Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-12-02

gaining: no heart except Cor money-mahins
aud money boarding. fr.-jns, foF moment,
dimness came over his eyes, while he gave
low chuckle, that was more like sish tlan
cough. WY was It? Had that old man.
with the wrinklrl face, AMI laboE-markel
hands. know day, that were So happy They
were all Thanksgiving days, too. God seeds
such days into almos, every lie though they
may be few, though they may come but sell
dom.
Old Isaac himself superinteuded the moyius
and placing Of the clock, saying to Mrs Dale,
when all was in order: Now, all ye'yc got
to do. is Jest to touch it or And an hour
later half in awe, half in play, Edward Dale
set the old pendulum swinging, and through
the house echoed the clock 5 loud tick.
"Drd time go slower in those Old days ~
the young wife askel aud almost as though ibc
solemn monotonous sound frightened her, SIZE
nestled closer to her husband, as She whisper
ed at does really seem TO have voice, as
old Isaac said Surely i; says, Fo'sei-Ior-
give -FOrget-Forgire.
Edward Dale only smiled, as lie lei her
back into the cheerful library and then scat
ed before their own hearth fre Ms. Dale lc-
peated Isaars tale As she ended, saying -
"IIark it is time flr the clock to strike, - but
the tick went on aud on, and yet no Doie Of
the passing hour dill the clock ring ort
"Oh, will it never strike ?" asked Mrs
Dale, anxiously, "i, ,ucihias wrong about
it after all?" And manlke, Edward Dale s'
once proceeded to Investigate. all che "s'me-
thing wrong" was strIehtway f1uli-a wi.p
Of paper that hal bec'n, entanglei atlc' q
cord that held tb, heavy weigh, that bal o.
do with lis striking Edward uatNis;cl 10 ID
minute. aud befare the next hour all wis
right, 50 right, that s,yru sharp strokes Of i'-
little hammer-bell rang out tAe hours So loud
ly. i, could he heard irom cellar 20 garnet
Mrs. Dale. like careful housewife picked up
the paper which Lcr husband lc; fall aud Was
lust about tossing it into The fire, wien She
exclaimed "See. there is writing ou il - aui
then eagerly The two .peop'e bent o'e.
! the tmc-staiuci papcr,-Aud all tho TINE thr
old clock went on with its uonotouous tic.
Forpet-Forgivc- Forget Forgive j. $50.
but brief story the PAPER toll. held DO Oh.
following words Come houo, my by, come
home; we will forget all we viii forgive aiI'
Il was woman hand that had traced the
lines, tremulous hand, aud The lines wc'c
blurred as if by earS,-toars that had fallen
fifty years ago,-f1y years 900
Then followed in bolder hand Come
back my lad, | forgive you; will l0rgetali.
aud frm aud clear was the Signature " Your
father, James Ritter" 1T is the lost, lost
letter r. cried Mrs. Dale, al aglow with e&-
element. "Oh, Edward, let Us take it. Tile
very Thauksgiying eve 70 the Squire. Let
i, be our thanksgiving celebration :"
Before the old clock struck asain Edward
Dale aud his wife were fastening 70 the
Sauires new house on the bill n drcary-lo X
ing house, MS II stood sharply defncd in tLo
moonlight of that November evening. Bot
no thought OF the drcariness disturbed them,
50 glad were they on their Thanksgiving CT
rand.
al do believe" said Mary, 10 l5w voice,
as Edward pulled the doof-bell, "thcrc never
was such 4 blessed Thanksgiving celebration
A. this granted us Ihint, $50 are bringing
father aud mothers iorgiy,ncss 10 an crrius
ruiid And then the door opened, iut what
came after helonqs to those many things 30
hle.-rcal lie.-tbat are TOO sacred. too ten
der to be framed in these formal printed
words.
But il there not blessed. beautiful hint il
Il lor us ala Thanksgiving hint, Oi Tick
rrs Proclamation Forgive aud forget Shall
we pass lightly by? All il all our broad
land over it should be needed on the Thanks
giving day, what Thanksgiving it would
make Think Of the weary hearts forgive
uess would rest comfrt.-
Think Of the learis SHINING, and dc bcoris
sinned agaiust-diyided now, ard set loving
still, that would BE- brought together And,
above ALL let 0s ponder and accept tbs, for-
giyeDess we all % need, fuller aud focT, than
any man can graut,-thou2h the man he a
hther. Gods giH-forsiyeucss II sin
through Christ, whose lIyc not only parlonD
but "blileth out our inlqu,ies, "mealiopius
them no more" remembering them no more. '