Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-01-23
MY Mothers Voice.


beautiful story about kind words. A
good lady living in one of our larg,
cities was passing a drinking saloor
just as the keeper was thrusting :
young man out into the street Ht
was very young and very pale. hp,
his haggard face and wild eyes told
that he was very far gone in the read
to ruin, as with oaths, he brandished
his clenched fists, threatening to b,
revenged on the man who had SO il
used him. This poor young mar
was so excited and blinded with pas
sion, that he did not see the lady
who stood very near to him, unit
she laid her hand upon his arm, ant
spoke in her gentle, loving voice
asking what was the matter.
At the first kind word, the young
man started as Though a heavy blow
had struck him. and turned quickly
round, paler than before, and tremb
ling from head to foot. He survey
ed the lady a moment, and then, with
a sigh Of relief, be said, ''I thought il
was my mothers voice, it sounded &c
strangely like it! But her voice has
been hushed in death for many
years"
"You had a mother, then" said
the lady, "and she loved you?"
Bursting into tears, he sobbed out,
"Oh, yes, had an angel mother, and
she loved her boy. But since she
died, all the world has been against
me, and 1 am lost-lost to good So
ciety, lost to decency, lost foreverr'
mo, not lost forever; God is mer
ciful, and his pitying love can reach
the chief of Sinners" said the lady,
in her low sweet voice; and the time
ly words swept the hidden cords OF
feeling, which had long been un-
touched, 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, the young man followed
her. He marked the house which
she entered, and wrote the name
which was on the door-plste in his
little memorandum book. Then he
walked slowly away, with a deep,
earnest look on his white face, and
deeper and more earnest feelings in
his aching heart.
Years glided by, and the gentle
lady had quite forgotten the incident
We have related, when one day a
stranger sent up his card, and desir-
ed 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
deferentially to meet her. Holding
out his hand, he said, pardon me,
madam, for this intrusion; but have
come many miles to thank you for
the great service you rendered me a
few years ago"
The lady was puzzled, and asked
for an explanation, as she did not
remember ever having seen the
young man before.
81 have changed so much" said
he, "that you have qnite forgotten
me; but though l only saw your face
once, l am sure l should have re-
cognized it anywhere. And your
voice too-it is so like my mether's!'
These last words brought to her
recollection the poor young man she
had spoken to in front of the drink
ing saloon so long before, and she
mingled her tears with those which
was falling slowly over the mans
checks. After the first gush OF
emotion had subsidized, he sat down,
and told how those few gentle words
had been instrumental in saving him
and making him what he was. "The
earnest expression of, mo, not lost
forever" followed me wherever
went, and it always seemed that il
was the voice of my mother speak
ing to me from the tomb. Irepented
of my many transgressions, and re-
solved to live o new life; and, by the
mercy and grace of God, l have been
enabled to resist temptation and keep
nv good resolutions"
81 never dreamed there was such
power in 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 meet in the walks of life. -
Mothers Treasury.