Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-10-16
NO. III.


ii necessary to tell Eleanor false story concern
ing ms present suspension Of intercourse with Gle
ment.'
think this absolute lie of Paurs touched NV
aunt as sensiby any point in the history for she
broke silence. And what she said. was the epJ
OF this young mans historT2 Are you going to
tell US we must not despise him?
"One moment longer" urged my guardian "and
/ you shall pass your Judgment. Paul married Elea-
nor; you are surprised Alasl poetical justice Is
not the rule Of this life. Yet why do / say alas
! has it not higher rue2 He married her then,
each loved the other, but Paul was miserable man.
hls friends noticed it, naturally then his wife; bat
he Kept his secret; no wonder months wrought up
oa him the effect OF years. Nevertheless he neg
iected has duties-he had no heart for them; self
contempt bitter remOrse, eankered every aspira-
tion enieebled effort, sapped and DESTROYED his ca
pabillteS Life, slipped. wasted through his fingers
1 could not said Mr.. Ellison, give y5u an idea OF
what he suffered but believe he was at this time
deeply mistaken, Increasingly eriminal-If maHs
sin be black as hell-and he was back-remorse
cannot mend it; so long as he lives, life requires du-
ties and effort from him, let him not think he IS free
tospend It in this selfish absorption"
True said my aunt;- but let him not expect
even though be strive to rise and partially succeed,
that he is to be respected as q wOrthier man.
a year passed, resumed my guardian. without
needing the remark "and Clement returned TO Eng
land Originally. he had a noble soul; sanctifying
sorrow had made him great He inquired after
ms former friend; wrote to him, assuring him be
could meet Eleanor now with the caImnesS of friend
ship; and forced himself upon him. saw forced.
for naturally. Clement was TO Paul an accusing an
gel. An agonised retribution was at hand Tor the
latter. Eleanor died in her first confinement after
few hours illness; her infant even died before her
In this extremity. well was il for Paul that Gle
ment was at hand; in his overwhelming grief the
{ past seemed cancelled; he could claim and endure
his friends magamiOus tenderness. When be re-
covered from this stroke, he reused himself to a
new existence Clement had succeeded in cOnvin-
cling him of his forgiveness Of his friendship even
After the FIRST shock Of feelings he said. ~the
thought OF what > nature like yours must suffer,
which had been tempted to such an act, changed,
slowly grant. but still changed resentment into
sympathy For my own consolation, | studied the
New Testament it has taught me lessons, which |
think. Paul. yOu, well as l have missed.
won't insult YOU by dwelling my free pardon; il
it is worthy Of acknowledgement, put your hand
once More to the plough. labor for the welfare Of
others and 50 work ont yOur Own.' lie argaed
against Femorse and urged the considerations which
I have brought more freely forward. with such eff
feet that Paul laid them TO heart and stroEe TO
test their truth. With Gods forgiveness sought
and obtained. and that Of the man he had injured
with principles drawn from deeper and di-
vineF source than he had known belcIe-with a
spirit humbed but not crushed. he proved that life
still lay before him q field for honorable and re
munerltive labor. | believe his friend respected
him more in this second stage OF his experience
than before; know he did not respect him less.
VIII any other presume 20 do sO? asked Mr.. Eli
son. approaching my aunt MY dear friend, Won
der not at my tenderness to Mabel; that is the sal
Utary result of severe an experience; it is MY
own story l have told.
| think my aunt must have guessed the truth ere
IL Il
lent with astOuishmcnt. Ny guardian turned and
locked at me. mabel he said earnestly ~let me
not have humblel myself before you in vain God
preserve y0u from SHINING against your own nature
and Him; but where YOU fall, God give YOU grace
and strength to rise and strive again. And grant
this. too. my child; in after life you may have
much influence; for my sake, for your own expe-
rience OF suffering and shame, be mercifRl to the
wrOng-dOer. Make it one of your duties to help
the fallen. even though she be a woman. and con
vince her, that all is not lost in false step
God provides against his creatures remOrse--shal
man be less mereilul TO his brother
MIR. Ellison, said my aunt, the life Of effort
and selfdenial YOU have led condemns my severity.
have been too harsh: but ] must seriously review
this argument. Mabel come here,' | approached
her timidiy; she drew me nearer. Gone must still
repent before they can be pardoned she said; but
| think YOU 10 repent. Mabel
My tears flowed. Aunt. forgive me" | whis-
pered; Il am sorry indeed. | don't like to say il,
but think | shall never tell lie again.
She kissed me. and rose up; there were tears in
her ewes. let it be, then, as though it had
been, except to teach you Mr.. ELisOns lesson, she
said. She then approached my guardian. Il knew
not she added ia a softencd tone, ard holding out
her hand with an air of respect chow mueh you
lost some wears ago by Clements death. Hence
FORTH you and will be better friends
Mr. Ellison pressed her hand in silenee;I saw he
could not speak, | had an instinct that he would
wish to be alone, 50 followed my aunt quickly out
of the room.
She turned kindly round and despatched me on
some message as Of old; felt was forgiven. Be
fore fulfilling it, | ran into my roem and shut the
door; then kneeling down by the bedside, prayed
as had not before done, with sOftened heart and
c0htrite tears for Gods forgiveness.
Those few hours have Influenced a lifetime.