The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-01-05

None
Pity your child, then If such lot is to be
hers, lei your love make softer the pillow on which
her poor head must lie. Oh my friend, do not
fill it with thorns !
Fifty spoken were these words, and they found
lodging place in the mind of Mrs. Edwards; yet
she answered.
She deceived US She broke her solemn prom
se not TO marry this man.
Had you any right TO extort such promise !?
calmly asked the friend.
WAS she not our child
Yours to love, guard, guide, and educate for
Heaven while child. And yours TO advise and
lead into right ways, when woman. But not
yours, after the child became the woman, TO ex-
tort promises in violation of that freedom to love
which is the hearts God.gven prerogative. The
attempt to consrain in this direction was the very
way to thwart your wishes. Are you a
acOm1Gn, and ignorant on this head Commune
with your own heart, my friend, and you will see
that you have erred Pardon me when | say that
you had no right TO bring your child INTO the ago.
niziug strait Of choosing between her parents and
the man she loved, no matter how you might es
mate him; no, not even if he were utterly uuwor-
thy Of her, which will not believe to be so. For
the breach of a promise 10 yourselves you are
more to blame than she for you forced her to
make promise that she could mol keep and the
necessity of the absoves her.
Her father will never forgive her., said Mrs.
Edwards, her voice subdued from lis recent stern
ness. This act has separated him forever from
his child
A step was heard in the passage, at this mo-
mont. The ladies glanced towards the door, and
Mr.. Edwards. There was dark shadow on
his face. He nodded cody to the visitor, who
said to him, speaking from the moments impulse
- This cannot be true
What? he enquired.
That you will never forgive Lucy for The step
she has taken!'
The shadow on his face grew darker, as he an.
swered--
She was forewarned of the consequence
But you will reIent and forgive
'NeveIn
You have father ? said the visitor, impress.
sively.
Mr.. Edwards looked with halEdoubting, half.
startled air into the face of his interrogation.
A Father in Heaven land finger, slowly
raised, was pointed upward.
'Madamn
The voice of Mr.. Edwards was far from being
steady.
'Have you never offended-never acted in dis
obedience to The will of that Father? What if He
were to say, Il will neither reIent nor forgive %
Pardon this freedom Of speech in one who
claims TO be a true friend added the lady, in a
she passed from the room ere they could prevent
her departure.
They were true words, spoken resoIutely, and
at fitting mnment-and they sunk deeply and
into the hearts of Mr.. Edwards and
his vile, awakening doubts and ques;ionngs which |
they vaniy tried to thrust aside Had thew ever
lived in obedience to the will and word Of their |
Heavenly Father! Had they nothing TO be for |
given, that they so resolutely refused to forgive?
4
Of mind, as they sa: alone Oh The evening that fol-.
Owed this day-'calmer for the words OF truth
which had found lodgment in their minds. To
see aud acknowledge the duty of forgiveness was
o soften their hearts towards their erring child.
And now the mothers spirit began 20 have re-
lIlZng perception OF the unhappy life that awaited
Ter daughter, united she was to one who DOS
essed not in her estimation, a single attribute of
genuine manhood. Tearnipg love followed the
notions of pity. Forgiveness became spontaneous.
And when she spoke to her husband, it was in en-
reaty for the absent one. He received her words
n silence; but his heart did not reject them.
How changed was all From the lips of Mr..
EDWARDS fell no harsh and denunciatory language
from his brow had passed the deep lines of stern
niger or hery Indignation. And tears no longer
lied the eyes or gIisened on the cheeks of Mrs.
'dwards-In her tranquil face the anguish of
opeless sorrow was not seen. Truthful words,
lou9h harshly sounding, had been far better for
lem than weak sympathy or idle tears. {
And now they were in better state to meet the !
reat sorrow and disappointment of their lives, t
nd to extrac; from the cup both they and their
hid would be called to drink whatsoever OF ,
"eeiness yet mingled in the bitter portion
lhe marriage Of Lucy not wise one. 1t I
VolVed so many incongruous elements that hap. s
ness, in her relation, was thing impossi. =
e. Yet, IN the forgiveness of her parents and in
eIr tender sympathies, she found strength to i
ldure and bravery TO meet her Iife.duties, from d
hIch, but Tor this, she would have tainted and r
lien by the way. l.
Ange: towards the erring and the disobedient q
rings from selfish feeng-forgiveness is the f
od-Ike spirit that loves out Of ITSELF and besses i
upon whom it desires blessing. {
GooD ADvICE.-The Albany IN. " Knick. b
booker says: The best cure for hard times is a
onomy. shilIIng's worth OF white beans will
as much feeding as fifty cents worth of pota- e
rs, while SIX cents worth Of Indian meal will 2
AXE as much bread as fourteen cents worth of Jt
ur. Besides this it is twice as wholesome. Al. o
0st every family in town could cut down their n
Penses one-half if they only chose to do so. G.
A gentleman, popping his head through a tailor $,
op window, 10 order to obtain full view of the a,
r operatives, exclaimed: al
What o'clock is it! a,
Upon which the tailor lifted his Ian hoard ap1 ~