Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-09-25
I Thought it was MY Mothers e
Voice,

4 friend told me, not long ago, a beanti-
fnl story about kind words. 4 good lady,
living in one of our large cities. was pass
ing IL drinking saloon as the keeper was
thrustins a Young man out into the street
He was very young and very pale, but his
haggerea face and wild eyes told that he
was far gone in the road to ruin. as with an
oath he brandishcd his clenched fists,
threatening to be reveng"d on the man
who i'll used him.
This poor young man was so excited
that he did not see the lady. who stood
near to him. riutilI che laid her l';,ri upon
hls arm. and spoke in her geu,le lovn !,
voice, asking him what was the matter
At the first kind word the young man
started as If u heavy blow had struk him,
and turning quickly round paler than be.
fore, and trembling from head to foot, he
surveyed the lady for a moment, then with
IL sigh OF relief, he said:
Il thought it was my mothers voice, it
sounded so strangely like it but her voicv
has been hushed in death for riny years
You had a mother, then. and she loved
you ? said the lady.
With that revulsion of feeling which of,
ten comes to people of fine nervous tenn
permanent, the young man burst into tears,
sohbing out.
'Oh, yes, had an angel mother and
she loved her boy. But since she died the
world has been against I'VE, and am lost
lost to good society. lost to dcccncy, and
lost forever
| NO not lost forever; God is mercifnl
and his pitying love can reach the Chief of
sinners. said the lady, IN her low. sweet
voice; and the timely words swept the hid
den chords of feeling which had long been
untouched in the young mans heart thrill
ing it with magic power and awakening Il
host of tender emotions, which had been
buried very deep beneath the rubbish of
sin and crime.
More kind words the lady spoke, and
when she passed on her way the youth fol
lowed her. He marked the house where
she entered. and wrote the name which
book. Then he walked slowly away, With
n deep, earnest look on his white face. and
deeper, and more earnest feeling in his
aching heart.
Years glided by. and the gentle lady had
quite forgotten the incident we have re-
lated, when one day stranger sent up his
card and desired to speak with ber. Won
dering much who it could he, she went
down to the parlor. when she found No
Bile looking, vel dressed man, who rose
deferentaily to meet her. Holding out
his hand, he said:
Pardon me. madam, for this ntrusion;
but have como many miles to thank you
for the great service you rendrcd me Il few
years ag',' said lie in trembling voice.
The lady was puzzled and asked for an
explanation, as she did not remember ever
having seen the gentleman before.
i have changed so niucE.' said the man
that you have quite forgotten me; bat
though | only saw your face once, am
sure I sheull have recognized it anywhere
Aud your voice, too, it is 80 like my mo
ther's
These last words made tie lady remem
ber the poor young man she had spok.r
kindly to in front of the drinking saloon St
long before, and she mingled her teurs Will
those that were falling ever the g.ntle
mans checks.
After the first gush Of emotion had sub
sided, the gentleman sat down and told tn,
lady how these few words had been INSTR
mental in saving and ulaking him what he
then was.
The earnest expression Of No not los
forever followed me wherever | went,
he said. 'and it always seemed that it wa
the voice Of mother. speaking to rae fro,
) the tomb. Irepented Of my ,ransgrcssions
, and resolved to live rs Jesus ana my mo
, ther would he pleased to have me: and b
the grace of God have been able to re
sist temptation and Keep my good resolu
tons.
i never dreamed there was such powe
in few words before exclaimed the | ,dy
and ever after this shall take more pain
to speak them to all the sad and suffering
l ones meet iu the walks Of llfc.