The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-11-12
bildrep of God, He 10 our Father and his

| nehrt WISRlVe6 mo SOEely AuoEt ChEohne'
She should not have disobeyed me, but-do
l never disobey God, and where should be
if He measured to me the same measure that
l have meted to here9 Oh, Hannah, never
felt before how mnch needed to be for
given"
The mothers tears were falling still and
fast-she could not answer. There was
silence for a moment, and then again the
Judge said restlessly-" Hannah ~ and she
looked up into his white moved face. "Han-
nah, could we find her? Do you think she
lives-our one child"
"God knows, my husband. Sometimes |
think she is dead. see her face on dark
nights, and it wears look of heavenly y
peace. In the winds hear voice that
sounds like hers, and she seems to tell me
she has found rest. But, no, no !"-her
face kindled-" she is not dead. feel it
in my soul. God will let Us see her yet
once more. an her mother. shall not
die until my kisses have rested on her cheek,
my hand touched her hair. believe have
promise, Rufus"
"God grant it, Hannah" and after those
words they both sat silently again listening
-listening-listening.
They had not heard the outer door open,
but now step sounded in the hall, and the
door of the room where they sat, was softly
unclosed. They both started up-perhaps
they half expected to see Caroline, but it
was only their next neighbor, holding by the
hand child. She spoke eagerly, in half
confused way, which they did not notice.
"This little one came to my house, Judge,
but hadn't room to keep her, so brought
her over here. Will you take her in ?"
"Surely, surely. Come here, poor child"
Who had ever heard Judge Howard's
voice so gentle? The little girl seemed
somewhat reassured byit. She crept to his
knee and lifted up her face. The Judge
bent over her. Whose were those deep blue
eyes? Where had he seen that peculiar
shade of hair like the shell of ripe chest
nut? Did he not know those small, sweet
features, the wistful mouth, tho delicate
chin? His hands shook.
"Whose, whose child are you? What is
your name?"
"Grace," and the little girl trembled vo-
lenty.
Grace i1untiy," said the neighbours
voice, grown somewhat quivering now.
"Grace IIuntly. You cannot help knowing
that face, Judge. 1t is copy of one which
belonged once to the brightest and pret.icst
face in Ashdale."
The old man he looked very old now,
shaken by the tempest in his strong henrt as
the wind shook the trees without drew the
child into his bosom, with an eager hungry
/ look. His arms closed around her as if he
would hold her forever.
"Mv child my child :" burst like a sob
from her lips, and then he bent over her,
silently. At first his wife had stood by in
mute astonishment, her face almost white
as the cap border which trembled around
it. Now thought pierced her quick and
keen as thrust of n sword. She drew near
and looked piteously into the neighbours
eyes.
els she an orphan? Where is her mo-
ther -
The Judge heard her and lifted up his
"Yes." he cried, "where is Caroline p
Have pity and tell me where is Caroline?
Before the woman could answer, an eager
voice caled-"liere, father, mother here"
and from the hall where she had been lin
gerng half in fear, Judge Howard's one
child came in. 1t was mothers breast to
which she tottered forward and threw her
self down at her fathers feet.
"Forgive me, father" she tried to say,
but the Judge would not hear. The angel
ut length troubled the deep waters of his
soul, and the wave Of healing overfowed his
heart. lie saw now, in its true light, the
selfwll and unforgiving spirit which had
been the sin of his life.
He sank upon his knees, his arms enfold-
| ing his daughter and her child, and his old
wife crept to his side and knelt beside him,
while from his lips Mrs. Marsh heard, as she
closed the door and left the now united
family to themselves, this prayer:
"Father, forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against u.s.
Judge Howard had not uttered it before
for ten years.
| After that night the Judges mansion was
not only the stateliest but the harpirst home
in Ashdale. Caroline Hun,ley had borne as
she could the burden of her fathers unfor-
giving anger, and the weight on her heart
had become to heavy to be endured, she had
started with her child for home. The stage
had set her down that stormy night in her
native village, and the forgiveness for which
she had scacely dared to hope, had expanded
into welcome.
The old people could not again spare
! their daughter, and they summoned Rich
ard Huntly home. A son he proved of
whom any father might be proud, and in
the after years no shadow broodcd over the
peaceful dwelling, where once more child
dren's feet danced around the hearth fire,
and children's fancies built castles in the
embers no shadow, until the last darkness
came which should be but the night above
which will rise the calm morning of eternity.
WELL-TOLD STORY.
Harper's Magazine records the narrow
escape of Bishop Capers' Catechism from
being annihilated by a hard-shell opponent
in Russell county, Alabama:
"That excellent missionary, Brother,
was teaching the colored people out Of Cat
echism No. l--teachng them ut the planta-
tions and at Andrew Chapel--a good work;
which he did well, and the people npprecia-
ted it. We say the peoplc-not all, howev-
er. A hard shell Baptist preacher, Elder
W, got wind of the strange doctrine,
and raised the alarm. He made an appoint
ment, and the methodists Gas they always
do) gave him the use of their chapel to use
up the Catechism. The elder took it into
the pulpit and hammered it well, especially
on the tieshy revelations.
Several Of the Methodists were on hand
Sister O. spiritedly declared that her
mind was not changed ut all. The mission
aries should still teach her servants out of
the Catechism, if they would. But the ell
der had things his own way against the Cat
echism until B, seated away back,
a wide-awak and very shrewd man, spoke
| out
"Sir, do you know that you are speaking
and inveighing against the laws of your
country? You have read the title page of
the catechism now read what's on the 9TH
or side of that leaf, if you please"
Reads "Entered according to the act of
Congress, in the year of our Lord, ls47, by
John Early" "There," continued B,
who, to the confusion and dismay of the el.
der, followed up his advantage before the
congregation, "you see that book passed
both Houses Of Congress, and been duly au.
thorized, and here you are trying to raise
up the people against it,"
The elder felt his position IN awkward
one for good citizen-gave it up-the Cat
| ech am was pictoriousi IL was "A MINER hul-