Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-04-14

tnat an artery VIII give way, anu tneu ~ Is all
over with the colonel. What you wish to do
in reference TO his death you had better do al
once"
"Have you, or has amy one, told him of his
real condition."
mo. We have left that painful duty for you
to do, as We have been expecting your arrival
for several days.
sage OF death pressing on my heart, the eyes Of
my son fastened on me.
"Come, sit by my side, father. Have you
been talking with the doctor about me-"
"Yes."
"What did he tell you?" Does he think |
shall recover?''
There was a painful hesitation for a mo-
mont.
"Don't be afraid to tell me just what he
said."
"iie told me you must de-"
"How long does he think can live?"
"Not 10 exceed four days, and that you may
drop away any hour-that all artery may slough
at any moment, which you cannot survive"
With great agitation he exclaimed, "Father,
is that SO? Then must die! l cannot, /
must not die oh l am not prepared to die
now. DO tell me how can get ready Make
IL SO plain that can get hold it.. Tell me,
in a few words, If you can, so that | can see it
plainly. know you can, father, for used to
hear you explain it to Others"
| ness and light, by which to lead the soul to
Christ, and both were given.
"My son, see you are afraid TO die
"Yes, am"
swell, suppose you feel guilty.
"Yes, that is ii. have been wicked young
man. You know how 1t is in the army"
"You want to he forgiven, don't you?'
"Oh, yes. That is what want. Can | be,
father?"
"Certainly."
"CanI know it before l die ?"
"Certainly.'
swell now, father, make it so plain that
| can get hold Of it."
| At once an incident which occurred during
| the school days of my son, came to mind.
had not thou ,hI of il before for several years
Now il came back to me, fresh with its inter
| ct, aud just what was wanted to guide the
| aytated heart OF this young inquirer 10 Jesus
"Do you remember while at school ili--
you came home one day, and having occa
sion to rebuke you, you became very angry,and
abused me with harsh language"
"Yes, father, was thinking 1t all over few
| days ago, as l thought of your coming TO see me,
and felt so bad about it that wanted to see
you, and once more ask you to forgive me-"
"Do you remember how, after the par >xysm
of your anger had subsidized, you came In and
: threw your arms around my neck, and said, my
| dear father, am sorry abused you Sc. 1t was
| angry. Won't you forgive me"'
ii remember 1t very distinctly
"Do you remember what said to You as You
| wept upon my neck?"
avery well. You said, Il forgive you with
| all my heart and kissed ME. 1 shall never
forget those words"
"Did you believe me?"
| "Certainy. never doubted your word.'
"Did you then feel happy agdn?'
"Ies perfectly; and since that time, have
always loved you more than ever before.
shall never forget how it relieved me when you
looked upon me SO kindly and said, Il forgive
you with all my heart"
"Well now this ia Just the way TO come to
Jesus. Tell him II an so sorry just as you
| told me, and ten thousand times quicker than
a fathers can forgive you, will He forgive you.
lie says He will Then you must take His
word for it, just as you did mine.'
| "Why, father, can get hold Oh this. | am
| SO glad you have come to tell me how.p
lie turned his head upon his pillow for rest.
| sank into my chair and wept freely, for my
heart could no longer suppress its emotions. 1
| had done my work and committed the case to
Christ. lie too, was soon assured, had done
his. The broken heart had made its confession,
had hearl what it longed for, 81 forgive you,'
and believ it. 1t was but few moments Of
silence, but the new creation had taken place,
the broken heart had made its short, smpe
pray er, and believed and the new heart ha d
been given A soul had passed ont from 'n; :
lures darkness into marvellous light, and from
the power sin and Satan unto God" 1 soon
felt the nervous hand ON my head, and heard
| the word ''father" in such a tone OF tenderness
aud JOY, that knew the change had come.
"Faiher, my dear father, don't want you
10 weep any more, you need not. l am per-
fectly happy NOW. Jesus has forgiven me.
know he has, for lie says so, and | take his
word for il, just as | did yours. Wipe your
tears. ltu not afraid to die now. Think
would as soon die as live, for | should go right
up 10 heaven and he with Jesus. You and
mother and sister will come after me, and then
We shall all be there together. We shall have
ne more trouble there. If il is Gods will, i
would like to live to serve my country, and
take care you and mother; but il | must die
| am not afraid to, now. Jesus has forgiven
me. Come father, let us sing
"When ! can read my title clear
and We did sing.
tN 4 Ia