The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1863-12-09


May be be thought it was his own pillow
at home may be he thought it: poor dar-
ling, his mothers bosom. God only knows
what he thought; but with his hot arm
about my neck, and his curly head pressed
close TO my wicked heart even then swell
ing with bitter hatred OF my enemy, he be-
gan TO murmur in his deiirinm, Our Faith
er, who art in Heavenn
Twas a rough, bearded man. had been
an orphan for many years: but not 100 many
or loo long to forget the simple-hearled
prayer OF my childhood-the dim vision of
that mothers face over which the grass had
grown for twenty changing summers. Some
thing tender stirred within my hardened
heart. II was too dark to see the little ace,
but the young lips went on brokenly:
''And forgive Us our trespasses as we for
give those who trespass against u.s.
| Il went through me like knife-sharper
than the sabre cut, keener than the ball
God was merciful TO me-and this young
child was the channel of his mercy.
"Forgive US our trespasses as we forgive
those who irespass against US.
had never understood the words before
If an angel had spoken, il could scarcely
have been more of a revelation For the
FIRST time the tbough thai might be NOR
taly wounded, thar dealh meIght be near
er than ! dreamed, struck me with awe and
horror. The text Of a long forgotten sermon
was in ny ears alt is appointed for ali
men to die; and after death the Judgement y
Worse and worse What measure Of uer.
CT could expect If the same was meted
out that had meted unto my enemy. The
tears welled into my eyes, and iriekled
down my cheeks the first that had shed
since by boyhood. felt subdued and
strangely moved.
The rain was falling still but the litde
head upon my breast was gone He erepi
away silently 10 the darkness His uncoa-
scious mission was fulfilled he would no,
return at my call.
Then lifted myself with great eTort-
The old bitterness was crushed, bat not al
together dead.
"water-wa,er!" moaned Richard With.
ers in his agony
A dtdL2Su yrSI ClOS6f 10 DIM.
"God be praised p' Isaid with solemn
heart ''Dick, old boy. enepy no longer
God be praised am willing and able 10
help you Drink and be friends y
1t had been growing lighter and Lighter
in the east and now il was day. Day wnh~
in and day wi,hout In the first gray glim !.
mer of dawn we looked into each Others
ghastly faces for moment, and then the
canteen was at Richards mouth, and he
drank Jas Only The !evered can drink. r.
watched him with moist eyes. leaning up.
on my elbow and forgetting the bandaged
shoulder He grasped ne with both hands
Blood-stained and paid as it was, his
face was ingenious and beautiful as
chiId's.
'Now let ME speak, he said, panling -
"You have misiudged me, Rufus Ii was
all mistake | found il out after we part.
ed. meant to have spoken this morning
when grasped your rein, but-bup-
His generosity spared me the rest
The wound my hand had inflicted was
yet bleeding in his head but for the blind
passion oi the blow ii must have been NOR
tai. Was vengeance so sweet after all! II
fell something warm trckling from my
shoulder. The day light was gone again
how dark it was
"Forgive me, Dick,v murmured, crop,
ing about for him with my hands. Then
| was blind--then was cold as ice-:hen
,umbled down an abyss, and everything
was blank.
''The crisis is past-he will recover said
a strange voice.
s'Thank God thank God - cried fa-
miliar one.
opened my eyes Where am How |
odd every thing was. Rows of beds stretch
ing down long narrow hall, bright with |
sunshine; and women wearing white caps |
and peculiar dresses fitting to and fro with [
noiseless activity, which, in my fearful
weakness, it tired me 10 watch. By hand
lay outside the covers il was as shadowy I
as skeletons. What had become OF my t
flesh Was a child or man7 A body I
or spirit? So light and frail did feel, I
began 10 think was done with material I
things altogether, and had been subjected T
to some refining process, and but now
awaked TO a new existence. Bat did they /
have beds in the other worlds was look I
ing Iazily al the opposite one, when some
one took my band. A face was bending {
over. ] looked up with beating heari.-
The golden sunshine was on ii--oa he fair.
regular features, and The red lips and the
kindly blue eye
Dick p gasped, awhere have you
been all these years ~