Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-07-17

deep whisper, 81 remember we'll when
made these two graves. There was not
sorrow TO fill the beds which here
made, they who sleep here died amid
the sweet breathing Of peace and honor.
They were good, honorable and viru.
Gus people, and when they were gone
our townsmen mourned, for our village
had lost It's most noble spirits. o,
love TO come and stand over those
graves, for know that God smiles up.
on them There is no taint no dis.
honor here. Malcom, do you know
who rests in those two graves 7"
The youth did not answer, nor did
he raise his head, but with one deep,
wild cry, he sank down, and there he
lay across the graves weeping and sob.
bing like a child. His father and mo.
ther slept there
For a while the old man gazed
tearfully upon the scene, and then he
took the youth by the arm and aroused
him up.
"Come, Malcom." he whispered, tive
will 60 away now can show you no
more."
The youth followed his guide out from
the church yard, and after the gate was
closed they passed on to the street,
Here Adam Stanford stopped.
Snow, Malcom," he said, "you can
return to your companions at the tavern,
hut let me pray you never use my name
again as you did this evening. When
you again think Of poor old Adam
Stanford, think only Of what he has
told you in the churchyard, think Of
what he has seen, aud Of what he has
suffered, and Of what you may in wei.
come speak,"
The old man turned partly away,
when Malcom sprans forward and
caugh, him by the arm.
"Uncle Adam, he uttered, in choked
and broken accents. %, forgive me for
what have now said and what have
done. IL cannot tell you all now
cannot speak but shall go to the tav.
efn no more. o, God bless you! God
bless you!"
= -
The clock struck nine, and Alice
Warren folded the hands Of her little
boy together, bade him say his prayers.
Her youngest girl was asleep in the
cradle. The first words Of the prayer
were uttered,-"Our Father who art in
heaven" when there came the sound
Of footsteps upon the plaak walk in the
little front garden. :,
ats papa" said the boy, letting his
hands drop upon his mothers knee, and
bending his ear to listen. But the mo-
ther dared not speak.
At last the door opened, and the hus'
band entered. Alice cast her eyes
tremblingIy up, and saw the big tears
that were rolling down the checks oi
her beloved. Instinctively she sprang
forward and clasped her arms around
her husbands neck.
"Malcom, Malcom 7" she cried, wha,
hos happened Tell me-O, tell me!
Malcolm Warren sank into chair
and as he drew his wife down into his
lap.
"Alice-O, Alice !" he uttered sob
bing and weeping as he spoke, "Can yor
forgive me for all that has passed r.
The gentle wife was bewildered a
!, first, nay almost frightened, for TIT
speech Of her husband was so wild ant
inc oherent she feared his brain wa
turned. But ere long he spoke agai'
and he spoke Of the resolution he ha'
: made. He did not tell Of any trial h
was going to make but he told her OF tn
iron will that had entered his SOUL
= The night of his temptation had passed
I and the day Of salvation had dawned.
!, 4 few moments more, and the hu'
= band and wife were upon their knee
: Their emotions we're too deep for utte!
ance-too wild and thrilling for speecl
. A moment they struggled there, an
:, then wept in silence.
= The little boy crept to the spot, an
u ! threw his tiny hands about the neck
" his parents for even his young soul ha
n caught the spark of new life that ho
beon breathed into existence within h
. happy home.
+ On the next morning Malcom Ware
"a arose better and happier man. Il
"a was calm now and he told Alice o
70 that had transpired the night before, al
~ ~ when it was all told they prayed as
y deemed souls alone can pray.
., Days, weeks, and months passed aw
Il ,J and Malcom Warren became once mo
- ~ the handsome youth that had be
~ loved and cherished by honest friends
hours gone b.. The flowers Of affecti'
10 bloomed again about his hearth ston
rs and the angel Of peace and Joy made
10. home beneath his roof.
~ ~ People wondered when they motto
"e that Adam Stanford went no more
" " the tavern but the story Of that nigh
~ ~ lesson in the village churchyard becal
-. ~, generally known, and other men took
h'' lo to their hearts and profited by it.
~ ives a good seed sown in fertile sp
~ u. and the fruit was abundant. The 60
~ old sexton never gave his exam pie ag'
'"e n on tho side Of moral ruin, but to
,aJ nJ last day Of his life he gloriied in the
,.u ! %, fern he had helped to work and the |
aat hours Of his life were cherished by kne
ing that some Of the happiest families
!, the village blessed him for the joys d
.ne dawned upon them.