Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-03-12
Gboite MlisteIImpg.
Illustration of the Lords Prayer.

'AUU lbTHINS Us cuI ucspdooNS 10 w ~.
give those who trespass against Us.
"rli never forgive him-never."
"Neter is hard word, John," said the
sweet-laced wife of John Locke, as she
looked up moment from the sewing.
"He is a mean dastardly coward, and
upon this Holy Bibie L"
"Stc3, husband John. remember he isl
my brother, and by the love you bear me,
forbear to curse him. He has done you
wrong, allow; but o John. he is very
young ard very sorry. The momenta-y
shame you felt yesterday, will hardly be
wiped out with curse. 1t will only inJure
yoursell, John. o! please don't say any
thing cad ul.''
The sweet-faced woman preveiled-the
curse that hung upon the lips of the angry
man was not spoken, but he still said: 81
will never forgive him--he has dore me a.
deadly wrong"
The Young man who had provoked this
bitterness. hunbled and rePentant, sought
in vain TOR :orgiviness from him whom, in a
moment OF passion, he bad injured almost
beyond repatriation. Joha L'cke s:ceisd his
heart against him.
In his little store sat the young viliege
merchant one pleasant morning, contenteaiy
reading IN the morning pspeT. sound ~of
hurried footsteps approach I'd. but ne took
NJ notice until hearless boy burst into
the store. screaming at the top OF his voice,
.Mr. Locke, Jonney is in the river--l;tlle
Jonney Locke
To dash down the paper and spring into
the street was the FIRST impulse of the sgo-
nized father.
On, On, like a maniac he flew to the
river, pal!ed and GRAZ with al guish The
first sight that met his eyes, was little
Jonney lying in the arms OF his mother, who,
with her hair hanging disheve.ed around
her, bent wildly over the child. The boy
was Just saved; he breathed, and opening bis
ewes smiled family IN his mothers face,
while she, with choked voice, thanked
God. Another form lay insensible, stretched
near the child From his head the dark
blood flowed from ghastly wound. The
man against whom John Locke had sworn
eternal hatredahad, at the risk of his own
life, been tx savior of his child. He had
struck piece of drift wood as he came to
the sNface with the boy, and death seemed
inevitaUe
John Locke flung himself on the green
sward, and bent over the senseless FORM
"Save him. he cried huskily to the doctor
who bad been summoned, "restore him to
consciousness il it be only for one little mo.
ment-I have something important to say
to him."
He is reviving, said the doctor.
The wounded man opened mis- eyes-they
met the anxious gaze of his brother iR-law
and the pale lips trembled forth-.Do you
forgive me"
ayes, yes 1! God is my witness, as hope
for mercy hereafter, | freely forgive you; il
d turn ask your forgiviness for my unchris
,ian conduct A feeble pressure oe hi
hand and beamipg smile was all his an
swer.
Many days the brave young man hun!
upon a slender thread of life, and never wa
there more devoted friends than those VIII
hovered over his sick bed. But vigorou
constitution triumphed. and, pale an
changed, he walked once more among tn
living.
"Oh, if ne had died with my unkindnes
clouding his soul, never should have dare
to hope for mercy from my Father in Hea'
en-" said John Locke to his wife, as the
sat talking over the solemn event that ha
threatened their lives with living troubl'
"Never, now that | have tasted the swee
ness OF forgiveness, never again viii che
ish revenge or unkindness toward the erin:
For there is new meaning 10 my soul
the words Of our daily prayer, AMI | see iht
have only been calling judgments UPc
myself while have imPiously asked-'Fo
give us our trespasses as we forgive tho
who trespass against US.