Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-02-05

= "The poor fellow was deeply affected.
In a voice almost inarticulate with emo
ton he acknowledged his guilt and said
that, having frequently seen me receive
the money without counting it, on being
trusted with it himself the idea had
flashed across his mind that he might
easily abstract some without mourning
suspicion, or at all events without there
being sufficient evidence to justify it;
that, being in distress, the temptation
had proved stronger than the power of
resistance and he had yielded.
Il cannot now" he continued, "prOve
how deeply your fOrbearance has touched
me: time alone can show that it
has not been misplaced" He left me to
resume his duties.
'Days, weeks and months passed away,
during which | scrutinized his conduct
with the greatest anxiety, while at the
same time carefully guarded against
any appearance of suspicious watchful-
ness, and with delight L observed that so
far my experiment had succeeded. The
greatest regularity and attentiOn-the
utmost devotion to my interest marked
his business habits, and this without
display, for his quiet and humble de-
pertinent was from that time remarka-
ble.a sr
AT length, finding his conduct invari-
ably marked by the utmost Openness and
plain dealing. my confidence in him was
so far restored that, on a vacancy occur
ring in situation of greater trust and
emOlument than the one he had hitherto
filled, I placed him in it, and never had
/ the slightest reason to repent of the
part had acted toward him. Not only
had / the pleasure of rejecting that /
had in all probability saved a fellow
creature from a continued course Of vice
and consequent misery, and afforded
him the opportunity of becoming a re-
spectacle man and useful member of
society, but had gained for myself an
interchangeable seryant-a faithful and
constant friend. For years he served me
with the greatest fidelity and devotion.
His character for rigid. nay even scru-
pulOus honesty, was so well known that
as honest as Smith became prOyerb
among his acauaintances, One morn
ing missed him from his accustomed
place, and upon inquiry learned that he
was detained at home by indispOsitiOn.
Several days elapsed, and still he was
absent; and upon calling at his house to
inquire after him, found the family in
great distress on his account. His COM
plant had proved typhus fever of ma
lignant kind. From almost the COM
mencement of his attack he had, as his
wife fOr he had been some time mar
ried) informed me, lain i'm state of un-
consciousness, from which he had arous-
ed only to the rawlings of delirium, and
that the physician gave little hope of his
recovery. For some days he continued
in the same state; at length a message
was brought me, saying that Mr.. Smith
wished to see me; the messenger adding
that Mrs. Smith hoped | would come as
soon as possible, for she feared her hus-
band was dying. Immediately Obeyed
the summons.
''0n entering his chamber found the
whole of his family assembled to take
farewell of him they so tenderly loved.
As soon as he perceived me he mOtiOned
for me to approach near to him, and TAX
ing my hand in both of his, he turned
toward me his dying cOuntenance full of
gratitude and affection, and said, My
dear master, my best earthly friend, |
have sent for you that may give you
the thanks and blessings of a dying
man for all your goodness to me. 70
your generosity and mercy owe it that
haveliyed useful and respected, that l
die lamented and happy. To you 1 owe
it that / leave to my children name I'M
sullied by crime, that in after years the
blush of shame shall never tinge their
cheeks at the memory of their
father. Oh, & GOdp he continued.
thou who hast melted to others,
do thou mete unto him. Then
turning to his family, he said: My be-
loved wife and children, 1 entrust you
without fear to the care of that Heaven
ly Parent who has said Leave the faith
erlesS children unto me, and will pre-
serve them alive, and let thy widows
trust in me-" And you, my dear master,
will, [ know, be to them as you have
been to me-a guide, protector and a
friend THAT" continued the old man,
looking on us with glistening eyes,
though mixed with sorrow, was one of
the happiest moments of my life. As
stood by the bedside of the dying man,
and looked around upon his children
growing up virtuOus, intelligent and up
right, respecting and hOnOring, as much
as they loved, their father; when 1 saw
his wife, though overcome with grief for
the loss of tender and beloved husband,
yet SOrrOwlng not as one without hope,
but even in that moment of agony de-
irving comfort in the belief that she
would meet him again i'm that world
where sadieuS and farewells are sounds
unknown when listened to his fervent
expressions of gratitude, and saw him
calmly awaiting the inevitable stroke,
trusting in the mercy of God and at
peace with his fellOwmen, and when l
thought what the reverse of all this
might have been-crime, misery, a dis
graceful and dishOnOred life, and per-
haps a shameful and dishOnOred death,
had yielded to the first impulse of in
dignatiOn, felt happiness which no
words can express. We are told that
there is more joy among the angels of
God over the sinner that repenteth than
over ninety and nine just persons that
need no repentance. With such Joy as
we may imagine theirs did / rejoice over
poor Smith, as | closed his eyes and
heard the attendant minister, I'm fervent
tones, exclaim: Blessed are the dead
that die in the Lord; yea, saith the Spir-
it, for they rest from their labOrs, and
their works do follow Them"
"My friends, / am an old man. Dur
ing long and eventful career i'm bust
ness, have had intercourse with almost
every variety of temper and disposition,
and with many degrees of talent, but
have never found reason to swerve from
the principle with which 1 set out in
life, to temper justice with Mercy"
Such was the story of our friend. And
believe there was not one i'm that COM
pany but returned home more disposed
to judge leniently of the failings of his
fellow creatures, and, as far as lay in
his power. to extend to all who might
fall into termination that mercy which