Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-06-05

My humanity was smothered in my gratifed
revenge.
Thus | rode along, thinking about the du-
ty of executing the laws against thieves and
robbers, and all evil-doers. As | was thus
Illuminating, by some unaccountable %associa-
ton of ideas, the petition of the Lords Pray
er, touching forgiveness, was forcibly brought
to my mind, and | unconsciously spoke out
aloud, saying, : Father, forgive me, as | have
forgiven my-enemy,' | was going to say.
But it came TO my mind just then, that | did
not wish to be forgiven as ! had forgiven the
man who stole my corn. | was COMPOUNDED.
| dared not utter that petition. ] tried again.
Father, forgive me- i cried aloud but ]
dared not say, as | have forgiven my neigh
bor.' | was greatly dismayed to think | had
brought myself into a position, in which
could not utter the Lords prayer. | rode
home in great distress of mind, put up my
horse, entered the house, and felt so uneasy,
that my wife observed my anxiety in my
countenance. When she inquired the cause,
| first told her that | had placed myself in a
position which forever precludod me from
asking God to forgive my sins, and then re-
lated all the circumstances of the case. She
tried to comfort me--to convince me that was
over righteous that | could forgive the man,
though | had punished him and that / could
ask God to forgive me, as | had forgiven
him. But all her endeavors were to no pur-
pose. My enemy in his dungeon. his broken
hearted wife, and his weeping children were
continually before me, and my mind could
receive no comfort from any source. | could
not sleep that night. All the following day,
which was Sunday, | walked about the house
nearly distracted, wringing my hands in ago.
ny of mind, and crying out, Father, forgive
me,-Father, forgive me but | could moi say,
as l have forgiven my neighbour In the
evening, my wife suggested that | might per-
haps get him out of jail, and restore him to
his family. Il WILL said ], IF it cost all
my fortune This determination for a mo-
mont brought peace to my mind /; but the
thought soon occurred, that | might not be
able to get him out; or, that | might die be-
fore | accomplished it. This again threw
me into distress. | walked about the house
all that night, crying out, Father forgive
rhe; but could not say, as ! have forgiv-
en- my neighbor's trespass against me-
Early on Monday morning, | called on the
magistrates, told them that revenge had in
fuenced me in the prosecution, and had for
a time closed my heart against love, forgive
ness, and humanity. ] told them that ] now
"a" NY SlI : III VIC l. newer COulus illlOul
hooking God, ask Him to f rgive me as |
had forgiven my %neighbor, while that neigh
Dor and his family were all wretched, in con-
sequence of my revenge. They kindly listen
ed to my plea and, on my entering into
bonds for the mans good behaviour, they
opened the prison and let him out. | took
him into my wagon, brought him to my
house, opened my barn, took a bag of rye,
and then said to my neighbor, There, carry
that home to Your wife and children; and,
when it is gone, if you cannot get any thing
for them to eat, come to me and you shall
have more, while | have any,
Peace was instantly restored to my trou,
bled breast; and ] exclaimed aloud, in the
t%ullness OF my soul, Father, forg,pe me nod0,
as 1 hare forgiven my neighbour That WAS
II HAPPIFsr MOMENT OF MY LIFE. NY
neighborJ orgare me- and from that day, we
have been on terms Of loving intimacy
Henry C.. WRIGHT.