Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-04-16

felt like man on desert island who has
suddenly found companionship in the
survivor of another wreck. He me Mr.
Pierce continually. and hearty handsh AXE
or cordial word always passed between
them; the borrower. strange to say, felt no
serviCude to the lender, no dreadful weight
of debt; there was something in Mr.. Car
ter's whole air aud manner that set Pierce
, at his ease; he felt as sure that his secret
was safe as if in his own bosom. The I'M
conscious atmosphere of character is one
of the influences we make little account
of, yet it is weighty as gravitation, and
inevitable as life.
1t was the day before THANKSGIVING
again. and there came to John Carter in
his Office note and Enclosure to this eff
feet:
DEAR CARTER: I 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 in
terest. / want you to know that though
never pretended to be a Christian, you
have preached me the best sermon ever
heard, and pretty near converted me. God
bless you!
~. 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 Christ Suddenly there swept
| across his mind as with breath of divine
power the devotion and aspiration of Da-
vid after his fall, the work of Peter, who
before denied his Lord; the tender forgive
ness held out with such patient love to
Thomas. He seemed to hear the same
dear gracious voice sayingto him: "Reach
hither thy finger and behold my hand,
reach hither thy hand and thrust it into
my side, and be not faithless but bellev-
ing"
s'The blood of Christ cleanseth from all
SIM
And like Thomas, his whole heart burn
ed within him. and his white lips whisper
ed, my Lord and my God"
The next day as his children were olus-
tering about him in the sunny parlor, and
his wife, with the baby in her arms crow
ing and trying to reach the roses in her
hair, stood looking on, far lovlier, and fair
er than in her beautiful girlhood, there
was ring at the door and the servant
brought in basket of exquisite flowers
directed to Mrs. Carter, and on the card
was written: IA thousand thanks to help
your Thanksgiving ~
It was a pleasant mystery only to Sara.
But John Carter knew the handwriting
well, and the words Mr.. Dyer had said to
him 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 rescued ia
cob Pierce so willingly so joyfully, from the
depths where he had fallen? Could man
who never had strayed have had such in
telligent pity for another wanderer or
would he himself have known through any
other teaching the exceeding bitterness
and sinfulness of sin; have appreciated its
wages; or valued it's weight OF degrade
| ton.
1t is true his soul was SCARED. but scars
mean warning as we'll as shame. He felt
sure now that no earthly temptation would
charm him again; that for all his life the
taste OF Marah would warn him from
strange fountains; and in the inmost re.
cesses of his heart recognizing the good
that Divine power can bring out Of evil, he
| thanked God and took courage, in spite OF
his great sin.