Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-07-20
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THE PROUD HEART HUHgLED.

The PROUD HEART HUERLED:
But f yo forgive not men their trcspasses neither
win your Father forgive youyour trespasses"
The March night had darkcned down upon
the lovely little Southern village of Ashdale
1t was pretty place in summer, lying be-
tween two hills, on whose SUBMITS the ash
trees lifted their green arms to the sky all
The long, BRIGHT days, as if mploring ben-
cdiction, or spread them out lovingly over
the white houses nestled round tho Que
church below
But tonight it wore different aspect A
storm was upon the hills. A little snow
and hail were borne upon its wings, but not
much Chiefly It was the force of the rush
ing winds, shaking the leaffess ash trees
hurting against closed windows swinging
the bell in the old church tower till it gave
Iorth, now aud then, a dirge-likc appeal, as
II Tire dead were tolling their own requiems.
Many homes there were where the wild
scene without seemed but to heighten, by
the fierce ot contrast, the blessed calm with
ln-homcs where smiling infants slept warm
and still through the twilight, in the soft
hush of mothers bosoms, and Happy children
gathered around the knee of father or grand
sire 20 hear again some simple story or
thoughtful ones looked into the fire, and
fashioned from the embers brave castles, in
the coming time, with, over ALL the sunshine
of youth and hope. Twenty years from now
they would look into the embers again,
and see those fair castles, in which they
had never come to abide, with ruined win
dows and blackened walls
"The twilight OF memory over all
Aud the silence of death within"
But in one house no stories were to glad.
den listening ears-no soft evening hymn
hushed slumbering babes to rest-1o chill
dren's eager eyes looked into the embcrs.-
1t was the statcliest house, by far, in the lit
tie village lofty mansion, cleaning white
IN the trees, with the roof supported by mas
sive pillars. No where did the evening fire
burn brighter, but into it locked two old peo-
.4A.4S sso.ss ass-2L 49,. E-s
OF grief and time upon their shrivelled faces
two who had forgotten, long ago, their
youths fair castles, who looked back over
waste fields of memory where not even set
ting sun-rays gilded the monuments built
to their dead hopes.
They sat there silently. They had sat ST.
lcntly ever since the darkness gathered. The.
lofty, well-furnished room was lighted only
by the woods fire glow, and in the corners
strange shadows seemed to gather, beckoning
hands and white brows cleaning Spectrally
through the darkness Toward them, now
and then, the wife looked with anxious,
searching gaze :; then turned back again to-
ward the fire and casped her hands over the
heart that had learned through many trials
the hard lessons Of patience.
Judge Howard was stern, selfconceited
man. In his native town, where he had
passed all his life, none stood higher in pub
lie esteem Toward the poor he was liberal
toward his neighbors just and friendly
yet, for all that he was a hard man, whose
will was iron, whose habits were granite. -
His wife had come to know this even in hel
honeymoon. The knowledge was endorsed
by her sad, waiting face, her restraining
manners.
His daughter Caroline, his only child, hat
learned it early, and her father became to b.
almost as much an object of fear as tender
ness.
And vet he loved those two with strength
that weaker, more yielding natures could no
have fathomed. When his child was frs
put into his arms; when her .frail, helples
hands CROPPED blindly at his own, he felt tn
strong thrill of father-love sweep over him
For the moment it sweled his soul, irradiate
his face, flooded his heart, but it did not pei
manently change or soften his nature. A
she grew toward womanhood, and her brigh
head glancng in his path was the faires
sight earth held her ringing voice the sweet
est music, he never gratifed her whims, nc
always yielded to her reasonable wishes.
At length love came to her. She gave he
heart to one whose father Judge Howard ha
hated. james Huntly and he had been youn
together, and feud had arisen between theu
which Rufus Howard's stern nature allowe
him neither to forget nor forgive He ha
vet to Learn the lesson, holier than all tt
teachings of secrs and sages, the lesson o,
Saviour lived, wrought, aye, died to teach,
forgiveness even for our enemies-prayer f
those who have despitefully used US and pc
. secuted US. His former enemy was de;
now, but not so the judges hate. 1t had BET
transmitted, like real estate, to the de-
,oon,e heir. and so he forbade his daueht