Grass Valley telegraph., 1857-01-31
sympathy for the Fallen.

Sympathy for the Fallen.
How many are there who have either the
heart or the courage to take an erring man
or woman by the hand and draw them gently
from the sinful crowd into which they have
fallen, and place their feet once more in the
paths of virtue and rectitude? The fear of
what the world may say-the dread of being
harshly judged, and perhaps sneered at by
friends and neighbors-how often, alas j 10
such things dry up the humane sympathy of
our natures, which we find yelling up within
as we look upon the errors of many about
US, and regard them with feelings of sorrow
only. and not of anger
How many there are of the abandoned and
degraded, of both sexes, to whom kindly
act or word would often come, like an an
gels voice. and be most gladly welcomed as
living evidence that hope was not yet en-
tirely lost. It is a mistake too often enter
tanned that such people never think-that
their bosoms are strangers to the pangs of re-
morse, or to single honest. holy thought
Go seek the fallen in their lonely hours, take
them by the hand, convince them that no
idle curiosity sends you on your errana ss
you viii find that there is no cloak OF Ft
and guilt so heavy as to shut out, every sg tFsS
of contrition. Take one poor victim tha lsa
sinned aad suffered. and from II laas its3 q
history Of scores, os handreds an;f Il -
sands. wifa have lived on IN .heissisfn and
shame among struggles and temptation taat
would appaI the stoutest heart Believe
them when they tell yoa then history, ana
describe to you their ieyerish inquietudes of
and their bitter tears of regret; excuse in
them their feebleness of purpose which has
been overcome by the pressure of want Or
misfortune, by the desertion of friends or The
scorn of the world
If the world could have more charity for
the desolation of the souls sanctuary, or
would even look look with more kindly and
approving spirit upon the efforts of those who
are willing to step upon the threshold of ruin
to snatch from the abyss some sorrowing,
repentent sinner, there is many now desc
late hearth that would be radiant with joy
and thankfulness. The Saviour of the world
himself has set US an example, and left US a
lesson which, as Christians, we are in duty
bound to heed. Terrible is the responsibility
which, in the day of final reckoning, will be
found to rest upon society for the cold and
heartIess manner in which they have treated
the fallen and degraded of their number, who
have bowed themselves down in penitence
and tears, but whom they have driven taunt-
ingly from their presence-those too often
casting the first stone, who, had they stood
before the All-searehing eye, would have
been the first to have skunk away abashed at
their own consciousness of guilt We have
little sympathy and less regard for those
whose delicate nerves and nice sense of Vir-
tue would look upon acts of charity, like
those limited at, as inconsiderate and danger
ous-who would rather turn away from
such unfortunates, with pharasa ical thank
fulness that it is not so with them, prefering,
rather than meet the jeers of the world, to
leave the erring soul of fellow-being un-
counselled and uncared for, to go with all
its imperfections into the presence Of Him
from whose hands it came.