The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1870-01-27
YOU'LL B1 SORRY 1oR II
SOME DAY, CHARLIE"

Colonel had threatened to send him &c
his company II he got drunk again; but
then he was 30 brave and cool In danger
and every one knew that he loved his
| Colonel.
One day in brisk little engagement
he sprang before the Colonel just iu
time to take bullet In his own body,
aud as he sank down he said "I'm glad
sir!"
In the hospital afterwards, the
Colonel's eyes would moisten ~ he
stood by his bed-for Charlie WASH,
killed outright--SSrd found how deeply
melancholy had settled over the poor
fellow. He didn't swear any more, but
he wouldn't talk, aud seemed petulanl
If any one tried to find out what allied
him and made him sigh SO deeply
Even the Colonel couldn't get at the
secret that troubled him 50.
One day they moved some Of the cots
and Charles was placed close by the
door. The Colonel came up very softly
SO as not to waken Charlie IL he should
be asleep, and found him lying with his
back to the door. He listened to see II
the boy he loved was asleep, and heard
him say all to himself
you'll be sorry for 1t some day Char.
lie! Oh God, amt sorry for it !" and
there came deep drawn sigh that al
most choked into sob.
Thov, tho (Nn1nOol xuos,t ro,,n.l IN tho
other side ofthe cot, and sitting down
there, said,-
"Now Charlie, you must tell me all
about it. 1t troubles you 80 much. You
saved my life, my dear fellow, and It's
little enough you will let me do in Civ
ing me this trouble to carry away from
you. Tell me what you mean, Charlie.
What is it you are so sorry for::''
Charlie took the Colonel's hand in
both his rs he lay there on the cot, and
he had half cried, he was so weak, rs he
said,
"You'll think it's little thing, sir,
for man to be bothered with;-but it
has troubled me for years, sir,-and it's
made me drink, and try to get rid Of it
by hazing as hard rs ever could, sir. l
wanted to drown it out, sir, but 1t
wouldn't drown out"
"Tell me all about it, Charlie" said
the Co'onel.
"When l was boy in Sunday school,
sir, way back In Massachusetts" said
Charlie, "my teacher-hc was q good
man, sir,-was talking to us about being
Christians, and when he come to me,
was sort of bored, and mad, you know,
and swore ut him and his talk Then
he looked at me out of his sorry eyes,
and kind of gentle, said, You'll he sor-
ry for it some day, Charlie. lou'll be
sorry for it some day.
Charlie choked up with his grief for a
time, and then he said in u despairing
sort Of way,
He's been dead-my teacher has
these ten years, and ever since l heard
he was dead, somehow that has seemed
to come up all the time. When go to
sleep can see him again, and hear him
say it just as he did then-a dozen years
ago-and it's too late, sir! &can't take
it back from him! Oh, there's no hope
for me, sir!'
Charlie sank back on his little hospi-
tai pillow, and covered his face with his
hands for a minute. Then, in kind of
desperate way, he said,
"Oh, Colonel, I've tried to get 50
drunk that I'd forget it, but l couldn t;
and now, since got hurt, If get
little cat-nap (of sleep there l ain back
in the old class, the boys looking just as
they used to, aud the teacher looks at
me, just so sorry, and says again, You'll
be sorry for it some day, Charlie Oh,
can't stand it, sir; indeed can't"
Then Charlie said in sort Of angry,
desperate way, as though he was pro-
voked-
That's what's the matter!"
The Colonel told Charlie, very kind
ly, that the teacher wasn't beyond his
reach, but was at home with Jesus, and
that when he prayed to the dear Lord,
and told him his sorrow, he could get
double pardon-from the teacher and
Christ-at once. Then he explained to
him the lovely message that Christ left
OH earth for just such as he; and while
lie was ut it he whipped out little Test
ament that he always carried, and read
to Charlie from John, xvi: 3d.
"verily, verify, l say unto you, what
soever ye shall ask the Father in my
name, He will give it YOU"
Charlie listened as II for dear life, and
especially while the Colonel was telling
him. why the "verily" was there; and
then he said,
"Do you believe it, Colonel, just as 1t
says?"
"Indesd 1 do, Charlie" said the
Colonel.
'Try it, ask the dear Lord, and He'll
do it. You can get it all wiped out.
Why, poor fellow, just dying on
cross by the side of Christ, called out to
Him to forgive, and He didit."
Then the Colonel read the story Of the
fhief on tho cross,