The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-10-25
II Thought 1t was my Mothers

A friend told me, not long ago,'s
beautiful story about kind words. 4
good lady living in one oftbe large eities
WAS passing a drinking saloon just as
the keeper was thrustiug 5oung mau
out into the street. He owns very young
and very pale, but his huggard face and
wild eyes told that ho was far gone in
the road to ruin, as with an oath be
braudished his clenched fists. threaten.
ing to be revengcd on the nan who i'll
used him. The poor young man vas so
excited and blinded with passion that
he did no. sec the lady who stood very
near him; until she laid her hand upon
his arm. and spoke in her gentle, loving
voice, asking him what was the matter.
At the first kind word the young man
started as if a heavy blow had Struck
him, and turning quickly around, paler
than before, and trembling from head to
foot, he surveyed the lady for moment,
and then, with a sigh of relief, he said :
/ thought it was ny mothers voice,
it sounded so strangely like it but her
voice has been hushcd in death for
many years.
You had q mother thcn," said the
lady. "and she loved you ?"
With that sudden revulsion Of feeling
which often comes to people Of sne,
nervous tempcraments, ':he young man
burst into tears, sobbing out, Oh, yes ;
| had an angel mother and she loved her
boy But since she died all the world
has turned against me. and. ain lost -
lost to good society, lost to deceucy, and
lost forever
No, not lost forever for God is
mcrciful, and his plying love Can reach
the chief Of sinners, "@aid the lady, iu
her low, sweet voice ). and the timely
words swept the hidden chords Of feeling
which had been long untouched in the
young mans heart, thrilling it with
magic power, and awakcuinS 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 youth
followed her. lie marked the house
where she entered, and wrote the name
which vas on the door.platc in HE mem
orandum book. Then be walked slowly
away, with a deep earnest look on his
white face, and deeper, more earnest
feelings in his aching heart.
Years glided by, and the gentle lady
had quite forgotten the incident We have
related, when one day, stranger sem
up his curd and desired to.spcak with
her.
Wondering much who it could be, she
went down to the parlor, whero she
found noble looking, we'll dressed man
who rose dcfercntly'to meet her--Elold.
Ing out his hand, he said
"Pardon me, madam, for this intru.
sion; but I have come many miles 10
thank you for the great service you
rendered me few years ago" said he
in a trembling voice.
The lady was puzzled and asked for
an explanation, as she did not remem'
Der ever having seen the gentleman be-
fore.
II have changed so much" said the
man, "that you have quite forgotten
me but though | onl y saw your face
once, | am sure l should have recog.
nized it anywhere. And your voicc, tuo,
is 50 like my mother's!"
Those last words made the lady re
member the poor young man she had
kindly spoken to in front of the drink.
ing saloon so ngtbeforc, and she min
gled her tears with those which were
falling slowly over the young mans
cheeks.
After the Grst gush of emotion had
subsided. tho gentleman sat down and
told the Indy how those few words had.
been instrumental in saving him, and
making him what he then was. :.
The earnest expression Of No, not
lost forever followed mo whcrevcr |
vent" said he, "and it always seemed
that it waS the voice of my mother
speaking to ME from the tomb. | re-.
pcuted of my many 'ransgIesslons, and
resolved to live as Jesus and my mother
would be pleased to baye me and by
the mercy and grace of God, | have been
enabled to resis, temptation and keep
,,y yood resolution"
IL never dreamed there vas such
powcr in few kind words bcLMrc, cx-
olaimed tho lady, uud surely ever AFTER
this shall take more pains to speak
them to all the Sad and suffering ones |
meet in tho walks Of life. Sunny Faces.
HuMoR.-The Chicago. Journal COM
meuces a lengthy "plea for good humor
as follows:
Our readers have remarked that We
sprinkle our columns With things hu'
.morous as we'll as things grave and sub
.,antial. We do this on purpose. and
With a purpose. We believe 10 "ruo'
Ding" the cheerful as we'll as the cloudy
side Of human affairs. Life is sober, the