The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-01-23

find relief in hot tears, as bitterly | wept at
my fathers feet.
Tell mother-telI Ebon,' sobbed out; slet
them not cast me off-asb them TO forgive
me-
My father lifted me up and sat me on his
knees, great boy that | was, but l dared not
look into his face.
Yes they must know this, Ralph, painful
story as it must be-
Now, father | exclaimed, ~interrupting
him, tell them ALL have been so afraid to
look them even in the face. o, l would
hide nothing any longer.
There was a long, sad pause.
will you go and tell mother? asked.
yes, Ralph he answered sorrowfully.
| then went away into a closer adjoining
the c-ounting-room, and sat down upon an
old trunk of papers, there alone and
unohseryed, TO await my fathers return
from the house. In an hours time, and it
seemed ages, he came back and unfolded to
me the result at this sad consultation with my
mother, in the requirements (which | num-
f bly, and heartily acquiesced. There | re-
NAMED until supper time, when he took me
by the hand and d me home, without speak
ing-but there was a plying tenderness in
&c
his manner, which went 10 my very heart. |
could not appear at supper, but sought the
solitude of my fathers chamber. How
thankful did | feel, humiliating as was mysitu-
/ alton, that the great wall of partition, which
: guilt had made between me and my family,
was last broken down, and had no longer
t to bear in secrecy a dreadful burden. In an
hours time my father called me TO the sit
81 - .~ 49, H. g.. r1-s--
devotions, and my mother, sisters, and broth
ers, were already seated at their accustom-
+ ed places, Near my father was an empty
chair, in which he motioned me TO sit. The
= doors were closed, and the stillnes of death
pervaded the room. One hasty glance |
n stole towards my mothers face, and beheld
d a paleness on her cheek and dimness in her
eye, which | shall never forget
Il have something to say began my faith
d er, in a low voice, and he related all / had
told him, without either blaming or extenu-
4 ating. In striking and forcible language did
he represent the danger and guilt of disguis-
II ing any sin under harmless innocent
names.
i Sin is no Joke said be, impressively, land
= a prophet of God, in stern and strong Ian
guage, has denounced a wo against those
II who call evil good, and put light for dark.
70 now | hope Ralph is penitent; he feels he
can never be happy again until he is forgiv
Ell. Ehon, if you forgive your brother his
great wrong come and tell him so.'
. That dear brother flew towards me, weep.
ing and broken hearted as [ sat, and clasp
ing my hands in his, exclaimed, 'Fron
my heart forgive you, Ralph' while the
great tears gllstened in his eyes. He would
have fallen on my neck, but my father mo-
toned him away.
'Now we must carry the matter before
God said my father, solemnly. and the fami
or ly knelt in prayer. He placed his hand Oh
nay head as be clearly and distinctly laid op
open my guilt to the God of Heaven; ther
humbly did he pray for my forgiveness. How
he earnest did he plead for my soul! How bt
/ besou ght that | might be cleansed by The
blood Of Christ, and dedicate myself TO tht
,e service O fmy Heavenly Master! Then hoy
did he plead for us all, that we might 81
ID live upon earth as 10 become a reunited fam
lily around the eternal throne! That agoni
id zing, earnest prayer will follow me to las
life. Did not then realize that sin mus
be no slight thing, albeit committed in dark
X ness and alone, which could bring such ter
ror and wrelchedness, to myself, could tea
id with griefa parents heart, and which requiI
ed the blood ofJesus Christ to wash away
i | had known the peace of we'll d%oing--had
not reaped the bitter fruit of wrong doing
My father saw this and said, as we arose
Let this matter never be alluded 10 or meI
toned henceforth.
Then little Alice came TO me, and unpiI
ming the blue kerchiefat her side, she loving
nd " clasped one arm about my neck, for | re
;tG sumed my seat, and with the other tenderl
~ wiped my face.
Dear Ralph, love you tenderly, and Far
ne ny does too; she says she loves you bette
~ than she does George, if he is her brother
~ Precious little comforter! How dear wa
H. your tender and child-like sympathy, in til;
ny hour of humiliation and repentance.
Often, in later years, have | envied tb
. blessed gift of sister. Ministering spirit
- sweet sisters are,in the household band, no
ering with their quiet and glad %afectio
round the pathway oftheir brothers, strengt
~, ening their better principles, and drawin
10 them into the hallowed paths Of domest
- enjoyment.