The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-06-19
BIDDEFORD, MAINE, FRIDAY, JUNE 49, 1857.
"Duty," said the minister, "has twin.

"Duty," said the minister, "has twin
sister"
lie spoke in changed voice, and with
manner that arrested the attention Of dea
con Brewing, who looked at him with
glance of inquiry.
"She is Us lovely and gentle as no is hart
and unyielding,"
The deacon still looked curious.
"When the twin sister Of Duty is AWAY
from his side, he loses more than half Of his
influence but in her beautiful presence, he
gains dignity and power that makes his
precepts laws of life to all who hear him.
The stubborn heart melts, the iron will Is
subdued; the spirit Of evil shrinks away
from the human soul"
There was pause.
"The name of that twin sister is Kind
(..sS"
Xe eyes of deacon Browning fell away
from the minister's coun ntenance, and droop.
Cd until they rested upon the aoor. Con.
viction flashed upon his heart. lie had al
ways been stern in executing the law-but
never kind.
Has that beautiful twin sister stood ever
by the side of Duty ?-has love been in the
law, Deacon Browning?"
Side by side with the minister stood Duty
and Kndncss-the firm, unshrinking BROTH
er, and the mild, loving sister-and so his
words had power to reach the deacon's
heart, without giving offence to pride.
"Kindness is weak, yielding and indul
gent, and forgives when punishment is the
only hope of salvation," said deacon Brown
Ing, little rccovcnn. himself from the first
emotions Of self condemnation.
"Only when she strays from the side of
Duty" replied the minister. "Duty and
Kindness must always act together"
Much more, and to the same purpose, was
urged by the minister, who made only brief
visit, and then withdrew, that his admoni.
tiOns might work the effect desired.
When Deacon Browning came in from
the front door of his house, after parting
with the minister, he drew a chair up to the
table in the family stting-room, and, al-
most involuntarily, opened the large family
bible. His feelings were much softcncd to-
wards his boy. who, with his head bowed
upon his breast, sat n little apart from his
mother. The attitude was not so much in
dicatiye of stubborn sclfwill, rs suffering.
Deacon Browning thought he would read q
chapter aloud. and so he drew the holy book
closer, and bent his face down over it.
Mrs. Browning, observing the movement,
waited for him to begin. The Deacon
cleared his throat twice. But his voice did
not take up the words that were in his eyes
and in his heart. How could they?
"As father pitieth his children -
tisd there been divine pity in the heart
of Deacon Browning for his rebcllious and
unhappy boy? Nay-had there not been
wrath instead?
"As q father pitch his children"
From hundred places in the mind of
Deacon Browning there seemed to come an
ccho of thes, words, and they had mean
ing in them, never perceived before. lie
closed the book, and remained in deep tho't
for many minutes; and not only in deep
thought, but in stern conflict with him
self. Kindness was striving to gain her
place by the side of Duty; and cold, hard,
imperious duty, who had so long ruled with.
out q rival in the mind Of Deacon Brown.
ing, kept all the while averting his countc-
nance from that of his twin sister, who had
so long been an exllcd wanderer. At last
she was successful. The stern brother yield
cd. and clasped to his bosom the sister who
sought his love.
From that instant, new thoughts, new
views, new purposes ruled in the mind of
Deacon Browning. The discipline Of q
whaler was too hard and cruel for his boy,
young in years and by no means rs harden
ed in iniquity as he had permitted himself
to imagine. A cold shivcr ran along his
nerves at the bare thought Of doing what. q
few hours before, hc had so resolutcly in
tended. Kindness began whispering in the
ears Of Duty, and crowding them with n
world I, f new suggestions. The heart of the
stern man was soltencd; and there flowed
into il something Of mothers yearning
tenderness. Rising up, at length, Deacon
Brownlns said, in n low voice. 50 new in its
tones to the ears Of Philip that it made his
heart leap
"My son, wish to see you alonc.'
The deacon went into the next room, and
Philip followed him. The deacon sat down
and Philip stood before him.
"philip, my son."-Dcacon Browning
took the boys hand in one of his, and look
ed him full in the face. The look was re.
turned-not defiant look, but one of yield
ing wonder.
"Philip, am not going to send you tc
sea With Capt. Ellis. I intended doing so
but on ref 'ction, think the life will be toe
hard for you.'
Very firmly, yet kindly, tho deacon tried
to speak, but the sister of Duty was playing
with his hcart-strings, and their tone oI
pity was echoed from his voice, that ifalter
cd when he strove to give 1t frmncss.
The eyes Of Philip remained fixed upon
the countenance of his father.
"My son." Deacon Browning thought he
had gained sufficient self.control to utter
calmly certain mild forms Of admonition
but he was IN error; his voice was still les
under his control. and so fully betrayed the
new born pity and tenderness in his heart,