Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1854-04-29
an Afettius 5kettb.
FORGIVE HIM
BY sYLvANUs CoBB, JR.

"Forsive him." said Mrs. Stearns, 80,
Lowell, forgive him!''
The speaker was an aged woman and
widow. Her head was white with the
frost of years, and her mild features were
deeply marked by the hand oftime. There
was tear in her eye, and her face was
clouded with sorrow. She spoke TO her
son, a middle-aged, strong-ieatured person,
whose countenance betrayed a frm-wlled,
unbending heart, but yet appeared an up
right, honorable man.
"Forgive him !" repeated the white
haired widow, as she raised her trembling
hands towards her son. ale is your bro
ther--your only brother. o, if you know
your own heart, you will forgive him."
"Neverw spoke Lowell Stearns, in a
firm, deep tone. "John has wronged me
and | should lie TO my own soul, were
TO forgive him now"
"And have not you wronged him 2" ask
ed the widow, impressively.
81 wronged him How ?"
"By withholding from him your love,
by treating him harshly and causing him
to SIM" answered his mother, kindly.
"Cease, mother. When you say that |
have caused him 10 sin, yon are mistaken.
He has chosen his own path, and now he
must travel in it,"
"Lowell, you are the oldest, and from
YOU should come the love that can alone
heal the wound between you and John"
"Listen 10 me, MOTHER" said the stubborn
man, with spice Of bitterness in his tone
"John has been unjust to me he has been
unmanly and unkind He has injured Inc
beyond reparation."
"No, no, Lowell" quickly interrupted
his mother; "not beyond reparation."
ayes he has injured my feelings by
the most fatal darts of malice and ill-will.
He has lied about me to my friends, and
even. assailed my private character"
Sand can you not forgive him all this
she asked, teDderly.
"Perhaps | might" returned Lowell
Stearns, shut" he added in hoarse tone
while his frame quivered with deep feeling
"he has done more than that. He ha'
spoken of my wife, and. But ! will
not tell il al. cannot forgive him this
The strong man sank into chair as he
spoke and for some moments bis mother
was silent. AT length she approached him
and laid her hand upon bis head.
"Forgiye him" she whispered.
"Neyer" uttered Lowell,
"Forgiye him, and be happy. Alas, my
son you are not happy now, nor can you
be, so long as you are al enmily with your
brother, o, why will you le, this breach
grow widsEi You know that all this eoul-
meneed iEom a mere misunderstanding be-
tween YOU, and now you are helping tC
make Il worse. | know YOU will tell ms
that YOU have done nothing TO harm John
but II YOU will look into your owa bosom
YOU will dnd that !, IA angefsd towards him
ils knows this, and he acts aeeoTdingly.-
Tie is mOfs impulsiye ,haA you aFs, bat hi
heart "a a. kind a. yours, and be ls all gen
crosby aud love TO his iT,sads. JohA'
hasly, and during all that time be nsye
spoke one unsind word 10 bis poor molhsT
aAnd dad ever speak 0akindly ~ you
.. my molhsTf' asked Lowell, 10 bal
hsshsd voice,
.Ne, 40. You ahd John had both kla
hearts, aAd 4 gIlsyvs ae soFsly 10 sss 70
, a. you are now. u gfissss ms 10 sss 70
balh ~ unhappy. Al, ioSsll, isas lha
you 40 not Tsaliss hos noble lAlng u
lio ioFvlvs lhoss who have injured yos."