Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-01-15


looked upon himself az rretrievably lost and that
it needed only the conviction Of approaching DEATH
which had not yet fastened itself upon him, to
plunge him into CHASTITY terrors Of the retribution
awaiting him. 10 seemed relief 20 him TO tell
out some Of the dark thoughts and painful recol-
lections which had been pent up in his own sad
heart through the long hours Of prison solitude,
and as he did so he referred continually, with the
utmost expressions OF delight, TO the fact that in
Miss NJ he had now friend--repeating the
word again and sgain, as if the very sound gave
him pleasure and looking up with grateful eyes
when her answers manifested her genuine interest
10 all his griefs and sufierings Al last, Miss NJ
decided on hazlrding her first words Of direct re-
ligious teaching-feeling that the time might now
be come when they could be safely spoken.
If you find it comfort TO have me for your
friend john what wonderful happiness il Is to
think that You have far better Friend, who loves
and cares for you a thousand times beyond what |
or any human being can ~
lie looked at her in blank astonishment--
Who might you mean, my dear lady r
The hest and dearest Friend we can any Of
us have she answered in low tone " the only
one who can help as when our fellow-creatures can
do no more for us-the Lord Jesus Christ, the
blessed Saviour Of the world
His face darkened, and hn half tcrned awny--
' He is no friend to me, maam, such as | am.
know that well enough. lie is waiting TO send
me down to hell %
Oh, no, Jobn!n she exclaimed earnestly. "He
is waiting TO save you--lopgug to bless YOU. lie
gave His very lil, for you, and glad to die the
cruecst of cruel deaths that lie might win pardon
for you, aud take you TO be in Joy and gladness
with Himself in heaven Oh John, YOU don't
know how he loves you, and how lie longs to
make you happy and TO comfort YOU
The mans features worked with agitation under
her earnest words.
But, ma'am,n he said, LAYING his trembling
hand ON hers, q" You don't know how bad I've
been. II isn't only that have done every sort Of
wIckedness, and made it my business. aud gained
my living by it-but I've delighted in il. schemed
and strove for it, and took my pleasure in it.
believe there isn't bad thing as haven't dome
except murder. | never murdered any one, but
its the best can say for myself I've done all
the rest"
"Bnt that is all past, John. You repent of it
now. You would not 60 back to it again if you
could, | am sure
e don't feel as if should 50 he said slowly. II
seem to hate it all now, but don't know how it
might be If we're free again aud out among my
pals but II tell YOU what, ma'am, such one as
You couldn't guess how desperate bad I've been.
If eve Jesus Christ looks on me, it'll be to fling
me in the lake of fire Lord just TO fancy His
ever thinking of making me happy in heayenl"
- Yet, John, it was the lost whom He came to
seek and save, when lie LETT the glory and the
Joys oiheaycn TO come down into this sinful world,
because lie would not see US perish. It's not our
own good deeds that could ever save u.s. but the
love OF Jesus. who bore our punishment, and took
all our wickedness upon HIMSELF Ii is the only
hope that any of us have, John. | should be as
full of despair as YOU If could not trust that nv
sins may be forgiven for the dear Lords sake
" ou, maaml You hayen't any sins, am very
sure. | couldn't believe Is ever you did the least
thing as wrong"
smiling sadly; 'but now rwaut you to listen while
try to show you the hope that even the worst of
sinners may have, if only he will come repentant
TO the feet OF Christi And with all the earnest
ness which her intense desire to bring comfort to
that forlorn soul inspired her with, She spoke to
the prisoner of the infinite love which conquered
death and hell upon the Cross of Cavalry, and was
even then broodng over him with yearnng COM
passion, tender as that Of mother for her child
bounGless and mighty as that OF God Tor His crea-
ture. The prisoner listened with eager pleasure,
a. il it were a strain Of lovely music which laid
his very soul TO rest but when at last she ceased
and asked him il she could not fling himself with
all iis guilt upon that wonderful love of Christ,
an trust its unqusnchable pity to save him even
yet he looked up into her face with almost an az
ony Of mingled longing and despair, and said
" Oh ma'an, it's beautiful to think how good
ie is and there's many a sinful soul He'll save,
know; but IL have been too bad-I have been
100 bad!n
It was almost the hour when she had to leave
aim. She could hear the turnkey coming along
he corridor, locking the men ntp their cells, and
he know that in few minutes he would reach
Iill's door
"John" she said, " will tell you some words
,ut Of the scriptures which You can easily remem-
Der, and YOU must say them over often TO yourself
o-night when you are lying awake and try to un-
lerstand really what they mean, and think they
will help YOU to believe what | have told you.
NfaHa IL. a.
lowly pronounced the words, " The blood Of de-
ms Chrtst ciednSeth from all SIM She made
i'm repeat them after her several times and then
IS she heard the turkeys step at the door she
ose and said, Now, remember John, that Blood
eanses from all sin-ALL-there is nothing too
,reat for its cleansing power in all that any Of
IS has done amiss if only we are penitentn
ilil opened his lips as If to speak, but Perry
anne in, aud he could only thank her gratefully
md ,urn his face to the wall as the grating sound
Il The lock told him he was again alone. But the /
ast words she had spoken abode with him. lie
eard item repeated to him again and again.
Trough the long dark watches Of the night by the
'oice that one day shall awake the dead, but that
low, soft aud low as the whisper of a mother to 4
er dying child, breathed into his soul the ineila-
lie sweetness OF that truth The blood of Jesus /.
'hrist cleanscth from all SIM lie struggled long |
galnst conviction, as the dark tide OF memory I
wept over his shrinking spirit and brought back /
. BLACKLIST hues the deadly evils OF the life now
bling to its close. 1t was a mortal agony
Trough which the prisoner passed that night but /
mere was One standing by his side who had carr. (
d up all human sympathes even to the throne OF 1
'od-One who had counted the beatngs of that /
oor erring heart through all the sinful years that
ad SO nearly wrecked him on the shores of death I
-seen the first wanderiugs of his steps on paths /
{ eyl-loted each mptation-watched the /
'idening circles Of growing wlckedness--and /
naly in nerciiul severity brought pain and an
ulsh over him, till now forlorn aud helpless he |
ly at the blessed Feet too HOPELESS even to ask /
Or mercy But the pierced Hand is laid upon
i'm, the voice ever mlrmuring the same divine |
weet words, the promise Of cleansing for all sin,
enetrates into the most secret depths Of that re-
Iorseiul, longing sprlt, and when the earliest !
trrak OF day glnnnefs through the narrow win
ow OF the cell, there is another dawn within the /
risoners soul the first faint trembling ray Of that
ln Of eternity which shall one day burst on the !
edeemed in everlasting glory.
As Miss NJ bent over him in some anxiety .
ext morning. he rAisei bis beseechng eyes to /
er face aud said" Oh maam, if His blood /
leanses from aH siu, then miue--vyen mue'- 1
is voice became choked, and he could say no .
iore.
From that day the dogged, suen prisoner be- 1
anne the most humble and gentle OF peuitents.
Ie listened greedily to every word that was spok-
"a 10 him OF the Divine Kedeemer for whom his
hole soul was gespiog now, and day by day,
lough never confident, never prrsuuptuous, and
itcn tall OF agonizing fears, he grew more and
lore in the trembling hope that the love Of Christ
light conquer even his great guilt
Side by side with this growth of spirit, however,
il bodily stren0th was deraving and ever as life