The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-08

she ended, saying: "Harki it Is time
for the clock to strike," but the tick
went on and on, and yet no note OF the
passing hour did the clock ring out.
son, Will it never strike?' asked Mrs.
Dale, anXtously, 'is something wrong
about it, after all?' And, manlike, Ed
ward Dale, at lonce proceeded to investi.
gate. and The "something wrong" was
straightway found-a wisp OF paper thai
had become entangled about the cord
tDat held the heavy weight that had TO
do with its striking. EdAarQ unkWlst ad
it in a minute, and before the next hour
all was right, so right, that seven sharp
strokes OF its little hammer-bell rang
out the hours 80 loudly, it could be heard
from cellar to garrett. Mrs. Dale, like q
careful house wife, picked up the paper
which her husband let fall, aud was just
about tossing it into the fire, wheh she
exclaimed: "See, there Is writing on
it," aud then eagerly the two young
people bent over the time-Stalned paper
and all the time the Old clock went on
with its monotonOus tick, Forget-Fpr-
Ye-Forget-Forgiye. 1t was but u
blel story the paper told held in the
following words: "Com home, my boy,
come home; we Will forget all, we will
forgive ALL" 1t was Woman's hand
tnaJ had traced the lines, tremulous
hand, and the lines were blurred as ii
by tears-tears that had fallen iIty years
ago-iity years ago!
Then followed III holder hand:
"Come back, my lad, l forgive you; l
will forget all, and firm ana clear was
The signature: "Your father, James
Ritter" "It ls the lost, lost letterW
cried Mrs. Dale, all aglOW with excite
menU. "Oh, Edward, let us take IL this
very Thanksgiving eve to the squire.
Let 1t be our Thanksgiving ceIebraClonP'
Before the old clock struck again Ed
ward Dale and his wife were hastentng
| towards the Squire's new mouse on the
nil, dreary-luoking house, as 1T stood
sharply defined in the moonlight of thaJ
November evening. But no thought OF
| Inc dreariness disturbed them, SO glad
were they on their Thanksgiving en-
rand.
II do believe" said Mary, in low
voice, as Edward pulled the door-bell,
.slhere never was such blessed
Thanksgiving celebration as THIS grant
ed us. Think, we are bringing a1ather
aad mothers forgiveness To an errlhg
caildV And then the door opened, but
what came alter belongs TO those many
things in llle-reaI llie-thas are too
sacred, too tender, TO be framed III these
formal printed Words.
But is tuere not a blessed, beautiful
hint in it tor us ala rhanksg giving
hint? Old Ticker's ProclamAtion: For.
give and Forge, Shall we pass lightly
| by? All! If all our broad land over II
should be needed on The Thanksgiving
day, what Thanksgiving it would
make! Think OF the weary hearts for
glyeness would rest-forgetluIness com
tort! Think Of the hearts SHINING, and
the hearts sinneu against-dlyided now,
and yet LOVING still, that would be
brought together! And, above all, let US
ponder and accept thai forgiveness we
an 50 need fuller and lreer, than any
man can grant-though the man be a
lather-God's gift-lo giyeness Of =
through Christ, whose love not only par
dons, but ''DlotteCn out our iniquities,"
''mentioning them no more, remember
ing them no more