Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-05


their wandering and starvation, with
eyes blinded by his own unshed tears.
1t was in this sort Of mood that he fell
in, one year, just before Thgnksgiving
Day, with an old college friend, hard
working minister in city parish; a
man that had seen more sin than John
Carter had ever dreamed of, and COM
bated it in all its protean shapes of pow
erty, ignorance and degradation.
Where are you bound for Joe p
John said, as they met at railway sta
tion.
..Bound for home, man?" answered
the Reverend Joseph Dyer. where
else should man be going, this time of
year. but home to the old folks and
Thanksgiving?''
"Do you always feel in the mood to
be thankful, then, on the set day 2"
ITO be sure l do, Jack; why not?
There always enough to be grateful
for the Bible wouldn't say In every
thing give thanks if there wss not some
thing in all things to be thankful for.
Il don't know about that; there are
things in every mans life for which he
cannot be thankful. You cannot ex-
pect any man, for instance. to be CRATE
full that he has sinned ?"
A certain thrill in the tone and lit
tie culver of the eyelid told Mr.. Dyer's
keen ear and eye more than John Car
ter meant to tell.
81 think man sometimes ought to
be more thankful for his sin than for
his goodness, Jack. l don't mean for
the sin as sin, but for its use to his
moral life, if he receives the lesson
rightly. How on earth are you going
to feel any sympathy with sinners if
you have never fallen +? Only God in
carnate could do that"
"But think of the suffering sin entails
on the sinner himself; could you be
thankful to have dreadful wound in
ficted on you?'
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 1t kept him out
of temptation and a sinner whose con-
science torments him because of one
great sin will never commit such ano-
ther."
Here was Mr.. Carter's station, and as
he left the car he wrung his friends
hand with unnecessary fervor.
Poor Jack r' said Mr. Dyer to him.
self, 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; man about his
age; not friend. but person whom
he constantly met as business men d.
meet each other. Mr.. Pierce was ordi
narily forid, prosperous man; to-day
he was CHASTITY pale and looked twenty
years older than usual.
Garter !" said he hoarsely, ''can
speak to you moment in private p
John Carter turned the key in hi
Office door; his clerk had gone to din
ner.
Nobody will disturb US, Pierce
what is it?''
Mr.. Pierce groaned and turned hi
head away, then resolutely faced MI
Carter.
"It's no use 1 must tell. Carter
want ten thousand dollars. | have beel
rascal; l have speculated with none.
that didn't belong to me and lost it; to
} morrow the girls guardian will send fo
!; it. She is to be married. l don't kno,
why came to you but l did l wan
} to borrow this money and save my wifi
: and children from disgrace and mysel
from prison.
"You shall have it" said John Cal
, ter. 1t almost seemed to him a ray Q
) heavenly light, this chance to help anc
J ther man, another sinner
81 don't ask without security hav
made out mortgage on my house i
-th street. If borrowed anywher
J but at our bank it would be told agains
me; borrowing there would be worse" :"
"You shall have it in an hour" wa
Mr.. Carter's answer. Pierce sat dow
r in chair and looked at him with hi
: heart in his eyes but he could not speak
f the sudden relief overpowered him.
; "Stay here till draw it" Mr.. Ca
ter said, and before the hour had passe
> the money was in Jocob Pierce's pocke
81 can't thank you'' he said.
"Don't try!' answered Mr.. Carte
smiling.
, The year passed slowly away, an
= with it much of John Carter's miser,
He felt like man on a desert islam
who had suddenly found companionshi
2 in the survivor of another wreck. H
t met Mr.. Pierce continually. and hea
ty hand shake or cordial word alway
!, passed between them; the borrowe
e strange to say, felt no servitude to th