Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-05-14
NO 115.
Gales ano Skettbes.
JOHN CARTER'S SIN.
Continued from Yesterday J

(Iontlnued from Yesterday
\ certain thrill in the tone and little
quiver of the eyelid told Mr.. Dyer's keen
ear and eye more than John Carter meant
Ia tell.
| Il think a man sometimes ought to he
more thankful for his sins than his good
ness, Jack. | don't mean for the sin as a
SIN. hut for It's use to his moral life, il he
receives the lesson rightly. How on earth
are yon going to feel any sympathy with
sinners il YOU have never E,llcne Only
God incarnaic could do that
| But think Of the suffering sin entails
on the sinner himself; could YOU he thank
tul 10 have a dreadful wound inflicted on
you?"
Joseph Dyer looked at his friend again
with eyes pitiiul and penetrating both.
| My dear fellow. I've seen man heart
| lily glad ofa wound that made him help
less simply because il kept him out of
temptation; and sinner whose conscience
tormcnts him because of one great sin
| will never commit such another
Here was Mr.. Carter's station. and as he
Ieit the car he wrung his friends hand with
unnecessary fervor.
| Poor Jack! :" said Mr.. Dyer to himself.
little knowing how much he had done to
| hcip thc weary burden-bcarer.
| Ii Glanced. rs we fools say, that the
next week an acquaintance came into
John Carriers office not friend, but
person whom he constantly met as bust
ness men do mcetcach other. Mr.. Pierce
was ordinarily a florid, prosperous man;
to-day he was ghastly pale and looked
twenty years older than usual.
"Carter.' said he, hoarscly. .can l
speak to You II moment in private p''
| John Carter turned the key in his Office
door; his clerk had gone home to din
ner.
Nobody will disturb us, Pierce; what
is P"
Mr.. Pierce groancd and turned his head
away. then he resolutcly faced Mr.. Car
ter.
Its no use must tell. Carter, I want
$4,000. / have been rascal; have
| spcculaicd with money that didn't belong
to me. and lost it; tomorrow the girls
guardian will send for it. She is to be
married. don't know why came to
you; but | did want to borrow this
money and save my wife and children
from disgrace. and myself from prison.
| "You shall have it, said John Carter.
II almost seemed To him "A ray of heaven
|
another sinner.
." don't ask without security; have
made out mortgage on my house in
--th ,trect. I'll borrowed anywhere
but at our bank it would be told against
me; borrowing there wonld be worse
"You shall have it in an hour" was
Mr.. Cartcr's answer. Pierce sat down in
a chair and looked ut him with his heart
in his eyes. but he could not speak the
sudden relief overpowered him.
'Stay here till draw it," Mr.. Carter.
said, and before the hour had passed, the
money was in Jacob Pierce's pocket.
IL can't thank you,.' he said.
Dent tryr' answered Mr. Carter,
smiling
The year passed slowly away and with
it went much of John Cartcr's misery.
He felt like man on a desert island who
has suddenly found companionship in the
survivor of another wreck lie met
Mr.. Pierce continually. an! hearty
hand-shake or a cordial word always
passed between them; the borrower,
strange to say, felt no servitudc to the
lender, no dreadful weight of debt there
was something in Mr.. Cartcr's whole air
and manner that set Pierce at his ease |; lie
felt rs sure that his secret was safe as if
in his own bosom. The unconscious at.
mosphcre of character is one Of the influ-
enccs we make little account of, yet it is
weighty as gravity. 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 Of
feet:
Dear Carter Il 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 Lneyer
pretended to be a Christian. YOU have
preached me the best sermon lever heard
and pretty near converted me. God
bless you. j. PIERCE.
John laid his head on his desk in a
strange. sweet, yet bitter amazement.
Could it be He, the sinner. and axample
for and1of Christ Suddenly there swept
across his mind as with breath of divine
power the aspiration and devotion of Da-
vd after his fall, the work of Peter who
before denied his Lord; the tender for
givencss held out with such patient love
to Thomas. lie seemed to hear the same
dear gracious voice saying to him:
Reach hither thy finger and behold my
Ddbu, TeacH HitncT tny manu- anu Lnr1Sf IL
into my side, and be not faithlcss but be-
lieving.''
1.-The blood of Christ cleanseth from all
sim
And like Thomas his whole heart burned
within hIm, and his white lips whispered,
my lord and my Cod
The next day as bis children were clus-
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
fairer than in her beautiful girlhood,
there was a ring ut the door and the sery.
ant brought in a basket OF exquisite fow-
ers directed to Mrs. Carter, and on the
card was written: "a thousand thanks to
help your thanksgiving -
1t was pleasant mystery only to Sarah.
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. hia