The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-05-23
The Beauty Of Forgiveness.


cendently beautiful. Yet many forget to e1er-
else this most precious trait of the human heart,
while others give it only partial application in
ing there are some faults among mankind
which it would be crime to forgive. - .1-
We rejoice, however, that we have among
us many great and noble souls, who recognize
forgiveness as means Of reformation. Mr..
Hargrave was one of those bright stars in the
shining galaxy of human society, that are ever
ready to cheer and encourage the unfortunate
with pleasant smile and kind word, and yield
timely relief to poverty and distress. The
begear never turned from his door with the
pangs of hunger knawing at his heart strings,
nor the grief-worn without feeling the burden
of care and sorrow lifted from their spirits, nor
did he relieve those only, who came to him for
assistance, he searched for the sorrow stricken
that he might pour into their bosoms the all
healing balm of human sympathy and many
grateful hearts in this good city, can attest to
his active charities.
1t was bleak December night in the year
1843, the piercing wind seemed to congesl the
very hearts blood, as Mr. Hargrave, with a
spirit Of benevolence worthy of a Howard
traversed the nearly deserted streets, that he
might relieve any whom hard hearted avarice,
penury or intemperance had thrust on that Bit
ter cold night. AS he was passing through
one of those miserable alleys, with which our
large cities abound, one of those dark and
wretched lanes into which the heartless throng
who worship at fashions shrine never think OF
entering, his footsteps were suddenly arrested
by a sweet childish voice, exclaming in touch
ing tones of pathetic pleading that might have
thrilled the hardest heart: "Charity, in the
name Of mercy, my mother dies of hunger
Oh, was atouching sight, that fral, shiverlng
child, with her dark earnest eyes upturned, as
if pleading for the protection Of heaven, at the
same time that she asked charity Of her fellow
man!
Mr.. Hargrave stopped not to question wheth-
er it was his particular duty to shield the untor-
tunate child before him, but with her threaded
the dark street in quest Of her wretched home.
She pointed out to him dim ightin the upper
story of dilapidated building towards which
they anxiously fastened. So eager was Mr..
Hargrave to do good, that he scarcely noticed
the creakng of the stairs Which shook beneath
his feet, but passed on until a'door was opened
by the child and the words-'my mother
brought Mr. Hargrave to a stand. Ah thought
he, the wealthy may talk of poverty, but they
cannot realize what it is On pallet of straw
in one corner of the room, lay an emaciated
woman, beautiful still, notwithstanding she hac
been assailed by poverty, hunger and distress
A low stool and sort of box, which served the
double office of chair and table, were the only
fixtures of which the apartment could boast
The faint Pickering of the smoulderlng trt
seemed but to render the cold more piercing
and shed pale and sickly light over the abode
of poverty and wrechedness.
The child advanced to the bedside of he
mother, and said-in low musical tones
"Mother, the doctor would not come. He saie
he could not live without money, and must at
tend to those who could pay for his services
and O! mother, he looked SO coldly on me an
spoke so harshly, it almost broke my heart
And then | went out into the streets and aske
charity Of the passers-by, till my heart ache
and my blood seemed frozen, but here is kin
gentleman, who, l am sure, will aid u.s.
The tear of pity mostened the eye of Nj
Harerave while listening to the voice of littl
;, Anna Pierce. Tears were not all he gave!-
He left them not till physician had been sum
moned to the bedside of Mrs. Pierce, sue
nourshment provided as she greatly needed
and a bright fire sparkling on the hearth, ditiu
sing light and warmth through the before cheer
less apartment. But few days passed, er
Mrs. Pierce had so fair recovered her strength
as to be able to relate her history to him VIII
so kindly befriended her.
"Mine," said she 'is sad tale of disobedi
+ ence. My father Mr.. H. started on hearin
her pronounce the name of one OF the mos
: wealthy men of the city, judge Marston, i
early life surrounded me with all the luxurle
that wealth could produce. No pains wer
spared in nv education, not one desire OF m
# heart felt ungratifed, to nae life ever wore
1t couleur de rose, thought not that poverty an
misery such as have since endured, could ex
/ ist. Among my young associates Henry flerc
5 was conspicuous for intelligence, nobeness an
: generosity of spirit, and had learned to fee
n for him an unconquerable regard-our faith wa
0 plghted. | had not dreamed that my tathe
would OF could object to our marriage as HI
J character was unexceptionable, but alas! h
# was poor Ny fathers rage knew no bound
when solicited to sanction our union. Henr.
d was forbidden to enter his house, and was toll
to forget him, but alas! that was Impossible
y Suffice it to say, that we met in private ant
after a long and severe struggle IN my heart
h between love and duty to my parent, and afIec
;, ton of my betrothed | consented to prvat
:, marriage, believing my father could not lont
Il cherish feelings of resentment towards his onl.
vkchild. The result showed lwas mistaken. Al
attempts on my part at reconciliation have bee1
met with naughty silence. One act of disc
bedience has forever steeled his heart agalns
g. me- Had it not been for the bitter reflection
that in gaining husband had lost father
we5might have been comparatively happy, TO
; time at least. Henry struggled hard to sur
round me with the luxurious to which hat
been accustomed from early childhood, hi
health, (always delicate gave way to unre
mitting toll, and in agony Of spirit which Ian
guage, however eloquent would fail to portray
| saw him clasped in deaths icy arms. | hae
borne the anger of my father with calmness'
had submitted to the evils attending the life o
poverty and obscurity which had chosen with
out mulmur, but this last greatest grief, was too
much for my almost bursting heart TO see
him, the chosen of my afections-him on whom
/ had lavished so much deep, undyng loves
denly snatched from me was too, much. Fol
I q fine + was nearly stupifed with my over