The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-12-10
BEAUTY OF FORGIVENESS.
BY MApaE NARY.

rate the human character, there is none
more desirable OF lovely in its effects than
a forgiving spirit" The heart that relen,s
not at the suffering inflicted BY s,cical in
difference, or refuses to forgive the carless
errors of the penitent, who sues oescech.
ingly for pardon, must be not only ada
mant but void, indeed, OF all those noble
qualities that God Intended should elevate
the souls Of men. There is a magical
sweetness in the word torgire that implies
all ttat 70 noble and generous! And
what shigh.souied generosity it bcspeaks
as 1t falls from the lips Of an Injured, ave,
broken hearted one who scornipg the
more ignobIe spirit of revenge, seeks not
to return wrong, but calmly, nobly de.
clares forgiveness 10 the aggressor, though
he may be his veriest enemy on earth.
but to present n picture not
mid the gay and fashionable circles oflifc
let us look, for a moment, upon you errinr
youth, who has scorncd the kindly admo.
n~itions Of a devoted parent, and has n
dercd far from the path of duty. Amid
his career of folly and dissipation, he is
awakened 10 a sense of hi, deprivation
from the paths Of honor ard rectitude.
and IN his better moments Of reflection he
receives to throw oil the letters that bind
him to sin and dependency, and exhibit
that nobloness ofsoul which his past way
wardness has hitherto excluded from view.
Now he is retracing his steps homeward,
while bis heart knows but one desire-to
throw himself at the leet Of his sire, and
there, in trembling accents, plead. TIL the
smile OF forgiveness rests upon his fathers
face. Tls true the weight grows heavier
upon his heart as he approaches his child
hoods home, and anxious fears iutrude a;
yet his prayer asccnds t. Heaven that" all
will be WELL" and impollei by motives
the strongest, the purest, he hurtics on.
ward.
Soon 4 lettering form rises to view,
which he recognizes 10 be his father, occu-
pying a ~favorite retreat in the old familiar
domains, and prarenlly engrosscl with
his wi thoughts; but see ! lie has al
ready caught the sound Of the foo,s;cp,
and (ts if intu:trvcly) he looks up; Lis eve
falls upon the wavwarI youth, an! he re
cognizes bis long lost som-lhe wild boy
still dear to his heart
h'hN N'h, MINI INfsCI, tllIl ltlIlcrN =
heart remains un,ouch-implacabie No
not cannot be thus: for see hr rises TO
meet his son who falls into his aims,
while his heart is r. full to give utterancc
save, Forgive! forgi0e! -
Tic tears course freely down that Old
mans furrowed cheek, bile, III the full
ness Of his heart he exclaims.
Wo'ccme, my hoy-rhy fathers Cor.
! givcneSs rests with thee. Welcome, Thrice
welcome TO the home Of Thy youth and to
thy fathers heart. And let the past hc
forgotten; the present we'll welcome, and
Tor the future we'll hopeL'
Imagine the Vulnerable JOY that per
vades that youths heart, as he is once
more restored TO lis parents love and con
fiIrnce.
But how truly is the jr0Hy ,y}o:yjrl-
ness eXemplitied in tic charactcr,of our
immaculate Saviour. Even amid the AZ.
ony OF the cross, his heart Was tccm.ng
with kindness. He rebuked not his per
s~ecu;orss; warm and tender emotions glow
ed in the smiles that lighted his celestial
face; while, with eyes raised in pity to his
Father in heaven, lie exc a med,
rather, .forJ''c them, tor they know
not what they do!'
Are not all the Christian graces ema
mating from a torgi,ing spirit exhibited
in this striking example! And are W.
not, too invoked to forgiveness throughout
the pages Of the sacred vo'umei Surely
the DEGREES has been uttered, UnleSs We
forgive. ye cannot hope for forgiveness"
a IL ,harn - onnlt - ,ln l,,, -..,
that fits The soul for the pure regions Of
heaven-a spirit that generates in the
heart Of man sentiments of affection for
his brother men, tits n spirit Of forgiveness
"a 81 irit Of magnanlmity that values the
happiness OF its fsIIow mortnls, nor scorns
to bestow upon the err ing pcnitent The Oh
ly boon he avcs-.torgircncsS!- Ware,
In Mdgazine.