The Portland daily press., 1864-03-24

A friend told me not long ago, beautiful
story about kind words. A good lad Y liv-
ing in one of the large cities, was passing a
drinking saloon just as the keeper was thrust
ing young man into the street. He was
very young and very pale, but his haggard
face and wild eyes told that he was very far
gone in the road to ruin, as with an oath he
brandished his clenched fists, threatening to
be reyenged on the man who so ill-used him.
This poor young man was so excited and
blinded with passion, that he did not see the
lady who stood very near to him, until she laid
her hand on his arm, and spoke in her gentle
loving voice, and asked him what was the
matter.
At the first kind word he started as If a hea-
Wy blow had struck him, and turned quickly
round paler than before, and trembling from
head to foot. He surveyed the lady for
a moment, and then with sigh of relief he
said:
II thought that was my mothers voice, it
sounded strangely like it But her voice has
= been hushed in death these many years."
"You had a mother then and she loved you,H
said she.
With that sudden revulsion of feeling which
often comes to people of fine nervous temper
ments, the young man burst into tears, sobb-
ed out, 10 yes, / had an angel mother and
she loved her boy But since she died all the
world has been against me and am lost to
honor, lost to decency and lost forever!'
mo not lost forever; for God Is merciful
and his plying love can reach the chief of
sinners" said the lady in her soft sweet voice,
and the timely words swept the hidden chords
offeelings which had been long untouched
in the young mans heart, thrilling it with
magic power, and Weakening a host of tender
emotions, which had been buried very deep
beneath the rubbish of sin and crime
More gentle words the lady spoke, and when
she passed on her way the young man follow
ed her. He marked the house she entered.
and wrote the name which was on the silver
door plate in his memorandum book. Then he
went slowly awaywi.h deep earnest look on
his pale face and deeper and more earnest
feeling in his aching heart
Years glided by, aud the gentle lady had
quite forgotten the incident we have related.
When one day stranger sent up his card,
and desired 70 speak with her.
Wondering much who t could be, she went
down TO the parlor, where she found a noble
looking, well-dressed man, who rose deferen-
TALLY to meet her. Holding out his hand, he
said:
Pardon me, madam, for this intrusion; but
have come many miles to thank you for the
great service you rendered me q few wears
ago." said he, in trembling voice.
The lady was puzzled, and asked for an ex-
PLANTATION, as she did not remember ever hav-
ing seen the gentleman before.
II have changed so much" said the man
that you have quite forgotten me; but
though only saw your face once,I am sure
lshould have recognized it any where. And
yonr Voice, too, ii is SO like my mothers"
Those last words made the lady remember
the poor young man she had kindly spoken
TO In front of the drinking saloon so long be-
fore, and she mingled her tears with those
which were falling slowly over the mans
cheeks.
After the first gush ofemotion had subsidized.
the gentleman sat down and told the lady how
those few gentle words had been instrumental
In saving him, and making him what he then
was.
"The earnest expression of NO, not lost
forever followed me wherever ] went" said
he, and 1t always seemed that it was the
voice of my mother speaking TO me from the
tomb. relented of my many transgressions,
and resolved to live In Jesus as my mother
would be pleased to have me; and by the
mercy and grace of God have been enabled
TO resist temptation, and keep my good resolu-
TONS"
II never dreamed there was such power in
afew kind words BEFORE" exclaimed the lady
and surely ever after this | shall take more
pains to speek them to all the sad and suffer-
in-s ones meet in the walks of life.-Frona
Sunny Faces.