Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-05-17
Here Adam Stanford stopped.

Here Adam Stanford stopped. ss-o.r
"Now, Malcolm" be said, '.you ca
return to your companions at the tay
ern, but let me pray you never use m
name again. as you did this evening"
When you again think of poor Adar
Stanford, think only of what be has toll
you in the church-yard; think of whs
he has seen, and Of what he has sufi
cred. and of that you may in welcom
speak" ~
The old man turned partly away
when Malcolm sprang forward AM
caught him by the arm.
"Uncle Adam?" he said, in chocket
and broken accents, 80, forgive me fe
what have said and what 1 have don,
III cannot tell you all now. l can
not speak, but l shall go to the taverI
no more. o, God bless you'll God bles'
youp
The clock struck nine, and Alice War
rem folded the hands of her little boy to
gether, and bade him say his prayers
Her youngest girl was asleep in the era
die. The first words of the prayer wa:
uttered--''0ur Father who art in Hea'
ven,". when there came the sound o.
footsteps upon the plank-walk in the lit
tie front garden. s;.,.-
"It is papa" said the boy, letting his
hands drop upon his mothers knees and
bending his ear to listen. But the moth
er dared not speak.
At tlength the door was opened, and
the husband entered. Alice cast her
eyes tremblingly up, and saw the big
tears that were rolling down the cheeks
of her beloved.
Instinctively she sprsng forward and
clasped her arms about her husband s
neck. ri. -,
Malcolm, Malcolml'' she cried
"what has happened. Tell me, o, tell
me-"
Malcolm Warren sank into the chair
and as he did so he drew his wife down
into his lap.
"Alice, o, Alice p he exclaimed, sob
bing and weeping as he spoke. "Can
you forgive me for all that has passed."
The gentle wife was bewildered at
first, nay, almost frightened, for the
speech of her husband was so wild and
incoherens she feared his brain was
tured. But ere long, he spoke again,
and as he spoke he kissed her. He was
more calm aud his voice was more low
He told her where he had been-and Ire
spoke of the resolution he had made
He did not tell Of any trial he was going
to make, but he told her Of the iron will
that had entered his soul. The night
of his temptation had passed, and the
day of salvation had dawned.
A few moment more and the husband
and wife were upon their knees. They
tried to pray aloud but could not. Their
emotions were too deep for utterance-
too wild and thrilling for speech A
moment they struggled there, and then
wept in silence The little boy crept to
the spot, and threw his tiny arms about
the neck of his parents. for even his
young soul had caught the spark of new
life that had been breathed into exis-
tence, within his happy home.
On the next morning, Malcolm War
ren arose better and happier man.
He was calm now, and he told Alice all
that had transpired the night before,
and when it was all told they prayed as
redeemed souls alone can pray.
Days, weeks and months passed away,
and Malcolm Warren became once more
the handsome youth that had been loved
and cherished by honest friends in days
gone by. The flower of affection
again about the hearthstone,
and the angel of peace and Joy made
home beneath his roof.
People wondered when they noticed
that old Adam Stanford went no more
to the tavern, but the story of that
nights lesson in the church-yard be-
came generally known, and other men
took it to their hearts. and profted by it.
1t was good seed, sown in fertile
spot, and the fruit was abundant. The
good old sexton never gave his exam
pie again on the side of mortal ruin,
but to the last day of his life he gloried
IN the reformation he had helped to
work, and the last hours of his life were
,heered by knowing that some of the
nappiest families in the village blessed
him for the joys that dawned upon
hem, ..- 'l-sH ,1f.1