Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-06-04
MISCELLANY.
NY Mothers Voice.

4 friend told me, some time ago, beautiful
story about kind words. \ good lady living
| in one of our large cities was passing drink
ing saloon just as the keeper was thrusting a
Young man. out into the street. lie was very
young and very pale; but his hagsard face and
wild eyes told that he was very far gone in the
road to ruin, as with oaths, he brandished his
clinched fists, threatening to be reyenscd on the
man who had so i'll used him This poor
vonng 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 upon
his arm, and spoke in her gentle loving voice,
asking what was the matter.
At the first kind word, the young man start
ed as though heavy blow had struck him,
and turned quickly round, paler than before,
and trembling from head toioot. He surveyed
the lady moment, and then, with a sigh of
relief. he said, " I thought it was my mother S
voice, it sounded so strangely likeit But her
voice has been hushed in dcathfor manyyears.
| You had a mother, then" said the lady,
" and she loved you?'
Bursting into tears, he sobbcd out, Ohyes,
! l had an argel mother, and she loved her boy
But since she died, all the world has been
against me, aud / am lost-lostto good society,
lost to decency, lost for ever!'
"No not lost forever: for God is merciinl,
and his ptying love can reach the Chief Of sin
nors." said the lady, in hex low, awee. voice
and the t.mely words swept the hidden cords
Of feeling, which had long been untouched,
awakening 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, tic
Young man followed her He marked the
house which she entered, and wrote the name
which was on the door-plate in his little mem
orandum book. Then he walked slowly away
with a deep. earnest look on lis white face
and deeper and more earnest feelings in Ii.
aching heart.
Years glided by, and the gentle lady had
ante forgotten the incident we have related
when one day a stranger sent up his card. and
desired to speak with her. Wondering who
it could be. she went down to the parlor, where
she found noble looking, well dressed man
who rose deierentially to meet her. Holding
out bis hand. he said, Pardon me, madam
for this intrusion but have come manymiles
to thank you for the great service You rendered
me a few years ago"
The lady was puzzled, and eshel for an ex-
PLANTATION, as she did not remember ever hay-
ing seen the young man before.
a have changed so much" said he, that
YOU have quite forsottonme; bu; though Ionly
saw your face once, I am su-e / should have
recognized it anywhere. And your voice too
it is so like my mothers"
These last words brought to her recollection
the poor young man she had spoken to in front
Of the drinking saloon so long before and she
mingled her tears with those which were falling
slowly over the mans cheeks After the first
ousb Of emotion had subsiaed, he sat down
told how those few gentle words had been in
strunental in saving him and making hin
what he was. The earnest expression OF
No, not lost forever followed me wherever
went, and I. always seemed that it was th'
voice Of my mother speaking to me from tho
tomb. IEepented of my many transsressions
and resolved to live new life, and, by tho
mercy and grace of God, have been enabled
to resist temptation and keep my good resolu-
tons"
q never dreamed there was such power II
a few kind words before" exclaimed the lady
"and surely after this shall take more pains
to speak them to all the sad and suffering ones
I meet in the walks Of fe."-liotsers TTea
Slyry