The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-10-21
NEVER DESPAIR.


In the private Office of London mer-
chant, young man, verging upon his
21st year, stood before his employer in
the character of culprit. The face of
the merchant betokened the possession
of character In which what the world
calls logged resolution was the prevail
ing element.
/ tell you again." said he, " / can
not-will not overlook your offense."
Believe me, sir, appealed the youth,
81 had no criminal intention the fault
was entirely unpremeditated-it was an
act of folly, which 1 shall never-oh,
sir, never repeat"
One of those cold and horrible smiles
which so forcibly express incredulity
swept across the merchants face, and he
waved his hand as if he wished the in
terview to be terminated.
The young man, whose cOunten6nCc
up to this moment had been burning
with shame, now became deadly pale |;
he saw his employers determination was
not to be shaken, and that disgrace
stared him hideously in the face. He
made vain effort at another appeal, but
the words died on his lips, and feeling
of despair utterly extinguished the faint
hopes he had entertained of being mer-
cifully dealt with.
My poor mother - gasped he, hid
ing his face in his hands and sobbing
bitterly.
The merchants hard features slightly
relaxed-perhaps he loved his mother
dearly; but the feeling, whatever it
might have been, was only transient
one.
"Walter Jackson" said he, in hard,
ringing tones, which instantly reused
the young man from his grief, q tell
you once again, my mind is made up,
and the sooner you leave my office the
better. never prosecute In small cases
like yours. Begone, and never let me
see or hear from you again.
The delinquent, awed by that iron
will, mechanically turned upon his heel
and left the Office. Stunned and Devil
dered by the catastrophe which had, in
one moment, crushed all his young
hearts hopes, he moved along the
streets like man drunk, or bending
beneath burden which exposed him TO
the mercy of the passer-by Pressed
and weighed down by n heavy fear, he
went from that noisome place to ramble
like fallen spirit until the hour mt
which he usually returned from his la
bors TO the home where he was welcomed
by mothers smile and fond attentions.
Hardening himself to play a deceptive
part Ill her presence, he approached the
door with confidence which his con-
science too surely told him was but au-
dacious assurance. And when he took
his accusl omed seat at the tea table and
responded to her gentle inquiries, he
did SO outwardly unabashef but with
IN, far from human eye, h. felt the glow
OF shalne's blush and til" torture which
The contrast between ice and virtue
renders more acute.
His nnsuspecting parent noticed no
change in him during the whole of that
trying evening, and when he retired to
his chamber he received her blessing
with stoicisu which almost amounted
to cold Indifference. But, when he had
only himself to deal with, the actor for
got his part, and once more became the
conscience-stricken man OF guilt
Despair, with its narrowing convictions,
prostrated the whole of his faculties,
and he moaned in the helplessness of
dressed on the bed, and yielded to the
horrors by which he saw himself on all
sides surrounded.
He moaned and he cried, and then he
clenched his fists and beat the air-exe-
Grated himself, then others-and finally
sprang from the bed like a savage darling
upon hisprey. HiseJ,s sparkled, his chest
heaved, and his whole attitude was that
OF menace and defiance.
"Since L cannot go back" thought
he, setting his teeth firmly together, 81
will go forward and wo he it to"
At this critical moment his glance fell
on picture hanging against the wall
it was the head of our Savior, and the
gift of his mother. A long, long look did
he take mt the mild face which smiled 50
sweetly from its '0lvas, and then he
burst into tears. Iney were the best he
had ever shed, for they opened up to
him the fountains OF new life, and eX-
tinguished those unholy sparks which
despair had kindled in his BOSOM After
his powerful emotion had in some degree
subsidized. he knelt down by the bedside,
and prayed AZ only those can who need
divine assistance. He rose calm and re-
freshed. and seated himself at little
table to deliberate on the course he
should pursue. Many and various were
his thoughts, but they all partook of the
tone of one grand, ACCOMMODATING senti-
ment and by that he was resolved to
be guided. The coinage of his brain
WIS distilled in that best OF all alembics,
the heart and gradually there was ac-
cumulatod within him gently-flowing
river of thought beside which Hope
stood waving her green branch, and
bidding him in honeyed accents, "Never
despair"
In the morning he rose, after dream
less night, vigorous and determined,
and fastened TO carry out one of the most
difficult of the three resolutions he had
formed that was to part, perhaps for
ever&with the girl he loved.
MARY" said he, gazing mo