The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-12-22
From Arthag's Home Gazette.
The Erring.
BY ALICE CARY.

1.-THE quality Of mercy is not strained:
It droppeth like the gentle rain from heaven,
Upon the place beneath; it is twice blessed;
It's mightyestin the mightyest; it becomes;
The throned monarch better than his crown:
Els sceptre shows the force of temporal power, |
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth set the dread and fear of kings:
But mercy is above this ceptred sway;
It is enthroncd in the hearts of kings;
1t is an attribute of God himself;
And earthly power doth them show likest Gods,
When mercy seasons Justice
MERCHANT OF VENICE.
IF there be one prayer than another that
NE need always in our hearts, it is the "Lead US
not into temptation;'' how many, treadipg in as
ssraighta path,and with as firm step, perhaps
as ourselves, worn and weary, too it may be. with |
the tolls of the long and hard way, beckoned aside
into what seemed cool and sheltered nesting
place of rest. have turned from the narrow way
and been lost forever. Vain henceforth, are all
their struggles; darkIy between them and the
confidence Of the world, between them and the
friendships they have broken and most of all, be-
tween them and their own self t.respect, lies ''the
band of an all pitiless Demon" evermore.
Is not this retribution terrible enough-that
man and woman too should pause for their own
avocations, and, with naughty words and wither
ing looks, coldly measure the distance between
themselves and the fallen, even when themselves
have kept the way with feeble and faltering steps
and when the very error which they effect to
despiss. has shown up like light revealing the
hidious darkness into which they else would have
gonel For it is of the erring / speak now, and
not of the criminal. Darkened from its primal
beauty, the soul may be, yet it still is exceeding
precious, else in Heaven there would not be such
Joy over one Sim er that repenteth.
If we have kept our robes from the dust, and
our hands and our hearts clean, surely we cnn at
ford to be charitabfs and merciful towards those
who have not; but, even if SO, we are yet alike
subject to vanity, and the best and worthy man
has reason to cry out, "Lord be merciful to
sinner,'' before the holy Searcher of hearts.
Mercifulest of all, when the wicked woman was
brought before Him, was He who Himself was
without sin, saying, 'Neither do condemn
. thee.'Y
To the dark hall of PLATE the multitude throng:
Who is it that follows meekly along
: Unheedine the foreheads with diadems bound
And the blaze Of the jewels and girdles around,
And even the scoffer that mocks at her prayer! =
The Mary forgiven of Jesus is there.
Who sees the thorns planted-lhe cross and the
nails,
As the spirit that CRIED " will follow thee," fails?
The sun at the noon tide his brightness refuse,
AS they cry in derision, " Hail, King of the Jews''
The spear of the Roman, the writhe and the pray
er?-
The Mary whom Jesus forgave still is there.
The third morn is breakiug-how lovely the forms
That are bearing sweet roses and spice in their
; But the white brow of beauty is snddened with
woe,
The dark locks are down on her boso,, ,f .no1,
AS she sits on the rock by the tomb in desp,;r.
!. 'Tis Mary whom Jesus foreave that is ,ber.
She folds her pale hands on her desoIate hear,
And takes up her spices and myrrh TO depart.
But, lo! at her feet there shadows of gold.
The tidings that Jesus is risen are told
And "glory and henor " are mixed with her prav
ers
AS she lastens to Gaiee-Jesus is there.
There is less total depravity in the world than
we are apt to imagine, and doubt not but there
ia something good in almost every nature which
the Ieven of kindness might reach, and SO the
whole man be regenerated.
One little act of kindness, which says to degen-
crate brother, :" i also am man." and conse-
qusnty, alike subject to temptation with yourself
will do more for the building up of runous human
ssassni,s' ssssss las. TvITI