Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-01-05
Only Once.

be possible ? Frank Lester, my college
chum, in prison for murder And l took
up the paper, which had fallen from my
nerveless hands, and read the fatal item
again and again, to assure myself of its
reality.
Yes, it was but too true; he had COM
mitted the greatest of all crimes while
under the influence of liquor and 1,
who had known him intimately for years,
had never known him to taste of the in
toxicating cup. What sudden tempta-
ton, what terrible blow was this /? But
a few weeks before we had spent hap
py evening together at his pleasant
home, relating our mutual hopes and
plans-we had pictured an ideal, noble
life, and had resolved that We would
strive to attain to a high standard and
now his life-hopes were forever crushed !;
his prospects destroyed he was the
companion of the vilest criminals, with
the brand of the murderer upon his brow
A thousand thoughts seemed to flash
through my brain, but clear above all
was the impression that must go to
him at once. And in a comparatively
short time [ was treading the gloomy
corridors of the prison. The warden
opened the door of the cell where sat
my unhappy friend. He looked up as
we entered-but oh. how changed how
wan and haggard was his face upon
which lifetime of suffering seemed al
ready stamped. No words of noisy greet.
ing. as ever aforetime, passed between
US. | sat down beside him, and silently
placed my hand in his.
Edwards he exclaimed, when we
were left alone, do you not shrink from
and abhor murderer % and in the tone
Of his voice there was whole world of
agony, of remorse, and hopelessness. rs
there not contamination in my very
touch 2 and he arose and paced the
room with wild impatience.
No, my poor friend, :" I replied, Il
do not, for l well know that you could
never be deliberate one. Can you bear
to tell me your story to-day ?''
'-Oh, no not to-day-I cannot speak
of it to-day come to me again to-mor-
row. and l will tell you ali All, my
friend, he continued, mournfully, ..but
short time ago was looking hopefully
to the future, wishing to live worthily
and nobly. and now I am in a felon's
cell, with a felon's lgnominious death or.
dreary prison life before me. And nv
mother. oh, God. comfort my mother
Will you not 60 to see her now =? Tell
her'-but here the voice OF the strong
man was drowned in sobs and I. what
could | say-what can we say, when a
terrible and irremediable sorrow is be-
fore us-but breathe that PRAYER for
help and mercy so often heard in times
of trouble, and tearfully commit him to
the Judge, who is also the Father. to
the kind Saviour who '.hath borne our
griefs and carried our sorrows l'' Prom.
lslng to be with him on the morrow. 7
left him, to visit his widowed mother. 7
almost dreaded to enter that once happy
home, and shrank from meeting her
whose dearest earthly hopes had been
centered in her only son. There were
traces of tears visible on the pale cheeks
of the widowed lady as she greeted me.
and her voice trembled as she spoke of
her son ; but no impatient murmur rose
to her lips, no wild complaints were
heard. In this, the saddest of all earth
ly calamities, when separation and dis
grace, sin and shame, were all commin-
gled. she still bowed in meek submission
to the will of the God whom she adored
the Father whom she loved. and who
was indeed her refuge and her strength
In this bitter hour, when a trial which
would be lasting stigma sorrow far
worse than death-had fallen upon her.
and she might well have exclaimed,
''All thy waves and thy billows have
goEe over me. oh, God !" she still rose
above the shock, and fully demonstrated
by her conduct the power of the Gospel
of Christ to sustain and soothe the af-
ficted.
Never shall | forget her parting mes
sage for her boy Her look and manner
with their import, have engrayen them
upon my heart. Would that hundreds
of the young, the tempted, might with
me have listened to them
The next day. according to appoint
ment, | again visited my unfortunate
friend. whom | found calmer
well, Edwards he exclaimed. with
feeble attempt to smile, ''true to your
p-omise-but what of my mother 90
| told him all and tried to lead him
to the Saviour, on whom she leaned.
If the past week could be but blot
ted out y be said 'san eternity seems
to have passed since then. Oh, Edwards,
had | but died before this A week ago
| went with Lewis and T-on a pleas
ure trip to s. We had delightful
sail, were cordially welcomed By their
friends. For time all was enjoyment
1t being the great gala day was. howey-