Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-07-16

and finding mud at the bottom when we
hatter ourselves that because 1t is out
of sight there is not impurity there
And knew that as long as dreaded
to see the minister something must be
wrong; and, on looking carefully into
my heart, found the little matter OF
mortgage which l ioreclosed on poor
man, and got away his farm, when he
had no suspicion but what would give
him time to redeem it. by that means
| had got into my possession property
worth two thousand dollars, for which l
did not actually pay, and for which Isaac
Dorr never actually realized more than
half that amount. But the proceeding
was entirely legal, and tried to excuse
myself. But my awakened conscience
kept saying, You have taken a poor
mans land without giving him a just
return the law of God condemns you,
although the law of man sanctions the
wrong. You shall have no peace OF
soul-your heart will burn you-until
with justice you wipe out your own in
Justice to him and to others whom you
have wronged.'
Against this decree ofmy conscience
[ rebelled long time. 1t was hard for
mo to raise q thousand dollars, togeth-
er with the interest due from tho time
the mortgage was foreclosed; and it
was like taking portion of my life to
be obliged to subtract so much at that
time from my gains, and give it to a
man with no legal claims upon it. l
groaned end mourned over 1t IN secret,
and tried to pray, but that mortgage
came right up between my prayer and
God, and heaven looked dark and frown-
ing through it. At last 1 could not re-
sist the appeals of conscience any long,
er, and went again to the minister, told
him my troubles, and asked him what |
should do
There is a simple Test, said he. Do
you love your peighbsr as yourself? II
you do, you will be just to him, if it
takes from YOU the last dellar you have
IN the world
That was a terrible sentence:
went out staggering from it as i'll had
received a blow
'Oh, Cody I SAID, how can l be a
Christian
But had no help beyond myself
otherwise 1 could never have ended the
struggle. l knelt before God. and SOL
emnly vowed for His sake, for the sake
of HIS pardon and love. 1 would not only
show justice to the poor man L had
wronged, but would give up, if need be.
all that | had in the world, so that I
might have peace in Him. A strange
soothing influence came over my soul,
and voice seemed to say, Though
you lose all you have, God and Christ
and the blessing Of heart pure and at
peace shall be lett you-the best aud
only source of happiness and life. And
in the solemn night time, after l gave
up the struggle, that comfort came to
me, SO great and precious, that felt
willing, if it would only stay with me,
to accept poverty, and 90 into the world
poor and despised, huggins that price
less blessing to my heart. The next
day was as light as if had wings
Nothing could keep me from going to
see Isaac Dorr, with couple OF hun
dred dollars in my pocket and a note ior
the remainder l owed him.
WELL said the narrator, with tears
running down his cheeks, 1 only wish
that every person here could have seen
the Dorr family when | visited them
and made known my 0rrand. Poor
Isaac had grown quite discouraged and
lust made up his mind to quit his vile
and children and so to California. His
children were crying, and his wife was
in An extremity OF distress and despair.
She received me great deal better than
+ had anticipated. L had acted accord
ing to the law she said, and Isaac,
careless and improvident, was greatly
to blame
sYes.' said Isaac. with the frmness
ola desperate man, it was savage
game you played ON me but l was
fool ever to 60 into debt as | did, and
then fancy that any one would not take
the advantage when the law permits It,
| I am ruined in consequence; and here
YOU see this woman and these babies -
The poor fellow broke down as he
looked at them, and cried like a child.
Isaac said l, soon as could speak,
Il have come to show you that a man
can be honest. even when the law don't
compel him to be. Iwant to do right,
I,aac. because God commands it, and
l have come to tell you that you needn't
leave your wife and babies yet unless
you prefer to-
Prefer to 60 off into a strange coun-
try aud leave them here to suffer " he
cried, and he caugh. the children in his
arms and wrung his wife's hand, and
sobbed as though his heart would break
Then l counted out the money had
brought, and explained what | intended
to do, and gave him the note, and such
surprise and happiness l never saw be-
fore. They would all have kissed my
feet If l would have let them. 1t soem-
ed to me as if fheaven was opened then
and there and it was opened In my
heart, with such flood of life and JOY
Al had never experienced or thought