Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-13

| lnen the CHILD OleO, ana her last human
interest went and she made its little grave
in the tangled garden, and every year GOV.
cred it thick with flowers. But in hel
heart no white blossom Of hope had eve,
sprung up, no purple pansy of royal mag
nanimity and forgiveness had yet blossomed
there. And this night, after 50 many
years, she was living it ell over again with
tragic interest, and no softened feelings oi
relenting or forgiveness entered her stern
heart.
He is very happy" she thought to
herself as she wended her way back and
stood by her little grave; "he is very
happy, for he can stand by his child's bed
and weep; and SO could l, if 1 had his
hope. 0 my darling, my darling, darling
boy" and she stopped down, and threw
her arms carelessly over the little mound
"Oh, if God would only, only let me
meet you once more! . my God, why
cannot forvive and be forgiven7"
my sister," said the kind old man,
coming up and hearing her last words and
feeling how vain it would be to reason or
expostulate with this woman" let us
pray" and. almost before she knew it,
they were kneeling by the little ones
grave; and before the old minister had
concluded his simple but touching prayer
| the woman, whose heart had been stone for
so many years, was weeping, weeping with
passionate sobs like a little child and
when he had concluded, she arose, and with
out word made her way into the house,
and soon the red light shone in the little
window
| Somehow after this more gentle feel
ing crept into the heart of Mrs. Wayland.
\ softer light came into her eye, and a
more gentle tremor was in her voice as she
addressed the old minister. who saw that
she was touched, but was too wise to med
die farther than was absolutely necessary
with the good work which he was sure was
going on.
| 1t was not many weeks from the evening
of which | have spoken, when, as she was
returning from her evening walk, she be-
held scene Of hustle around the door of
her house; carriage was driving away,
and trunk stood upon the steps, while
some figures seemed just entering the door
whom she could not distinguish in the gath
ering darkness. "Dr. Ashly has some
friends come" she thought, with feeling
of impatence "whst shall | 90 with
them ?" and she walked quickly to the
house. AS she turned into the cheerless
dining -room,-the only room which was
ever used below,-she saw, stretched upon
couch, the figure Of man propped up
by pillows, which seemed TO have been
hastily brought, and looking pallid and
wan. She walked quickly forward, but
when she had reached the middle of the
room, she stopped like one transf1ed, and,
with wild eyes full of eagerness and some
thing like JOY, looked about her
Mortimer Wayland :" she exclaimed
at last. gFasping the table for support.
Why come you hereY"
II have come home to die, Agnes. l
could not die anywhere else; have been
for years trying to do so,-but God would
not let me. ! was forced to come and seek
your forgiveness, and God will not take me
until have it; yet dare not ask you to
grant il; it is too much, :" At this the
sick man shut his eyes wearily. and said no
more.
Forgive us our sins as We forgive those
who trespass against US, sOlemnly said the
voice of the old minister, who was sitting
near the couch upon which the man lay.
"Oh. sir, you cannot know what it is for
me to ask of her Most wrongs may be
forgiven; but mine against her is SO great
that she cannot forgive me, am sure, un-
less God helps her. l have been suffering
for IT these twenty years.-trylng to ex-
plate it but | have failed | have suf-
fered, have struggled, have almost died
many times, sir but could not atone for
my sin, and God could not forgive it, nor
can she"
Then the minister's voice was heard
again, and it said, Sister, remember the
little child's grave in the garden, and for
give and be forgiven
Then Mrs. Wayland, who had stood like
a statue all this time, rushed forward, and,
kneeling by the couch, poured forth her
whole heart III torrent of passionate
Words
90 my husband, my darling, my only
love, forgive me for my coldness and my
seorn forgive me for not helping you to
withstand temptation,-I, who was always
the stronger. 1t was | who drove you
away, and for it l have suffered and ago
nized all these years Ihave been SO hard,
so wicked and cruel, so Implying and un-
forgiving, that l have had no rest or peace
night or day. 1t is go blessed to feel that
| forgive you, so joyful to think that You
will forgive me,-that God will forgive us
both" and the woman laid her head upon
his breast, and rained upon his lips
thousand passionate kisses.
Then DR.. Ashly would have left them !;
but the woman called him back.
"Share in our great joy, dear friend -
she said; for, had it not been for you,
this would never have been. A few weeks
ago l should havo received him
whom | loved even as | had always loved,
but whom my pride would have banished
from my door in the face of all his plead
ings; but you have softened my heart, and
to you we owe this joyful hour. And now
you must help me-" she continued, with
woman's thoughtful care, "to carry him to
my own room upstairs, which is the only
comfortable room have; and there / can
nurse him up, and soon have him well
again
And SO he was carried up to the room
where she had sat alone so many years,
and was soon as comfortable as womanly
care could make him.
How natural it all looks here!" he
said, glancing around the room. at is
just as it used to be,-isn't it, darling
And I remember it so well,-furnished, to
suit you, in crimson, which you still like,
as l see by your shawl"
Yes" she said, with little blush "I
have always worn it for your sake. You
used to say it was just the color to suit me,
and have worn it all these years.