Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1863-06-10

-. s7e1,e krowa III ~
thought: but VIII his not afnis about ny
! ~ an, N, curts bead pressed close TO
~, " esed Eetri, ~ s~e'iiHs WIN 'iie
,--,-.a 81 tnx-tneu,> ia. egan IN ti- deli
=, tpurInut =, our Father acho art ne
Heauen.
Vas IA rough, bearded man had
been sfSorI,iai. Tor Hapy along year but
DOT too many or 100 it.tg 10 forget the
simple hearted prayer, OF my Childhood
1ht, dim vision oil that mothers tace over
y hich the grass bad grown tor twenty
changing summers. Something tender
stirred within my heardened heart. 1t
WAS too DARK to see the little face, but the
young lips went on Drokenly
And JorgiUe as oar trespdsses as ioe
forqiUe those uh0 trespass against us"
1t went through me ike knlfe-sharp
er than the sabre cut, keener than the
0ail Goo was mercIiul To me-aud This
vonug child was the channel OF His
mercy.
And forgive as oar trespasSes as ace
forgage these aohO tresqass against as
| bad never understood the words be
| fore. IT an angel had spoken 1t, IL conid
scarcely have been more of revelation.
| For the first time the thought that might
| be mortally wounded, that death might
| be nearer than dreamed, struck me with
| awe and horror. The text of long for
| gotten sermon was in my ears: 1t is sp-
| pointed onto all men once TO die; and
after death the Judgment
| Worse and worse. W hat measure of
| mercy could | expect, if the same was TO
De meted that | had melted unto my en-
envy? - ~
tie tears welled into my eyes and
| trIckled down my cheeks; the first l had
| shed since boyhood. | felt subdned and
| strangely moved.
! The rain was falling still; but the little
| head upon my breast was gone. He had
crept away silently in the darkness. His
! unconscious mission was fulfilled he
| would not return al my call.
Then | lifted myself with great effort.
| The old bitterness was crushed, but not
| altogether dead.
Water water ~ moaDed Richard
| Withers in his agony.
| dragged myself close to him.
God be praised ~ | said with solemn
heart Dick, old boy, enemy no longer !!
God be praised | am able and willing to
help you. Drink and be friends"
| 1t had been growing lighter and lighter
| in the east, ana now 1t was day. Day
within and without In the first gray
giimmer OF dawn we looked into each
| others's CHASTITY faces for moment, and
! then the canteen was at Richards mouth,
| and lie drank as the tevereJ only can
drink. | watched hIm with moist eyes,
leaning upon my elbow and forge ting the
| bandaged shoulder. He grasped me with
both hands.
Blood stained and paliid as it was, his
lace was u Ingenious and beautiful rs II
child's.
Now let NE speak" he said, painting
You have miejucged me Rufus. 1t was
all mistake | found 1t out after we
parted. | meant 20 have spoken this
morning when l grasped your rein, but
but
His generosity spared me the rest. The
wound ny hand had Inflicted was yet
bleeding i'll his head but tor the bind
passion Of the blow, it must have been
mortal. Was vengeance SO sweet after
ali2 | felt something trickling from my
Shoulder. The daylight was gone again
how dark il was
Forgive NE, Dick, ~ murmured, crop
ing about tor him with my hands.
Then | was bhDd-then | was as cold
as ice--then | stumbled down all abyss,
and everything was blank.
The crisis lis past-he will recover"
said a strange voice.
q" Thank GOD thank God :" cried IA
miliar one.
| opened my eyes. Where was |? How
odd everything was. Rows OF beds
stretching down long, narrow hall, bright
with sunshine; and women, wearing
white caps anu peculiar dresses, fitting to
al fro - w in
my fearful weakness, 1t tried me to watch.
My hand lay outside the covers; it was
shadowy as a skeletons. What had be.
come OF NY flesh? Was ! child or a
man "a body or spirit! SO light and
/ trail did | feel, L began to think | was
| done with material things altogether, had
/ been subjected To some refining process,
, and but now awakened to u new existence.
I But did they have beds III the other
world | was locking lazily at the Oppo-
/ site one, when some Que took my hand
/ a face was bending over me. | looked
/ up INTO 1t with beating heart The gol-
den sunshine was on lt--on the fair regu-
lar features, the red lips ana the kindly
/ blue ey e..
Dick :" | gasped, where have you
! been all these Years."
| Nv eeks, you mean," said Richard, with
/ the old smile. &" But never mind now
You are better, dear RutuS-you will live
/ we shall be happy together again"
iG was more a womaD's speech than a
| mans; but Dick had tender heart
Where am p | asked, sill hay.
" " hat Is the matter with me 2"
: Hospital III the first place." said Rich.
ard. "1yphus in the second. You were
taken after that night at Fredericks burg"
1t broke upon me at ouce. | remem-
bered that awful night could never,
never It rget II again. Weak rs a child, |
covered my face and burst into tears.
Richard VS. en- Ills knees by my side at
once.
8" was brute to recall it, he whis
pered, remorsely DO not think OF it,
old boy-you must cot excite yourself. IL
Is ali forgotten and forgiven"
Forgive Us our trespasses as we tor
give them who trespass against u,ir l
prayed from my Utmost heart.
These words have been in your mouth
night and day, ever slice you were tax
Ell, " said my friend.
| lay silent, cugitating.
Tell me one thing, Dick / asked;
"are We in the North or South ~
Nprfh-ip pbtls4alt.hia