Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-12-22
The Late Reward.
Every one that asketh, receiveth."

the dear saint just 'ltIar ed had lsbored,
and suffered, and PRAYED, ali the DAYS OF
her lite, aud with no other apparent sue
cess than 20 see him grow worse and
worse. IL return for her love and care,
ne mad studied out ways TO distress and
nlortlty Der. As a reward for all her gen
erous aud self denying assistance, he had
deliberately wrung her heart in every way
be could think of. It had been one long
rendering of evil for good for over thirty
years. But now it was over. Marv was
where the wicked cease from troubling and
the weary ale at REST.
With such. courage and faith as she
could summon, Mary had resolved to ce-
vote herself to the work of saving him.
Several times Mars had procured situs-
lions Tor Der brother, in which his chance
to rise was very good, if he but proved
himself worthy ; but he invariably dissp-
pointed all her hopes, ans; made his con.
dlslon worse than it was before, Bitterly.
bitterly die the poor woman groan and
weep over her wicked brother. She
would not have minded that he kept her
SO very poor she would not have minded
that he CAUSED her to toll beyond her
health; she would not have minded. so
much, that be even strove to conduct him.
self In the most uncrateful manner to.
wards her, had 1t not been for his own
sake.
1t IS one of the great mercies of God.
that he allows his servants to protect. bv
their prayers, the friends over whose desti-
ny they have otherwise no control.
But the years rolled on, and there was
no v'sa6le token that the prayers of Mary
had. ever been heard in behalf OF her
brother. She had made good friends
She was a loved and respected inmate Of
F" plous family. AS keeper and
manager in-chief of all indoor affairs
tor b mistress of the family was an in.
valid for ljfe-Mary passed a useful. if not
a happy life. She was comfortable and
peacetul-when she could rise out of the
! chrome anguish caused by her wicked and
thankless brother.
Jonas, now given over as past hope by
all save his sister, had been forbidden the
house bnt at tirnes, when very much in
toXlcated, he would come and demand ad-
mlttance.
On these occasions poor Mary would be.
} come so sick with the wo at her heart that
She would be obliged to take to her bed
and sometimes siIc VS. uoU aoie TO rise
for two days.
When she came from her room, he
pale face would be more pale than was it
wont, and her great, heavy ewes wouI,
look so large and hollow that it wa
enough to scare ono 10 see them. Sh'
would look so weary, too, SO utterly three
of the world and life, that it made all GU
hearts ache for her, and we a0ondered VIII,
God did not appear for the relief of on
who WAS so truly humble and good. Blu
Mary's fate was suffering to the very enc
1t was going out in a drenching rain t
see to Jonas, who had fallen dead drum
in the muddy street, that gave Mary tn
cold. which in a few weeks finished he
life Of tronBle and pain.
When Jonas heard that she was DANCE
ously sick, he was for once frightened, AZ
started from the place where he had gor
to procure a job, to return to her town.
He had not "a cent of money, for he BIZ
spent all he had-and Mary had given
TO him-to reach theresa he had to retu
on foot, and it took him several days
lie begged his food sometimes, and som
:, times went without any.
i, He reached the house tooy1ate to s
| his sister alive !; but to the day Of
/, death he declared he met her spirit at t
! door. When on one. occasion, he "
4 told that it was the spirit IN him VIII
9 caused him to see the spirit without,
. replied that such WAS not the case, as
4 had not taken a drop for three days.
: When the eyes of Jonas fell upon
q wasted form upon the bed, he flung hi
n self on his knees and groaned aloud,
cried, and cursed himself, aud called
IL her to come back-to forgive him. :.
Il nas,' said a stern voice ; don't ask he
!. return to be abused and broken hear
any longer. 1t is better to love the liv
man, than to wall for the dead
- a never meant TO kill her -
RI we will not follow out this scene but
al a pleasure to say that never from
v hour did q drop Of intoxicating liquor /.
ed the lips of Jonas. Now that his dew
y sister was dead, he fell that it was not
he cause he had not loved her that he
ess, xbused her SO. & was possessed Of
ne DEVIL he ssid / know | was, or n
md could | have done it. Never shall [
ART. peace. There can be- no forgiveness
IAN me.
= But there soas forgiveness even for
mas. His vision of his sisters pa
=, spirit, as he had seen for imagined, ]
that fatal night, haunted him ever