Smyrna times., 1876-03-01
Unredeemed Pledges fer Sale"

Those are the words printed in large gilt
letters on the window of the loan Office
glaring at every passer-by. How dare that
man faunt his tell-tale sign in the face Of
all the world Unredeemed pledges! Do
they not haunt every waking hour?
In the dead of night do they not rise up
But this man has them for sale and so he
startles US with his haring sign. Who
made the pledges? What are they worth?
Why do they remain unredeemed?
Strange people haunt the place. A pale
hungry-eyed woman creeps up and holds
out her wedding ring-itself an unredeemed
promise-and, leaving her pledge, goes
back TO buy bread for her starving chill
dren. A flashily-dressed girl, with pain
ted face, fiaunts boldly in, throws down the
jewels won by sin, leaves the pledge she
never means to redeem, and goes out and
away, no other evidence Of her life or iden-
tity remaining behind. A gray-haired old
man totters forward, looks guiltily around,
takes from its shabby wrapping an old
family Bible, and with the pittance he re-
ceives, makes his way to the nearest grog-
shop to find forgetfulness, in that which
has robbed life of its worth and old age of
its peace.
Alas for those who have left the pledges
unredeemed? Death came to some of them
while they patiently toiled, hoping in time
to make good their promise, and win back
the loved heirlooms or precious jewel with
which it was so hard to part. Misfortune,
or unexpected good fortune, overlook
others, while many had no intention ever
to redeem the pledges they left.
Among all the hurrying, jostling throng
that passes the pawn-broker's window, who,
looking down the track of the gone years,
sees not long line of unredeemed pledges
which he would gladly gather up and sell
to the highest bidder " cheap for cash?'
Let us turn our eyes backward, and
peering into the secret drawers and pigeon
holes of memory, take them all out one by
one.
|
leaves, now yellow with age, are fastened to
the faded paper cover with a rusty pin.
On the first page of the book is written in
scrawling characters of child's chirogophy
a pledge for the future. The child's heart
was moved by great thought, and longing
impatiently for the battle of life to begin,
the promise was written out to be fulfilled
at some future time. There it stands now
-unredeemed-fo sale.
There's a secret drawer in the heart
which contains, unwritten, the dust of a
solemn promise made by youth. The first
great temptation of life came to him in an
unguarded hour. He fell Tears, remorse,
repentance and, at the solemn midnight
hour, promise, known only to himself and
his God. Beneath the promiscuous heap of
worldly experience that promise lies con-
cealed in the heart of the man-half re-
, deemed.
Under the green old oaks, after the
) birds had ceased their thrilling and the
stars had come out, two lovers sat and
. plighted their troth. A strong, brave young
man held close to his loving heart the form
of a fair sweet girl, and each made promise
5 of lifetime of love.
A few short months and the vow was sa-
$ credly renewed at the altar. Years came
! and went, a little unkindness and impa-
, tience, and the two who should have clung
together always drifted apart, and now
t husband and wife, taking their separate
; ways, carry each the burden of an unre.
i. deemed pledge on their hearts.
p A mother bending over the cradle of her
\ babe saw the little one smile in its sleep,
), and lifting her heart to God in thankfulness
t for the precious gift he had bestowed, re.
gistered there a sacred VOW to be always q
n true, tender, faithful, loving mother But
all ! the little one proved vexing care
o ambition came in between the mother anC
. her trust, and now that the child ha
+ become a man and has fallen into sad, darl
n ways, the mother bows her head and weep
?. bitter tears over the neglected pledg,
q which it is too late to redeem.
n Unredeemed pledges for sale u Who'll
n buy? Who'll take their burdens off ou
n hearts, their ashes away from our souls
! Who'll relieve us of their hauntin
@ presence, fitful stings, dagger cuts Pom
o eroy'S Democrat
=. "Call that kind man ?" said an actor
snaalxino of an acnuaintanoa. @ a man MI,