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

! this hour of family devotion. In the cen
tire OF the room stood a great Christina
tree covered with tapers, and from whicl
hung still other gifts enclosed for the even
ing's enjoyment.
The lips of John Meredith we're unseal
ed, and words Of wisdom flowed therefron
ns'tbey never had before. Never to the list
euers had the peace of God seemed SC
worthy OF possession never had the love
of Christ appeared so grand, so overwhel
ming, especially towards the poor, the mis-
erable, and the lost After prayers Mrs
Meredith beckoned her children, and they
followed her into the next room. There
was Mary, Ellen and George. Mary was
very young a sweet, blue-eye1 creature
George was manly, broad sbouldered, broad
browed, like bis father; and Ellen, mat.
ronIy woman and a mother.
IL was evident that some unwonted api.
tation made Mrs Meredith falter. She
was pale as she stood looking tenderly up.
on them, while they, curious and mute.
waited for what she would say. She turn,
ed first to George.
My son, there was woman Of whom
we read that Jesus forgave with these
words, Go and sin go more''
The young man grew pale and half turn
ed away. No human heart knew what
his suiferings had been, how keen, how like
the cruelest torture, since his sisters sin
he'd become public. lie was exceedingly
sensitive, of high spirit, proud of his
good name; and she, that bright beautiful
creature, whose hand he had clung to for
so many years, had put him to open shame
Can you guess what | mean?' came
again from the mothers trembling lips.
| wish she was dead, mother,' was all
he said, in low, husky, quivering voice.
She IS, trust, dead to sin from hence
forth, and alive to Christ
How solemn, how impressive sounded
the words The sisters sat together; Ma
ry had hidden her face in Ellen's bosom, as
her brother spoke.
Your father and me have been the most
deeply wrOnged continued the noble wo-
man. 'but as God has forgiven me- so do /
forgive her, and your father has resolved to
! take her back
Here = exclaimed the young man, with
an emphasis that startled them ALL
Yes, here, where she was born
Then, mother, this is no place for my
sSterS-for me-
George the voice was stern with G
new sorrow if ever you are led into sin,
which God forbid, remember that though
the world would stone you, there is one
place where you can ever come she held
her arms forth. A mothers heart will
never cast you out, my son "
There was no reply the Young man
shivered from head to foot, then turning
away hastily, he left the room and the
house
Don't mind him, mother said Mary,
her sweet face fearful yet smiling. 1t
was too Sudden for him. it is harder for
him than for us. / am glad Martha is com
ing home, mother and the glistening drops
fell softly from her eyes as she spoke.
and you, Ellen p
She is my sister, mother was the gen.
tie reply.
Glorously the nighto of Christmas set in
1t was keenly cold Within, there was
delicate tracery on windows reddened with
holiday fires; within, the Christmas wreaths
hung over doors and circled pictures, some
of them remembranceS Of lips that were
dust, aud eyes that were ashes, but the
kindly look of the soul that animated them
now crowned with the beauty of heaven,
still beamed upon the groups below. There
was the hearty voices of children, with
their exclamatons of delight at the beauty
of the Christmas tree, and thanks to the
donors The Christmas tree was all ablaZe,
but strange to soy, none but the children
seemed to enjoy it after the great surprise.
The parents sat anxious and restless 1t
had been showing since noon, and the
ground was covered as with a garment
pure and white, so that they heard not the
approach of of wheels George had not
been home since he went away in anger
and altogether it was sombre Christmas
night.
Is this the house asked the driver, as
the handsome vehicle which had been sent
for penitent, stopped at the door.
Yes was the faint reply
Any baggage, ma'am, shall l ring the
bell?"
% no--Do-no; and the yelled figure
prepared to descend the steps.
'All paid maam said the driver, and
mounting to his box he drove off, Slowly,
as if weary, the figure moved to the stone
steps and made as if she would ascend
One surmounted she leaned heavily against
the gray coping The street was very still,
only afar off could be heard the carriages
A street lamp blszed over the head of the
solitary woman supporting herself there,
against the cold, damp wall There was a
sound like checking sobs, a rafting as of
paper The woman was trying to peruse
note which she held in her hands Altho'
she could not read it distinctly, the message
ran thus
DECEMBER, 1916
| MARTHA MEREDITH-You have disgraced
yourself, you have disgrOced your family.
Never, so help as Heaven, can you be a
daughter to us more. Take the curse of
those that gave You being, and never dare
to look upon their faces again. Those who
were your parents, but disOwn you from
| henceforth.
Another rested in her trembling grasp.
This she held to her lips pressed to her
heart-and well might she deem i precious
Thus it read e
DECEMBER, 1850.
DEAR CHuD MARTHA-Come home to us.
II n q \. Il ~