The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-04-08
CLEVELAND, TENN, APRIL s, 1880.
peak; the sndden relief overpowered

speak; the sndden relief overpowered
him.
Stay here till l draw it. Mr. Carter
said, and before the hour had passed
the money was in Jacob Pierce's pocket.
Il can't thank youl' he said.
Don't tryl answered Mr.. Carter,
smiling.
The year passed slowly away, and with
it went much CT John Carter's misery.
He felt like a man on a desert island
who has suddenly foand companionship
in the survivor Of another week. He
met Mr.. Pierce continually, and hearty
handshake or a cordial word always
passed between them; the borrower,
strange to say, felt no servitude to the
lender, no dreadful weight Of debt; there
was something in Mr.. Carter's whole air
and manner that set Pierce at his ease;
he felt as sure that his secret WIGS safe
as il in his own bosom. The unconscious
atmosphere of character is one of the in
auences we make little account of, yet
it is weighty as gravitation, and inevita-
ble as life.
1t was the day before Thanksgiving
again, and there came TO John Garter In
his Office a note and inclosure TO this
effect:
DEAR CARTER: have been lucky in
the recent rise in real estate, and you
will find herein certificate of deposit
in our bank to the amount of your loan
and interest. want you to know that
though I never pretended TO be Chris
tian, you have preached me the best
sermon I ever heard, and pretty near
converted me. God bless youl
y. PIERCE
John laid his head on his desk in a
strange, sweet, yet bitter amazement.
Could it be? He, the sinner, an example
for and of Christi Suddenly there swept
across his mind as with a breath of
divine power the devotion and aspiration
OF David after his fall, the work of Peter,
who before denied his Lord; the tender
forgiveness held out with such patient
love to Thomas. He seemed to helr the
ssme dear gracious voice saying to him:
Reach hither thy finger and behold my
hand, reach hither thy hand and thrust
it into my side, and be not faithless but
believing
The blood of Christ cleanseth from
all sin.
And like Thomas, his whole heart
burned within him, and his white lips
whispered, MY Lord and my God.
The next day as his children were
clustering about him in the sunny par
lor, and his wife, with the baby in her
arms Growing and trying to reach the
roses in her hair, stood looking on, far
lovelier and fairer than in her beautiful
g,rlhood, there was ring at the door
and the servant brought in a basket Of
exquisite flowers directed to Mrs. Car
ter, and on the card was written: "A
thousand thanks to help your Thanks.
givingp
1t was a pleasant mystery only to
Sara. John Carter knew the handwrit-
ing well, and the words Mr.. Dyer had
said to him a year ago flashed into his
mind.
Yes; to-day he could be thankful even
for his sin; it was forgiven Of God, his
grateful heart well knew, and but for
that experience would he ever have res
cued Jacob Pierce so willingly, so joy
fully, from the depths where he had
fallen2 Could man who never had
stlayed have had such intelligent pity
for another wandererP or would he him.
self have known through any other
teaching the exceeding bitterness and
sinfulness Of sin; have appreciated its
wages; or valued its weight'of degiada,
ton.
1t is true his soul was SCARED, but
scars mean warning az well as shame.
He felt sure row that no earthly temp
tation would charm him again; that for
all his life the taste of Marah would
warn him from strange fountains; and
in the inmost recesses of his heart re-
cognizing the good that Divine power
can bring out of evil, he thanked God
and took courage, in spite of his great
sin,