, and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee." Then suddenly as if a new thought had struck him, Antone rushed to a clump of willows at the edge of the field and hastily concealing himself, humbly bowed before his Maker in earnest prayer, pouring out his trobule, desires, and his determination to be square and true to his father. He implored earnestly for strength and help to finish that field of beets by Saturday noon. With his soul aquiver with emotion, he emerged from his conversation with the Lord with new strength and added faith to accomplish the great task which lay before him. Throughout the long day of sweltering mid-summer heat, Antone earnestly dug into the collossal task of finishing in five days, a two weeks' job. Oh how that "new found" faith and strength spurred him on! At the call for supper, it was with reluctance that he left his task. He felt "strong as a lion," and he marveled at this because, heretofore, he had always expected the supper call long before it came. This time he really wanted to stay with his work. Supper over, chores done, Antone retired anxiously to rest, and receive more strength for the great task he had resolved to accomplish. Nor did he forget to whisper to the all-wise Creator the gratitude of his heart for his goodness to him. But sleep refused to come as usual; great big thoughts were passing through his mind, planning how he could best put in his night shift because night shift he would surely have to put in if he were to finish on Saturday noon.

At 2:30 father was awakened, and peering through the window, while hurriedly dressing, he saw a very mysterious light bobbing back and forth in the beet field. On investigation he discovered it was his son working in the beets. The surprise of it all brought the father back to the conversation of the morning. He thought of how the boy had desired his companionship, and how he had let the lure of less important things, tempt him to refuse his son the boon he so much craved, "A father's comradeship." The fact that he had found him here in the dead of night, pulling weeds, the work that he, himself, disliked so much, made him feel in his heart that here was a great opportunity to be a pal to such a son. As the son continued his task, the father carefully went to the farther side of the field, and, under the star-lit sky, bowed

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himaelf before the Lord praying for an understanding heart, that he might know his son and be a real pal to him. Amid his tears, his soul filled at the thought of his son's great desire, now fully magnified by the earnest toil of hid hands, to make it possible that his father might go with him on the outing. He begged for strength and power to help his son, cost what it may. He, therefore, resolved to go to headquarters and report, "We'll go." The next morning there was no "counting out of rows;" with father on one side of the field and son on the other, the war on weeds was fiercely waged. As time sped on, the "gap" of weeds between them daily became smaller until, on Saturday noon, it was entirely closed. The father, his whole being aflame with enthusiasm grasped the hand of his son, saying: "I am very proud of you." Tears of joy stole into each one's eyes as they turned to view that which they had done, and kindly heaven smiled on the fast closing "gap" between father and son. Getting ready for the trip Saturday afternoon was glorious. Oh, the joy in the heart of each! Monday morning early found Antone and his father with haversack and blankets strapped ready for the trip that would mean to these two at least, the — biggest thing in the world closing the "gap" between a father and a son. Oh, the joy of that hike, right out in God's great "out-ofdoors" in the canyon, over the precipices, through the birch, the maples, the quakingaspens and pines, right out into nature where you feel you can hear her breathe the secret of her grandeur. That night when father and son sat down and partook of a meal which their own hands had prepared, the thought, how great a thing scouting has brought about for us, came home to father. He understood that scouting teaches the boy to take care of himself, to keep clean, inside and out; it makes him brave, trustworthy, benevolent and is in reality, a code that works and teaches the golden rule. Following the campfire stories and songs, father and son rolled into their blankets together, where they lay long after taps "thinking." Two or three times the son tried to muster courage to encircle his arms about his father's neck, and tell him how much he loved him, but the thought appalled him; there was still that "gap between." Then as if some great, wonderful influence had whispered it to him, the father broke the spell, by enfolding in his arms his own son. With all the pent up rapture of his father love, he pressed him to his bosom in holy father enthusiasm. There in the silent hours of the night, amid nature in all her majesty and grandeur, lay a father and his son who had found sacred communion. No word was spoken,

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but tears of exquisite joy mingled in the locks of the brown and grey. A father and a son had discovered each other. The next morning a hike to a wonderful cavern was taken; this trip required a steady head and a sure step, as many dangerous places were encountered. Father and son, each in his own deep thought, living over the joy of their discovery of each other, fell behind the troop and lost trail. Unknowingly they climbed into a very perilous position upon the face of an exceedingly high precipice, situated upon the rim of the canyon, many hundreds of feet deep. Seeing and realizing for the first time their great danger, the father was almost overcome with the thought that one misstep might plunge into the depths below, his newly found happiness, but with great effort and careful steps, they finally reached the safe footing of the trail. With the thought of their recent danger still heavy upon him, the father exclaimed: "My son, how like life all this is, so full of peril, one false step by either might forever separate us. Let you and me carefully traverse the remainder of life's journey, hand in hand, a father and a son, with great caution lest we fail. As if to solemnize their pact, in great gratitude, they bowed before the Lord in thankfulness for their greater vision of life and that out of the peril of their situation, a father and son had become united in purpose, and had closed forever the dangerous "gap" that had begun its growth between them. fleasant Grove, Utah

What Would Love Require? A seraph swept through the glittering gates, With rainbow mist an encircling glow; The word of the throne lent bliss-born haste As he sank 'mid clouds to the plane below. His Lord had bidden a quest of man "With all man had done since the long ago. *

His presence carried a shaft of light, A blessing attending wherever he went; He sensed men busy 'mid mortal-made might With weaklings struggling through courage lent. The winds brought word of an undawned morn, He shrank at the thought of lingering night. He suddenly turned on the homeward way Angry —he circled back shafts of fire; No one had listened who needed word, But a few had knelt when they sensed his ire. What the throne would do was not for then 'Twere better man ask, "What would love require?" Boston, Mass. Claudia May Ferrin