Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-06-03
THE TEMPTATION.


aud uneasy slumber. The night hat
been cold and windy, such a night as De
cember frequently brings amonps
the hills of New Hampshire. William
bed was hard, and the cold wind foun,
Its way through many crack and crey
Ice IN his ruinous cottage, but he NIGH
have slept if his mind had been at ease
His wife was delicate woman, toll anC
exposure had brought on lingering i'll
ness, and she lay all night moaning will
pain and shivering with cold.
William arose, | said, and having kin
died fire. he went forth into the ope1
AIR. The clouds. were black and heavy
and the winds swept in gusts through
the naked trees. Away in the distance
the tops of the mountains were already
white with snow. He had engaged :,
days work on neighboring farm, but il
was useless to go-the farmer would not
work that day so he turned with hea
w step, and entered his cheerless dwell
ling. The children were soon stirring
and the pale, suffering mother arose from
her restless couch, to prepare the morn
ing meal. A few potatoes were boiled fol
the father and children, and a cup OF
Cruel prepared for herself.
William Carter and his wife had seen
better days; but sickness and misfor.
tune, the fraud of some and the cruelty
OF Others, had driven them forth
from their pleasant home, which he
had spent the strength of his early man
hood to purchase, and forced them to
take shelter in their present miserable
abode. They were Christians, and they
had hitherto borne up under the crushing
weight of their Affections with a meek
and quiet spirit. Looking forward to
that bright hereafter, they had suffered
patiently, knowing. that those Affections
are but for moment, and the glory
which shall be revealed eternal.
1t had long been William Carter's prac-
tice to assemble his family in the morn
ing, TO hear the blessed truths of inspira-
tlan, and to bow before the Mercy seat of
Heaven. That morning, the children
seated themselves as usual, and Mrs. Car
ter brought forth the Bible, and laid it
before her husband. Moving it away he
said, Il cannot read or pray | have no
faith. and what is not of faith is sin, "and
rising he seated himself at the table,
The children looked up with astonish-
ment.
what is the matter, father?" said lit
tie Alice, pressing close to his chair
why don't you ask God for our daily
bread?'
A tear stole silently down the mothers
cheek, as she took her place with the
scanty board.
why can't we have some bread and
butter?" said little James, child six
years old, pushing away the potato which
was offered him. eve used to have
bread and pies, and don't want potatoes
all the time"
An expression of agony passed over the
fathers face. A torrent of bitter feeling
was rushing through his heart-murmur-
ings against -repinings at his
in God.
why should my children want for
bread, while others have enough and to
spare?" he exclaimed. "Have | not Ia
bored honestly, but where is the blessing
which God has promised to them trust in
Him? The man who, by extortion and
has taken away our rights, lives
in plenty and ease, while | and mine
must pine away with hunger and cold.
'Do not arraign the Justice and wisdom
IF God, said Mrs. Carter, wiping away her
ears and looking tenderly ON her hus-
oand. "Our Heavenly Father will not
suffer US to be tempted nor afflicted be-
7ond what we are able to bear"
Bear II would bear everything but
his. l can bear toll, humiliation and
want, myself, but cannot see my chill
lren pine for bread, and you shivering
n this miserable hovel. Your sufferings
Will drive me mad"
The wife rose from her place, and ap-
her husband, she threw her
lrm around his neck, and pressed her
ler lips to his burning brow. William
he said, turn not away from the promi-
les OF God-seal not up the only foun-
am OF consolation that remains to u.s.
While we have a home and a meal as
rood as this, let US not be unthankful.-
)ur Master had not where to Law his
read"
1t Is the memory of my wrongs-of
our wrongs, rather-for myself | do not
Is cankering my heart, and
laddenlng my brain. If there is a God.
Thy does he suffer the rich to oppress the
oor, and the strong to crush the weak ?
sometimes feel like taking Justice into
ly own hands, and with nv own arm
my cause" II
Let me not see you thus, my husband. I
hrow not away faith, with its memory ofl i
asst blessings, and its hopes for the future. {
We have received good at the hand of {
le Lord-many times has he made our
up of blessings to overflow and shall
e murmur, and blindly accuse His JUS |
ee, if He suffer the tempest to beat up '
n our heads? Oh beware that evil c
!oughts spring not up in your heart '
IN will bring sorrows less bearable than '
oYertY, Think NOT so hitterlv of o,,r 6