Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-03-17
The Widows Prayer and
how it was Answered.

Oue nlgut, my attention was 81
tracted by voice of supplioatiol
coming from q cottage very nea
the street. / paused to listen
and my very blood seemed t.
freeze in my veins, as I heart
these words:
ooh! kind and merciful God
may Thy Holy Spirit visit tn,
murderers of my husband ant
children, and turn them from theil
sins ere other hearts are rent a,
mine has BEEN"
She prayed long and earnestly.
but this one petition only / heard,
When she arose from her knees,
an Irresistible curiosity, to know
her history compelled me to enter
the house. She greeted me kind.
ly, but her great hollow eyes
eyes that looked as if they had
wept until they had no more
tears to shed--cast upon me an
inquiring gaze, and | apologized
for my intrusion, by telling her !
had heard her praying for the
murderers of her husband and
children, and that / really
wished to know how itoccuEred ,and
why they were never brought t
to justice, remarking that / had
often heard of loving your ene-
mics and praying for those who
despiteiully use you, but had
never seen the principle carried
out before.
"Ahl dear heart;" said the wo-
man, sit was a long time before /
could kiss the rod, but God hum
bled me at last. Ny stubborn
heart had to be broken ere it
stopped resisting the Holy Spirit
that was trying to WOO me from
my deep sorrow, to the acceptance
of Fathers comforting love-
Oh! how rebellious | was! | won
der God did not crush me entirely
without mercy. Had you seen
me a year ago, you might have
heard me raving and heaping curs-
es upon those who had injured
me. The bitterest anathemas my
outraged, angry soul could frame
seemed too good but that has
passed; yes, thank God, that has
passed. | sank to the very bot
tom of the pit of darkness and
despair, before / tried to Chamber
up the banks. Oh! / wonder /
did not sink 10 the bottomless pit
of eternity, for lying there, groan-
ing in the darkness and gloom of .
wicked agony, when l knew the
sweet light was shining above me,
a kind hand waiting to unbar the
door of my dungeon, a loving
voice calling me, and an affection
ate Father ready to receive me.
As soon as | looked up, saw a
ray of light, and when l began
20 climb, a strong arm was held
down to me, and clinging to this
at last succeeded in escaping,
leaving all my chains in the miry
depths beneath me-"
She seemed to feel very deeply
vet she was calm and fearless. |
also felt strangely moved, but |
babe her go on aud tell me her
entire story, and why the murder
ers of her husband and child were
never brought to justice. My
whole nature was aroused, my
very soul burned with indigna-
ton, l felt as if l would like to
act as sheriff. Divining my
thoughts she said slowly,
"'Vengeance is mine, / will re-
pay, saith the Lord Murderers
of this class are seldom brought
to justice in this iife. Ali sir,
the midnight assassin is hung, but
he that plunges knife into the
heart of a fellow-being, and then.
complacently gazes on the GRIM
son blade, reeking with the warm
life blood, is no more a murderer.
no more hardened, than he that
entices an honest sober man from.
the path OF integrity, sells him in
toxicating drinks. smiles as he