Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-07
laOrtester Bully Spy.
AN OLD CHURCHMAN'S STORY.

Knocked and entered.
Mrs. Lockwood came forward to meet me
with extended hands, her face full of hope
and gratitude, and fearful entreaty.
81 thank you, thank you, for restoring to
me my child p she exclaimed, with a burst
OF emotion "He is changed--don't you see
he is changed He was never so humble, SO
softened-his heart never opened to me so be-
fore-my Martin, my Martin, he is still my
son %
She returned from me to embrace once more
the young man, who now sat with his head
upon his knees, weary, crushed in spirit
heaving deep signs from his over-burdened
heart.
ga true mother will never deny her son."
l answered. "And indeed, Martin never need.
ed love and sympathy he never de-
served them-as he does now. Will his faith
er consent to see him o.
81 do not know. o, do not know" wept
the poor yet trembling mother. "He has low
ed him better than any child we have. But
lie VIII never hear his name mentioned now.
Sometimes he lays groanng all night, and in
his sleep have heard him start, and cry out
as if lie was in pain, "Martin, you kill me,
you kill your father" He isn't the same man
now-he is gloomy and silent-he seems al
ways broodng Over some great sorrow, and
VIC Eau Suess "ndl tHdL SUTTON u.s.
without designing it, the mother sent dag.
gers to the heart of her son. lie burst into a
deep cry of agony, and twisted his hands in
his hair endeavored to soothe him, and pre-
vent his doing violence to himself.
Let me go, said he "Let me go. had
better have died than ever to have come back.
Why didn't drown myself in the river, as
was tempted"
"No more of that" said somewhat Sc
verely. "rhe errors of the past are to be re-
trieved not sealed up with the black seal of
despair. promise you, Martin, that if you
truly desire and will it, you shall be man
yet, restored to your home and friends, and to
your own self respect. Will you go and tell
his father he is here ?'
90, | dare not p said Mrs. Lockwood
"With all his kindness, he is so stern he is SO
set against Martin now, it must be broken to
him by degrees, and you must do it."
81 shall send for him then | answered.
But l was saved the trouble by seeing Mr..
Lockwood shortly afterwards pass by the
house. l hailed him from the door and invi
ted him to enter my study.
He came ina tall, iron,framed man, slight.
ly bent, with thin gray hair and wan features
that looked as if they had known afficion,
and became greatly reconciled to it.
He sat down in the chair his son had sat in
but short time before. As watched the
expression OF his stern sorrowtul face,
thought how strange it was that he could sit
there, and think and speak OF that as dis
tant and lost, unconscious that he was even
then in the next room, with but half closed
door between them.
Yet Mr.. Lockwood must have felt the influ-
ence of the drama that was enacting so near
him. He seemed to know that wished to
talk with him about Martin.
II have Ieen told" said l, chat your son
has written you letter. Is he coming back 2"
II had presentiment when came in, that
was TO have my feelings wrung again" he
responded, uneasily moving, and knitting his
brow. "Id rather not talk on that subject. 1t
causes useless pain"
81 have heard from your son." l said
"Ah 2" He started, and his gray eye flick
cred with emotion lie turned its questioning
glance upon me. ale has written to you?"
81 have news of him, l know that he is pen
itent. He would return to you it you would
receive him. A crisis in his life has arrived
his whole future-perhaps his SOULS salvation
turns upon the event. Would we cast off a
brother at such a time How much less a
son !"
at is useless" cried the old man, shaken
by anger or pain, or both. IL have tried him
he has failed me in everything God forgive
him-I can't"
"IIas he snned against you seventy times
seven 2" mildly inquired
eyes, and more. Yet-yet-'tis not that l
don't forgive him-I wish him well-but he
has no longer any claim, he is no longer my
son, never mention his name to me again"
lie arose with violent emotion, his cane
trembled in his grasp, and he was hurrying
away, when1 gently detained him.
"Hear one word, and will never importune
you again on this subject. l have seen your
SON."
Without speaking, he looked at me strange
ly-pae, and shaking more and more---and
suffered himself TO be led back to a chair.
II have seen him, and if know any thing
of the human heart, Martin is changed
creature. Not poverty only, but realization
of his guilt toward you, and a yearning for
forgiveness, for better life, has brought him
back. Have we not sinned-have not, have
YOU not-against our Father, Brother Lock.
wood g.
"God only knows what sinner l am % ex-
claimed the old man, with bis head bowed upon
his cane
"And does God stand out when you return
to Him, and remind you of your many offenses
which He refuses to forgive or does He open
His merciful arms and tenderly receive you
back 2"
"No more no more p he groaned aloud
tell you it is useless. You only agonze me.
My mind is made up. Gods ways are not our
ways / have done all l can He will require
no more"
"And you will go home to night and pray,
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those
who trespass against us' How will that
prayer be answered o, dear Savior %
said chow long before we shall receive Thy
Divine lessons, not in our understanding mere.
w. but in our hearts and lives We preach
charity and live Tor selfshness We pray for
love. aud nourish hatred. We hope to DO for
Vindictveness. Are we utterly selEdeceveds
Is our religion all "a vain show 2"
l opened the book aud read the page to
which my hand inslinctively turned. 1t waa
the parable of the prodigal son. All the sim
plcity, beauty and palhos of that divine story
opened up to me with a power and freshness
and vividness had never felt before. My
own soul was stirred to its depths the spirit
of all.forgiving love seemed to descend upon
us there forgot all argument, in the absorb
ing interest of that sweety convincing, over.
powerng narrative.
At the close, the old man was sobbng.
Other sobs too were heard in the adjoining
room / opened the door, and made Il sign.
simultaneously mother and son came for
ward, and threw themselves at the old mans
side.
"Here he is, father. Here is Martin, our
child, our son !" artcuaied Mrs. Lockwood,
disengaging the fathers hand from his cane,
and pressing II upon the bowed head Of the
returned prodigal The old man wept aloud.
y was sometime before any one spoke. Then
Mr.. Lockwood faltered forth
'NlurlU-mV nnlu ch;i1 CnRuiva