The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-04-08

A~'NAS NhS Alb tulb CJuTbo WIS lInpObtl.
BILE; even though he felt assured that for
Christs sake his grievous sin was for.
given above, he could not forget its
commission. Day after day he retraced
every step OF his temptation; recalled
the half.craEed state of mind in which
he was for weeks; the sin itself; the con.
cealments no had resorted to, in them
selves degrading; the terrors Of discov.
cry; the agonies OF remorse.
he grew morbid with this introspec.
ton; perpetually thinking Of himself,
life bCclme bitter in all its uses. He
never went into society without think
ing, III these people knew about mel
He received a cold look, but he felt that
possibly the man who gave it had faith
omed his secret and despised him Over
and over hc faid TO himself, what If
Sara knew it?' and his whole heart shiv-
cred within him. He did Sara-who
was his wife-the greatest Injustice in
this thought. She was a woman more
than usually loving, unselAsh and forgiv.
ing. II John could have told her-which
was ont Of the question-out OF her sweet
compassion and tenderness he would
have felt his way back to healthy spir.
itual life, but without the touch of hui
man sympathy he found it hard to lay
hold on the. divine, and saw even the
Father who loves his erring chi lren,
aud welcomes them back from their
wandering and starvation, with eyes
blinded by his OWL unshed tears. 1t was
in this sort Of mood that he fell in, one
year, just before Thanksgiving day, with
an old college friend, working
minister in city parish, man that had
seen more sin than John Carter had ever
dreamed Of, and combated it in all its
protean shapes Of poverty, ignorance
and degration.
Where are you bound for JoeP' John
said, as they met at railway station.
Bound for home, mani answered the
Raw. Joseph Dyer. where else should
a man be going, this time Of year, but
home to the old folks and Thanksgiv
ingP'
DO you always feel in the mood to be
thOnkful, then, on the set day?'
TO be sure I do, Jack; why notY
There's always enough to bo grateful
for; the Bible wouldn't say, In every
thing give thanks if there was not
something in all things TO be thankful
for
Il don't know about that; there are
things in every mans life for which he
can't be thankful. You cannot expect |
any man, for instance, to be grateful
that be has sinnedP'
A certain thrill in the tone and a little |
quiver of the eyelid told Mr., Dyer's |
keen ear and eye more than John Carter
meant to tell.
Il think mau sometimes ought to be
more thankful for his sin than for his
goodness, Jack. don't mean for the
sin as a sin, but for It's use to his molal
life, if he receives the lesson rightly. |
How on earth are you going to feel any
sympathy with sinners if you have never
fallenP Only God incarnate could do
that
But think of the suffering sin entails
on the sinner himself; could you be
thankful to have a dreadful wound in
ficted on your
Joseph Dyer looked at his friend
again with eyes pitiful and penetrating
both.
my dear fellow, I've seen man
heartily glad of wound that made him
helpless simply because it kept him out
of temptation; and sinner whose con-
science torments him because of one
great sin will never commit such an.
other
Here was Mr.. Carter's station, and as
he left the car he wrung his friends
hand with unnecessary fervor.
Poor JackI' said Mr.. Dyer to himself,
little knowing how much he had done
to help the weary burden. bearer.
1t CHANGED, as we fools say, that the
next week an acquaintance came into
John Carter's office; a man about his
age; not a friend, but person whom he
constantly met as business men do meet
each other. Mr.. Pierce was ordinarily
a horid, prosperous man; to-day he was
ghastly pale and looked twenty years
older than usual.
'Carterl said he, hoarsely; can /
speak to you moment in private2'
John Garter turned the key in his
Office door; his clerk had gone home to
dinner.
Nobody will disturb us, Pierce; what
is itp
Mr.. Pierce groaned and turned his
head away, then he resolutely faced Mr..
Garter.
ITS no use I must tell. Garter, /
want ten thousand dollars. l have been
o rascal; l have speculated with money
that didn't belong to me and lost it; 20
morrow the girls guardian will send for
it. She is to be married. don't know
Why / came to you; but didl i want
TO borrow this money and savo my wife
and children from disgrace, and myself
fIom prison.
.Ynn ahnll hnva IL anil Inhn Nnrinr |