Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-03-10

They sat in a richly furnished room. I'D
surroundings spoke Of wealth, Hberality
and good taste in their possessor. Mirror
and pictures glittered in the ruddy light Q
q blazing fire. The two-John MereditI
and his wife-were alone, reading the Wort
of God. Their hopes as well as thel
hearts newborn, and they rejoiced togethe
in the Saviour Of sinners. By-aud-by th'
Bible was laid upon the shelf prayer as
cended heavenward, and Mrs. MEREDITH
took out her knitting.
/ john she said, few moments after
/ The evening paper rustlng in his hands
as the old man looked mp.
What kind of present were you think
/ ing OF getting for the children p
We'll, | haven't thought yet was thC
reply. Dear little ones they shall have
all their hearts desire. Harry's two girl!
will want dolls and few kuick-knacks anc
Helen's boys, sIcds, skates, and something
useful as well as pretty. What do you
sigh for, wife p
/ was thinking of Martha
The paper fell from the old mans nerv.
ous grasp. He snatched his spectacles from
his forehead wiped them with yehemence
/ His face took on expression Of agonizing
sorrow, and finally, unable to control bis
emotions, his head FELL he bowed himself
upon his arms and shook with suppressed
sobs.
Father, | didn't mean to make you feel
50 badly said the woman, looking at him
her knitting work still in the grasp of her
/ rlnId Gpmprg-- In Inoty fn llinor ~
wiped over her cheeks. i couldn't help
thinking Of her, just at this time, and then,
when you read Of that peace-thnt perfect
pence-I thought, how could we feel the
full force Of that blessed vcrss, unless we
forgive poor MARTHA
'Wife'-he raised his head shook it as
If he would dash the waves of his anguish
back upon his heart again, and gasped,
rather than spoke the words, Wife, wife,
remember arhat she is arhere she is =
John, you know we might have saved
her; but o, how harsh and un'orgiviug we
all have been. My poor. poor child "
and her wet eyes saw the vision Of a lovely
golden head, standing by her knee. She
was so beautiful that, God forgive me,
had never the heart to cross her. What
wonder that she grew up proud and sinful,
that she took tc vanity when we lived in
and for the world, and were ourselves
far from God o, John, have we not
been born again born into gentleness,
ong-Suilering, forgiveness, charity, that bet
ter than all gifts We helped undo her.
Shall we not try to make her whole againp
She won't come said the man in a
smothered voice.
The woman crossed her hands. The
ball of yarn had fallen unheeded and rolled
to the opposite side of the room, so had
the tears dried upon her cheeks, but the
shade of motherly sadness and tenderness
fingered upon her features. She spoke in
tremulOus tones.
| have been to-day where / haVeofffn
been since | gave my heart to Gods cd.l ID
not help it huSband-I could .nJe iFft
My mothers love has yearBed oyer Der,
and it has seemed, at tines as II my heart
would break Don't look SO, John. tell
you that poor sinful child has been on my
soul hour by hour, moment by moment uu-
til | have almost felt her head LAYING on
my breast as prayed and / knew God
would give her back to MS. Yes, / con-
quered my pride, searched among out
casts till heard where she was. | found
the place, but she was gone-gone-O |!
where do you think 70 the home pro-
yided for the erriDg-the epentant-weep.
ing, mourning, perhaps, without hope
This | was told by palid creature, dying
of consumption, Heaven help her and all
of them sick and sorry, and weary of life
She was never like one Of u.s. said the wo-
man, and if you see her again, tell her
bless her for her kindness towards me-
Well, John, haven't seen her yet can't
see her till-till-the lips quivered; there
was moment of silent weeping; then the
mother arose, quickly placed pen before
him, and put the stand of ink at his elbow.
What are these for wife p
write to her, John, o write for her. I
know how you have struggled to forget
her, but you can't; o no, you can't. She
was our frSt,bOrH, my husband, the light of
our eyes, darling of our new home.
know how she has brought the white hairs
Oh your temples 100 early how she has
planted shame in your path, and called up
DluSutS Oh luC CuCCbS vi OlucIS, DGf DrOtll-
ers and sisters but 0, how often her dear
head has lain in innocence over your heart
and mine how we led her by the hand in
to the very broad road of destruction and
now, though we can't forget that she has
been cur bane, as well as a blessing can't
expect that the world will take her back
and forget what she has been, Christ will
receive her as the dear lamb long lost. and
we may lead her to Him, and rejoice thro'.
out eternity that she is saved by our instru-
mentality
Wife, l would take her back; but think
of the children
'They are married, John. They have
homes of their own, and if they do not
choose TO receive her there, this shall be
her shelter; yes, these arms. But they,
too, are Christian disciples, and / have
heard them talk of poor sister Martha as
those who cared for her soul. She has
sought some other place than the house OF
niquty. / feel in my heart that she has
repented. For four Christmas days we
have tried to forget that she was ever born
unto us; now let her come as the prodigal
son came to his father How did he spend
his liyiug-because she is woman, is she
viler than he No, no, no we will meet
her half way, Write, John, it will cost
you some pride, but write; we will send it