Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-09-20

Though "revIvinS, at the last 1T
stingeth like serpent and biteth like an
adder.
RETRIBUTION.
In the survey of morals every angle
is found to touch at last this all-impGr-
tant center-tiiat rewards and retribu-
tions are surer than the rising and set
ting of the sun; or that there is never
an error in the scales that weigh ont to
all their dues. Your cunning trick, in
one way or another, is sure to be turned
inside out, and proven TO have been far
enough from cunning; whilst simplicity
and real worth, in what age soever, will
make their way and find their account,
because they are the accepted currency
of the universe. lie who doubts that
falsehOod is loss and integrity gain, has
read the book of Nature wrong end up,
for geometry and numbers are not more
eXacting and self-faithful than morals.
From the All-seeing Eye no tracks can
he covered, and the end of every path,
as of the course of the river to the sea,
is foreordained; and there is no way to
avoid running into the night, but to fol-
low the path of the sun. No man can
hide his morals, nor elude their just
effects. EVERY poacher," said Sydney
Smith, sis sure to be detected-a hare
in one hand, and Il pheasant in the 9TH
err
The Pagan eve took note of the fatal
tie between seed aud harvest, desert and
recompense: and we know of no nation
which does not, by proverb and legend,
attest its faith In the absolute justice OF
doom. The many sdages bearing on
this point are Il credit to Nature. and the
Fl nj t<>1N r.
1Esop spoke this verdict in fable for
the Greeks. Woodman, moaning for his
| axe, which, by sad chance, had slipped
from his hand into the river, was over
heard by the quick ear of Mercury, who,
| making a prompt dive, brought up at
first golden and then Il silver axe,
which the man honestly refused as not
his from the third plunge the god came
up with the axe of iron, which was
rightly claimed. Mercury fitly rewarded
such fealty to truth, against such great
temptations, by making him the happy
owner of all the axes. Whereupon a
base liar, moved by cupidity, went 20
| the river and cast in his axe. and then
| set TO crying like one with broken
| heart. Mercury came and heard his
| arrful story, and: leaping into the flood.
rose with an axe of gold, which, with
| loud affirmation. the man claimed as his,
and hastily made forward to clutch it.,
but the god Instantly sunk in the Hood !,
and was seen no more, the trickster los
ing even the axe which was his.
| By various wild stories the Morse lite
srature celebrates the reign of justice in
Eall things, showing how false gain is
sure loss, and honesty never fails. to
draw down Il train of blessings upon
| its path. In point, is the account of
Arthnr's accession TO his knightship and
the worldwide glory to which his name
has risen. The right of kingly rule was
to be determined by the ability to draw
a miraculous sword from miraculous
stone, in which it had been miraculous
iy set. One after another, the knights
had given it Il try, but had failed in eve
| ry case. On occasion of an annual tour
nament, Sir Kay, in an encounter, had
broken his sword, and sent Arthur, his
| foster-brother. to secure him another as
Il substitute. On his way the boy saw
this magic rock, and drew it, quite inno-
cent of the good fortune to which the act
entitled him, and brought it to Sir Kay
for service. The knight knew it well,
and claimed that he had drawn it, and
claimed the reward-a kingdom. But it
WAS returned to its place, to verify so
great feat, and the pretender stood
powerless at its hilt; but Arthur could
| draw it quicker than the lockers on could
cali his name. Sir Kay was disgraeed.
and his honest brother promoted to his
rightfnf reward. The right is always
in search of the party whose titleis best.
When the swiudler and false claimant
has got his reward, he slas not got it,
but some pretty apple of Sodom, or gilt
tering toy. that he will some day wish
he had not. Judas wanted at length to
throw up his shrewd bargain, as he had
thought it. Itmust always be thus.
The instant anxiety of the man who
has broken the law of integrity, to blind
the gazing eye Of the world by some
means, usually another lie, and another,
and yet a third, till he is drawninto the
distracting coils of deceit is a witness tc
the regularity with which, in the mOsl
outward and obvious sense, the law ol
compensation holds sway. The wrong
/ doer expects the next man he meets will
accuse him. He thinks his secret is al.
ready in the keeping of the police. Mai
makes this acknowledgement to the sway
: fof an ordinary retribution. But the
penalty is yet surer than he thinks
There are secret avengers, who never
tire in their pursuit, nor miss their vic
| tim. Providence takes care of justice
: not trusting it to our tarly and clumsy
courts; and, OH the more occult grounds
rectitude will be found to be the only
f. prudence. The sinner must settle hi.
account with the universe. If maii il
true, he will find the whole world-tht
t hills and wales, the ocean and the stars
t and the Life that pervades all-turnin.
( upon him Il sunny face; but if he i
false. the genius of the werld will appea
to him with a knit brow and a reprovin,
E eye, which will haunt him day and night
a simple and reliable habit of speecl
, and act, to be always frank and abov
board; to give perfect weight and mea
r sure, and own up to whatever defect
, there may be in our work: to waive al
a pretension, and always hew to the exac
v line; this is more majestic than an
i sceptre, as part and lot with the Perfecl
;, and richer than all applause, giving Sc
cret charm and worth to every day an