Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-04-17
KIND WORDS, coon DEEDS. AND
EVIDENCES OF PROGRESS,
The Power OF aoodne.s-A T+oe s,6f,.


Once there was GOOD man whose
name was John Kant. He lived nj
Cracow, in Poland, where he taught
and preached. 1t was his rule to suf.
fer wrong rather than do wrong tc
others.
When he got to be quite old, was
seized with u wish to see once more
the home Of his childhood, which
was many miles distant from where
he now lived.
So he got ready, and, having prayed
to God, set out OF his way. Dressed
in black. robe vieb Rong gray hail
and beard, be rode slowly along.
The woods through. which he had
to pass were thick and dark; but there
was light in his soul for good tho6xhts
Of God and Gods wofks kept him
company, and made the time seem
short,
One flight, as he Was thus fiding
along, he was all at once surround
ed by men-sofne on horseback and
some on foot. Knives and swords
flashed In the light of the moon, and
John Kant saw that he was at the
mercy of band of robbers.
He got down from his horse, and
said to the gang that he would give
up to them all that he had about him.
He. then gave them a purse filled
with silver coins, a gold chain from
his neck, ring from his finger, and
from his pocket book Of prayer, with
silver clasps.
ffHave you given tis all ~ cried the
robber chief, in stern voice; "have
you any more money w
The old man, in his Conclusion, said
he had given them all the money he
had; and when he said this, they let
him gOs
Glad to get Off SO well, dffd Vas
soon out of sight. But all at once the
thought came to him that he had
some gold pieces stitched in the hem
of his robe. These he had quite for
gotten when the robbers had asked
him if he had any more money.
"This is lucky" thought John
Kant, for he saw that the money
would bear him to his friends, and
that he would not have to beg his
way, or suffer for want of food or shell
ter.
But Johns conscience was tender
one, and he stopped to listen to its
voice. 1t seemed to cry to him in
earnest tones,S"Tell not q lie! Tell
not lie ~ The words would not let
him rest.
Some men would say that such a
promise, made to thieves, need not be
kept; and few would have been
troubled after such an escape. But
John did not stop to reason.
ua yunpf hon nh f. fl,n ,.Ioax, .,,l, o,.e
the robbers, stood, and walking up to
them, said, meekly, ~ have told you
what is not true. did not mean to
do so, but fear confused me; SO pordon
me-"
With these words he held forth the
gold pieces, but to his surprise, not
one Of the robbers would take them.
A strange feeling was at work in their
hearts.
These men, bad as they were, could
not laugh at the pious old man.
"Thou shalt not steal ~ said a voice
within them. All were deeply moved.
Then, as If touched by a common
feeling, one of the robbers brought
and gave back the old mans purse;
another, his gold chain; another, his
ring; another, his book of prayer; and
still another led his horse, and helped
the old man to remount.
Then all the robbers, rs IL quite
ashamed of having thought of harm
ing so good u man, went up and asked
his blessing. John Kant gave il with
devout feeling, and then rode on his
way, thanking God for so strange an
and wondering at the mixture
Of good and evil in the human heart.