The Grand Haven news., 1865-03-29

day SIT uoWn weary anu exhausted. but
no word of sympathy, no look of kind.
ness did Agnes ever give. She passed
"the hired girlp BY as If that girl were
soulless, as If God himself had made her
incapable of appreciatipg kindness and
gentleness. How different with Mary
Of warm and impulsive spirit, nature
teemiug with affection, she consoled the
young and disdainfal creature that lay
helpless before her. In the silent watch
es of the night she bathed her fesered
brow and administered to her every want.
/ Agnes heart was touched. She looked
upon her past actions as fruitless and a
barren waste. She asked forgiveness
from her Father in Heaven, and fervent-
ly vowed that if restored to health, she
would lead different lfe--traverse that
path whence thorns would not spring, but
where roses bloom in silent beauty. g
After long and severe illness, the Civ
er of all restored her to health. Day by
day it seemed as il good angels were
lighting the house with her smiles. That
dreariness, the winterish look that in
former days made il seem so uncomfort-
able, had passed away, and the pleasant
sunshine that flows from cheerful and
contented heart, made the summer chase
away the winter. The change in the
house was wonderful; the curtains were
tied back, the blinds opened, and the sun
laughed in at the window. Even the fire
seemed to burn more brightly, and old
Rover, the dog, looked more cheerful and
happy. What caused all this, what ere.
ated the beautiful transformation, what
changed the wild and uncultivated nature
of Agnes Forrest into garden filed with
the roses Of Hope, of Love, Of Patience,
Of gentleness and kindnessi 1t was afflic-
ton. God alone knows what will chas-
ten and subdue stubborn heart--what
will kill the foul weeds that try to stifle
our better nature. Aff1iction is great
crucible. 1t polishes and refnes us--a
sort of jewel that makes ones life shed a
purer lustre. Agnes health had return
ed with fresher vigor. The hettic flush
which had just given place to the pallid
hue of death, now assumed ruddier
glow. Her cheeks would have shamed
the redest rose, and her form grew to
elegance and symmetry. But, more than
all, her heart was made anew-substan-
italy changed for the better. The or
phan's cry and the widows wall had found
friend. The hungry and poverty-strick-
en-, benefactress. The gold that Agnes
was won't TO lavish upon dresses and fop-
peries to please her vanity, was now ex-
pended upon the poor and suffering ones
that came within her reach. Grateful
hearts were now asking blessings on the
kind-hearted girl, instead, as before, BRAIN
less fops were besmearing her with fulsome
adulatious. Scarcely had the spring Of
life passed over her, ere she was recsgniz-
ed as an angel of mercy. The poor look
cd upon her with reverence, and worship
ed her very footprints. Mr.. and Mrs. For
rest we're happier. They gazed upon her
as lamp, guiding star to their house
hold, lighting them and all around from
darkness to light, from adversely to pros
perity aud happiness. Poor Mary had
now a better friend--one that is not too
proud to assist her in the arduos duties ol
the household when exhausted or over
worked. One continual glow Of sunshine
characterizes all her dealings with those
aronnd her. The kind, the good, the gen.
tie, the low, the rich, the poor, como To
see Agnes now. The proud, the cold the
disdainful, keep away. Aff1iction has
learned her lesson that will be forgot
ten in the grave alone. She has been 70.
modelled. The touch of a master hand
had changed her in form and spirit. Hu.
initiation had chased away its oppressor,
Patience was the victor queen.
Affection, after all, is kind angel.
We learn to know what sorrow is, how
to appreciate kindness, to repay gratitude,
: to sympathize with the afflicted, to con.
sole the comfortless, TO feed the hungry
and clothe the naked. 1t makes us chris.
tians in the true sense--that is, wo do
unto others as we would have them do
unto US. Afflicted ones despair not. God
is trying you in the fire. Like Agnes
Forrest you will come out purer and
whittier, brighter and better for your per-
secution. Look not upon the poor, hard
working man or woman as your inferior.
They sprang from the Same source, they
are as highly honored by God. The pur-
est gold is often found in the roughest
stone. "When sickness pales thy cheek
and dims thy lustrous eye they are the
first to lend helping hand Union
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