Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-10-12
I'll Never Forgive Him.
I'll never forgive him-neyer |"

I'll never forgive him-never p -sr
Never is a hard word, john" said the
sweet faced wife Of John Locke, as she looked
up moment from her sewing
| He is mean, dastardly coward and upon
this Holy Bible I"
Stop, husband. Johu remember he is nv
| brother; and by the love you bear me- forbear
to curse him. He has done you wrong, l al.
low, but o John, he is very young and very
sorry. The momentary shame you felt yester-
day, will hardly be wiped out with curse. It
will only lnjure yourself j ohm D please don't
say anything dreadfull'
The sweet-faced woman prevailed that curse
that hung upon the lips of the angry man was
not spoken; but still he said, I'm never for
give hlm-he has done me deadly wrong
| The young man who had provoked his bitter
ness, humbled and repentant sought in vain for
forgiveness from him whom, in a moment of
passion, he had injured almost beyond repara-
tlon. John Locke steeled his heart against
him.
In his store sat the young village merchant
one pleasant morning, coDtentedy reading the
morning paper. A sound of hurried footsteps
approached; but he took 10 notice of it, until
a hatless boy burst into the store, screaming at
the top of his voice, ''Mr. Locke, JOHNNY is in
the river-lttle Johnny Locke"
10 dash down the paper, and spring for the
street, was the first impulse of the agonized
father. On, on, ike maniac be flew, till he
reached the bank OF the river; pallid and crazed
with anguish. The first sight that met his eve
was little Johnny, lying in the arms of his
mother, who, with her hair hanging disheveled
around her, bent wildly over her child. The
boy was just saved. He breathed, and opening
his eyes, smiled family in his mothers face:
while she, with choking voice, thanked God.
Another form lay insensible; stretched near the
child From his head the dark blood flowed
from ghastly wound. The man against whom
John Locke had sworn eternal hatred had at
the risk of his own life, been the saviour of the
child. He had struck floating piece of drift
wood as he came to the surface with the boy,
and death seemed inevitable. =
John Locke flung himself down on the green
sWard, aud bent over the senseless form. Save
him. lie cried huskily, to the doctor, who had
been summoned. Restore him to conscious
ness, If 1t be only for one little moment; have
something important to say to him. -
HE Is revlvlng, replied the doctor,
The wounded man opened his eyes they
met the anxious glance of the brother-in-law
and the pale lips trembled forth, DO you for
give me p 5 crT7-a
Yes, yes; God is witness, as l hope for
mercy hereafter; freely forgive you, and, in
turn, ask your forgiveness tor my unchristian
conduct"
A feeble pressure of the hand and heaming
smile were all the answer.
Many days the brave young man hung upon
slender thread of life and never were more
devoted friends than those who hovered over
| the sick bed. But vigorous constitution tri-
umphed and, pale and changed, be walked
forth once more among the living.
20 if he had died with my unkindness
clouding his soul, never should have dared to
hope for mercy from my Father in Heaven!'
said John Locke to his wife, as they sat talking
| over the solemn event that had threatened their
lives with a living trouble, ..Never-now
have tasted the sweetness of forgiveness-never
again will | cherish revenge or unkindness to-
ward the erring; for there is new meaning to
my soul in the words of our daily prayer, and I
see that l have only been calling judgment up
on myself while have impously asked For
give US our trespasses, as zoe torgiUe those ,cho
| fresD0ss AGAINST u.s. -