The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-06
I'll Never Forgive Him.
I'll never forgive him-neyer y"

"NeVer Is hard word. JOhn," said tn
sweet faced wife of John Locke, as she look
ed moment from her sewing
"lIe is mean, dastardly coward, and up
on this Holy Bible u
"Stop. husband. John! remember he l.
my brother: and by the love you bear fo
NE forbear to curse him. lie has done yo,
wrong. allow, but oh, John. he is yer,
Young and very sorry. The momentarv sham,
you felt Yesterday will hardly be wiped ou
with Il curse. Ii will only injure Yourself
John. Oh. please don't say anything dread
full
The swcc;-Eaced woman prevailed; tho
curse that hung upon the lips of the angr,
man was not spoken; but he still said. I'll
never forgive him-he has done me dcadl,
wrong
The Young man who had provoked this bit
terncss, humbled and rcpentant, sought in
vain for forgiveness from him whom. in mo-
ment of passion, he had injured almost be-
yond reparation. job: Locke steclcd his
heart against him.
In his store sat the Young village merchant
one pleasant morning. constantly, contented
ly reading the morning paper. \ sound of
hurried footsteps approached; but he took nc
notice of it until hatlcss boy burst into the
store. screaming to the top of his voice. Mr.
Locke. johnny is in the rivcr-little JOHNNY
Locke"
To dash down the paper and spring for the
street was the first impulse Of the ayonized
father. On. on. like maniac. he flew. till he
came to the bank of the river. palld and
brazcdwi,h anguish. The first sight that me,
his eyes was little Johnny living in the arms
Of his mother. who with her hair hanging dis
hrvclcd around her. bent wildly over hcl
child. The boy was just saved. lie breath
cd. and opening his eyes. smiled family in his
mothers face while She. with chokcd voice
thanked God. Another form lay ir>cn>iblc
stretched near the child From his head
the dark blood t!owr,! from ghastlv wound
The nan against whom John Locke had
Swo:n eternal hatred had. at the risk Of hi
own life. lccn the SAVIOR of the child. He
had struck floating piece of dritt-wood rs
h came to the surface with the boz. and death
seemed inevitable
John Locke flung himself down upon the
green >war,l. and bent over the >cn>clrss form
">avr him he cried hu>kiv to the doctor
who hal been >,l:nnloncd "re>tore him to
consciousness. if it BE- only one little momen,
i have something important to say to him.
lie is rr1iNiug. replied thr doctor
The wounlrd man opened his eyes-thev
met III" anxious glance ot the brothcr-in-lav
and the pale lir~ ,rr'ah"d forth. do YOU
forgive me -
Yes. yes: God is witness. as | hope for
mercy hereafter | freely forgive YOU. and il,
turn ask Your forgiveness for ny unchri>;ian
conduct.
\ feeble pressure Of The hand and beam
in- smile WAS all the answer
Many days the brave Young man hung up
on a slender thread of Fife: and never were
there more devoted friends than those who
Aovcrgd over a sick bed! But vigorous
constitution triumrhcd, AID palv and c!,..:-;-
Cd. he walked forth orcr more a,non- The
i;;inr
"oh. il he had did with my rnhindnc>~
clouding his ~oul, never should have dared
t. hope for mere: from my Father in Hrav-
en- SAID ,iuhn Locke to his wife. as they sat
tHlkin@ over the event that had threatened
their lives with a living trouble. Never
now have tasted the sweetness of forgive
nc>S-ncvcr again will cherish revenge or
unklndnr>S towards the orring: for there is
new meaning III my soul in the words of our
daily PRAYERS, and | see that have only been
Calling lud gmcnt upon myself while | have
impiou>lv asked. " Forgive us our trcspaS>cs.
rs re t"fyire Nos' miio irsSpass ogainst us. '