Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-03-29
A TRUE STORY.
aDEAL GENTLY WITH THE
ERRING."
BY HELEN IRVING.

transformations goolness. lie was mol
wilhuut his prcularities--hs faults
hut these were mostly Of education an,l
habit, and affected moi The heart-the
source of a consl,m kindiness.
| II is true. b, some of the rigid reilly
ioniss about him, he was looked upon
with misirusi, for the ireeexprrssion and
exercise OF his liberal opinons--fof he
was not OF those who deem the way of
| life 100 marrow" for any To walk in.
save their own peculiar sect-hnl through
all his life played the sweet waters of
mercy seasoning justice quite as true
as theirs
| AT the time to which refer, his fami-
| ly consisted OF wife and two daughters
the eldest of whom, a girl of fifteen. had
been for nearly two months an invalid.
These he supported in slmple style, by
following his profession, that of lawyer,
IN the city adjacent. whilher he repaired
every morning. returning at sunset.
| He was not II man of brilliant talents,
and therefore had never attracted much
notice at the bar, hut his goodness and
integrity had made hlm numerous friends,
and his time was always fully occupied
1t was still, sunny Sabbath afternoon
in July. that Mr.. Livingston brought to
the door his horse and carriage, that
lie might give his invalid Emily sight
Of the green fields and waving woods,
and a breath oil the fresh summer air.
All. it was pleasant to see the faint
glow that delight seht to the sick one s
cheek. as The mother carefully robed her,
aud placed her in the carriage, and very
pleasant il was to the father to note the
happiness of that ride-Emily's first re-
lease from the sick room-ior business of
late, had pressed SD urgently upon Mr..
Livingston. that he had no time in the
week. to, devote to the pleasure of his
child.
Only one who has been i'll can realize
the Joy with which she saw again the
lblossomng wales, the bright streamleis.
and teli The free passing of the breath of
I ileaven--can understand The feeling of
lies preriousness, the calm, sweet sense
8oi The joy of existence, that came then.
1t seemed that the music of the birds
was sweeier, in the still, Sabbath AIR,
that the flowers were brighter, and the
leaves softer green.
All, earth is always beautiful when it
is Sabbath in The heart!
About five miles distant from RI
was the populous town of C,
where resided Elnily.s grand parents.
AMI at their door Mr.. Livingston alighed
that his daughter might see for while
her aged relatives.
They bad remained about an hour,
and Emily having recovered from her
slight fatigue, and received the las, cares
ses OF her doaling grandmother, TO
whom she was namesake and pet, was
now ready for departure, W hen on going
to the door, their horse and carriage was
nowhere To be seen.
Here was an unex pc, ted dilemma
The horse though high spirited. Mr..
Livingston knew to be well trained, and
moreover, he had been securely fastened
10 the ring in the payement-there were
no traces of the struggle that have taken
place had The animal endeavored TO free
himself-there was but one conclusion,
he must have been most daringly stolen.
twas the first impulse of Mr.. Living
ston to institute an immediate search
but that was impracticable, for the sun
was declining, and his invalid daughter
must be home before night, so after a
an, :, m, laI, ha t,ay, bo ray>asroI ~ a,
livery stable, whose keeper was known
10 him, there to procure yechile to
convey himself and daughter back to
h. and to make arrangements for
The recovery of his horse and carriage.
He had often driven the animal to
town, and he found that the people of
the stable needed no description of him.
Mr.. Smith. the keeper, readily agreed to
d spa ch men in pursuit.. and after hastily
arranging all necessa ary preliminaries,
Mr.. Livington hurried back to his daugh-
ter.
Although there seemed hardly possi-
hilily, that the horse should not be spec.
dily recovered, still he felt some uneasi-
ness, for the animal was one he owned
4
for Two or three years. and 10 which he
aud his family were much attached. and
he had some fears that the thief mighs
have concealed his prize, with the in
,ention Of conveying him away in the
night.
The neighbors had seen Mr.. Livings-
ton return with horse and carriage not
his own, and the story of his loss was
soon noised about. Il was that evenings
theme for conversation in every house
some hoped that "if he caught the fell
low he would make him suffer-" while
others rejoiced ..ihat The villain would be
in the hands OF faWyer, who mus, know
how TO manage him.
Mr.. livingston felt that il would be
useless Tor him to return To c. iha,
night. He could not aid The persons SO
much better qualified Tor the search ,han
he, and all thai was left for him was 10
wait patiently until morning trusting
then to find his horse recovered, and the
reckless perpelra:or Of the theft taken in
10 custody. *