Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-08-11
Forgive Him!

Va DIV AA.
Forgive him" said Mrs. Stains, ''Oh,
William, forgive bin -
The speaker was an aged woman and
wido'S. Her head was white with the frost
Of years, and her mild features were deeply
marked by the hand of time. There was
tear in her eye, and her face was clouded
with sorrow. She spoke TO her son, mid
dle-aged, strong-featured person, whose
countenance betrayed firm wllled, unbend-
ing heart, but yet who appeared an upright,
honorable man
"Forgive him :" repeated the white
haired widow, as sne raised her trembling
hands towards her son. ''He is your bro
ther-your only brother. Oh, if you know
your own heart, you will forgive him."
Never spoke William Stains, in a
firm, deep tone. "John has wronged me
deeply wronged me-and should lie tony
soul were l to forgive him now."
"And have not you wronged him 2"
asked the widow, Impressiveiy.
a wronged him: How p
by Withholding from him your love
by treating him harshly, and causing him
TO sin," answered his mother, kindly.
Cease, mother. When You say that l
have caused him to sin, you are mistaken.
He has chosen his own path, and now he
must travel in it.
William, you are the oldest, and from
you should come the love that can alone
heal the wound between yourself and
john
'Listen to me, mother" said the stub
born man, with piece of bitterness in his
tone. John has been unjust to me-he
has been unmaniy and unkind. He has in
jured me beyond reparatiOn.'
''No, no, William" interrupted his mo-
ther, mot beyond reparation-"
Yes, he has injured my feelings by the
most fatal darts of malice and ill-will. He
has told falsehoods about me to my friends,
and even assailed my private character"
'.And can you not forgive all this?' she
asked, tenderly.
perhaps l might returned William
Stains, ''but," he added, in hoarse tone,
while his frame quivered with deep feeling,
'.he has done more than that. He has
spoken of my wife, and But l will not
tell it all l caLnot forgive him this
Forgive him, and be happy. His heart
is as kind as yours, and he is all generosity
and lore to his friends. More than forty
years have passed over Johns head, and
during all that time he never spoke one un
kind word to his poor mother.
'.And did ever speak unkindly TO you,
nv mother q" asked William Stains, in
half hushed voice.
"No, no; you and John have both kind
hearts, and it grieves me sorely to see you
as YOU are now. All, William, fear that
YOU do not perceive how noble thing it is
TO forgive those who have injured you"
The man made no reply to his mother.
He saw that she was unhappy, and he knew
that he was himself unhappy also. In for
mer years he had loved his brother, and he
knew that he had been faithfully loved in
return. The trouble which had so unfor-
,unately separated them, had been trivial in
its beginning; but Williams sternness OF
will and Johns hastiness of temper had
kept the fire on the increase. The first
fault had belonged to the younger brother,
but a word of explanation atthe time might
have healed it without any trouble; now,
however, the affair had become deep and
dangerous, and there was but one way Tor
remedy. That way the aged mother would
point out.
..William, " continued Mrs. Stains, speak
ing in trembling tone, 81 can spend but a
few short days longer on earth. lieei 'nal
the sands IN my glass have most all run out
but before depart hope may meet my
two bows together in love-1 hope L may
see them once more bound together In the
sweet bonds of friendship When you
were babies, | nursed you and cared Tor
Won. and | tried to do mothers duty. L
tried to make you both fit for the grea-
world. As you grew older promised my
xslf full share of happiness in your COM
panionship, and naught has come 10 din
/, he Joy of my widowed heart, TILL TINS saa
cloud lowered upon me, l love my child
-en-I love them both alike-and YET .ney
love not each other. William, my son, one
hing weighs heavily upon me- Should TINS
thing las, till l am dead, then how VIII
YOU and John meet by the side OF my
oorpse How will YOU feel when you come
to-
Hush, my motherl' uttered the STOUT
man, trembling like reed. SAY no more
now. This evening will speak 10 you inS
mind"
John Stains sat in his easy chair in his
own coy parlor, and about him were ms
wife and children. Everything thai money
could procure toward real comfort was hi''
yet he was not happy. Amid all MS con-
forts there was one dark cloud 10 troupi'
him. The spot where for long years nc
had nurtured a brothers love was no" va
can't. No, not vacant, for it was hlied WIN
bitterness He knew that he was In ,ne
fault. but he tried to excuse hlmse-h w
lie lrcthar hated him. 1nis,