The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-04-04

him." r--,.
81 must decline being the bearer of
that message" replied the attorney.
t"I would rather pay the three dollars a
week out of my own pocket, than be
your agent in any such business"
81 want none of your reflections on
my acts or purposes. You have under
taken to do my business for me, and 1
want it done as direct. The respon-
sibility rests with me, and not with
you" .'J "
"Take my advice" returned the at
torney coolly, "and forgive this poor
man his debt, at least for awhile it is
only one hundred dollars, and the loss
of it temporarily will not deprive you
of a single comfort, while it will be the
means of saving the property of a fel-
low creature. He is honest and will
pay you if it is in his power, whether
you cancel the debt or not" t.-l
"You are generous with what is not
your own," replied Eldon, with sneer.
''Thank you for the suggestion, but
am not in the habit of trusting people,
and then forgiving them the debt. That
sort of thing doesn't pay"
cit doesn't in some cases." replied
the attorney, musingly.
cit will not in this for 1 don't mean
to try the foolish experiment" replied
Eldon half angrily. e.Iaa) a.
Turning toward this hard-hearted
man, who, as we have before said, was
a member of one of the churches, the
attorney, who was also member but
of different stamp, said: n
"Brother Eldon, when you kneel this
evening before God, and say over the
words, "Forgive us our debts as we
forgive our Debtors" take heed shat
you are not asking a curse instead of
a blessing. If God forgives you as you
now forgive this poor man, the case
will not assume very hopeful aspect.
But if we forgive not men their tres
passes, neither will your Father forgive
you your trespasses.' The language
is not mine. but recall to your mem
ory the words of eternal truth. Be-
ware! lest, knowing these, you have
greater condemnation" replied the at
torney. .-r
That evening, as the family of Mr..
Eldon were gathered around the family
altar, for evening devotion, the words
of the attorney rushed vividly to the
mind of DIR. Eldon. Had he not in
deed asked curse instead of blessing,
in asking to be forgiven as he forgave
How had he forgiven those who had
owed him? Had he not always been
close, enacting even to the uttermost
farthing? Did he wish his heavenly
Father to forgive the debt that he owed
him, in the same way? The words
had taken new light; they were mo
longer mere meaningless form. "For-
give us our debts, as we forgive our
: debtors" These words! Oh how
solemn! He understood them now, al
though he had repeated them hundreds
of times before. Never did they ap.
pearin the same light. conscience W as
| at work and fears troubling him.
| "What if my soul should be required
of me this night ?" A cold shudder
ran through his frame at the mere idea.
: "God has heard and answered some
of my prayers" unused Mr.. Eldon, as
. he sat apart from his family the next
! morning, pondering this new aspect OF
the case. . tf -.s.
! 81 asked him at the outset of life, to
be with me in my incomings and out.
, goings, to smile upon my toll, and send
} the rain of prosperity upon my fields
7 and he has done so. l have prayed
also from childhood, onward to this
time, that he would forgive me my
f debts as l forgave my debtors. Now,
t have l ever, in my heart, forgiven the
man who trespassed against me, or re
Trained from exacting from debtor
the last farthing-no matter what hi
j needs and circumstances Have / re
garded my brother in sickness or mis-
: fortune? Has pity touched my sou
when the unhappy debtor pleaded fo1
y respite or forgiveness Should Goo
n answer my prayer in this, would it no
s be in banishment from his presence ?"
"What motive was it that prompted
a me to give to the charitable institution
! the missionary cause? Alas! nov
see it all-all was for worldly and sci
n fish motives! No thought of God
goodness to me; no thought that
t s'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto on
IS of these, ye have done it unto me.
, He who had fed me from his. bountifu
hand; who had watched over me il
s sickness and in health-thus have re
paid Thee, 0, my Father ? BY grind
a ing underfoot thy poor children, b
1t exacting where / should have forgiven
e Indeed have been asking a curse, in
d stead of blessing 70 aif0iq5sa .3a
1T For hours Mr.. Eldon lay that nigh
e tossing on his bed, fearing to sleep les
% his awakening should be in anothe
world, but wearied nature yielded q
l. last, and then, in the visions Of his bee
c. he closed his mortal career, and passe
y to his final account! But, no s'We
IN done, good and faithful servant
er greeted him. Instead, there burne
before him in letters of flame, tur
r. which way he would, "With whs
m measure ye mete, it shall be measure
t. to yon again ?"uiaaE iIa ls-rsdW
le He closed his eyes: Gas we forgiv
our debtors," were cleaning in the
e. places, though he tried to shut out th
b. vision of all things, In terrible al
Il