St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-12-03

/ hoI lake III from you, Tor
ship"
Yes | would. 1t would send a raw
OF sunshine through my soul to know
that one human being blessed me-,
But then what good would come of
that while you continue to curse your
self"
The youth started but spoke not.
"lf you would have friend, listen
to me as a friend ~
"Listen ! Yes"
Then let this be your lowest vale
OF life" said the old woman, with start
ling solemnity. Turn now, and go
up hill. Go up, up, until you have
reached the sunshine once more.
knew your mother, Charles Aubrey,
and | remember well how kind she
was. Oh, did she ever think that her
well beloved son would sink so low.
Stop, STOP" groaned the unhappy
youth, "who shall give me the first
lift to regain all | have lost !"
81 will
"You? who are you? You say you
knew my mother Who are you?"
Never mind. Suffice it for you to
know that | have suffered as deeply as
you ever did. know what it is to suf-
fer. | say can give you the first lift.
Follow my counsel and you may yet
recover all you have lost"
"No, not all. Oh, there is one loss
| can never make up !" And as he
spoke he bowed his head and covered
his face with his hands.
LET no such feelings be with you
now. First resolve that you will turn
from the evil that has brought you
down. You know what it is as well
as l do. Can you do this ?"
Gay, had done it ere you came up"
"Then take the next step. Go and
make Il friend who can help you fur
ther. Go to Amos Williams, and
"No, no, not there. Oh, not there"
interrupted Charles.
go to his store, and freely confess
to him all your faults resumed the
woman, without seeming to notice the
interruption. Tell him all, and then
ask him to trust you once more"
"No, no, | dare not go to him.
But listen hcared Mr.. Williams
say with his own lips that he would
help you if he could, and that he would
give you his hand if you would only
help yourself"
Did he say that ?" uttered Charles,
eagerly
"Hc did. And now, Aubrey, be as
sured that you have not lost anything.
Let people know that you mean to rise
and be q new man, and all whose
friendship is worth having will give
you their hands. Go to Amos Williams
first
will go"
Then give me the sixpcncc.'
x
Amos Williams stood at the great
desk in his counting room, and he was
alone. While he thus stood, casting
up a column of figures upon page in
one of his ledgers, the door was open
ed, and Charles Aubrey entered. He
was yet pale and haggard, and look
ed as he did when we saw him two
hours ago. The merchant started back
with an utterance pain and surprise
as he recognized in the miserable form
before him the once happy and be-
loved youth whom he had delighted
to honor.
"Charles," he uttered, as soon as he
could command his speech, "why have
you come here ?"
"Mr. Williams" spoke the youth in
a choking voice, 81 have come to
Toto tell you that my course of wick
edness is run, and from this moment l
am-a-'
Here he stopped He hesitated a
moment and then his feelings over
came him, and bowling his head he
burst into tears, and sobs, loud and
deep, broke from his lips. The mer-
chant was deeply affected, and with
the warm tears gathering thickly in
his own eyes he started forward and
placed his hand on the youths head.
Charles" he uttered i'll tremu-
lous, eager voice, have you resolved
to be a man.
with Gods help will be man
again !" was the youths reply.
is your money all gone !"
Yes, sir. This morning | had one
solitary sixpence left and that ! gave
to a poor old woman who made me
come here
"Ay, l know her. She is an unfor-
tunatc creature, and has suffered
much. bade her if she saw you and
you were cast down and repentant, to
send you here, for | heard yesterday
that you were at the foot OF the
precipicc. Now if you are de-
tcrmined you shall not want for help"
In eager, broken, sobbing sentences,
Charles poured out his thanks and
stated the resolutions he had taken.
"And now,' said Mr.. Williams, af-
ter the matter had been talked over
some, "we must find place where
you can recruit your strength little
before you try to work. There is my
brother who owns farm i'll N.
He would be glad to have you come
there and stop a while; and when you
wholly recover your wasted strength,
YOU shall have a place here"
At first the youth refused to accept
SO much for he knew his unworthiness
but the merchant simply answered
him:
"You can pay me for all this if you
choose, so you must not feel delicate
about it; and as for your unworthiness
when the lost ones of earth are not
worth redeeming then some other
standing of worth must be regarded
than that simple one which Jesus OF
Nazareth gave to his followers"
So it was settled that Charles should
go out into the country and remain a
while. He found Mr.William's brother
ready and happy to receive him, and
tharo ha soon hogan to REGAIN his