The Worthington advance., 1881-08-25

u God OF tho gurley sea,
Speak thy command TO the sea and the strand
! Though but : tiny thing !. zlks | .*s. ...sS
She sails from the mystic shore,
And beareth burden of love and hope
To be mine forevermore. s'ss,. : <i &; :
.ss.... ~,. NEVER DESPAIls..ss - =
: II. the private Office of London mer-.
chant, young man, verging upon his TWEEN
ty thirst year, stood before his employer in
the character of a cuiprit. The face of the
merchant exhibited q sterness which be-
: t0ke1eA the possession of O. character in:
which what the world calls dogeed resolu-.
ton was the prevailing element ,. ----->-
q II tell you again." said he, Isl cannot
viii not, overlook your offense." 90 =!
Believe me, SIR" appealed the youth, !:
'''I had no criminal intention; the fanit was
entirely unpremeditated- was an.act of
oily oily which shall ne'er--oh' SIR mover re-
One of those cold and horrible smiles
which 80 forcibly express incredulity swept
across the merchants face, and he waved
his hand as it he wished the'interview to be
terminated.
The young man, whose countenance up
to this moment had been burning with
shame, how became deadly pale; he saw
his employers determination was not to be
shaken, and that disgrace stared him hid
eously in the face. He made Win effort
ut another appeal, but the words died son
his lips, and a feeling of despair utterly OK
tinguished the faint hopes he had Ientsa-
tained of being mercifully dealt with. -
MY poor mother!" gasped he, hiding his
face in his hands, and sobbing bitterly.
The merchants hard features slightly re-
laxed-perhaps he loved his mother dearly;
but the feeling, whatever it might have been
was only q trasient one.
"Walter jackson" said he, in hard tones,
which instantly reused the young man from
his grief; II tell you once again, my mind
is made up, and the sooner You leave my
office the better. l 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 bewildered by the
catastrophe which had, in ono moment,
moved along the streets like man drunk,
or bending beneath burden which ex-
posed him to the mercy of the passer-bv.
Oppressed and weighed down by heavy
ear. he stole from that noisome place to
amble like fallen spirit until the hour at
which he usually returned from his labors
to the home where he was welcomed by a
mothers smile and fond attentions Hard
'ening himself to play deceptive part in
her presence, he approached the door with
confidence which his conscience too sure
ly told him was not audaciOus assurance.
And when he took his accustomed scat at
the tea table, and responded to her gentle
inquiries, he did SO outwardly unabashed: ::
but within, far from human eye. he felt the
glow of shame's blush and the torture which
the cOntrast between vice and virtue rem
lers mere acute.
His unsuspecting parent noticed no
change in him during the whole of that try
ing evening, and when he retired to his
chamber he received her blessing with a
stoicism which almost amounted to
cold indifferen nee. But when he had only
himself to deal with, tho actor forgot his
part, and once more became the conscience
stricken man of guilt. Despair, with it's
narrowing convictions, prostnted the whole
OF his faculties, and he groaned in the help
lessness of his condition. He threw him.
self undrcssed on his bed, and yielded 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 exc
Grated himself, then others-and finally
sprang from the bed like savage dartine
upon his prey. His eyes sparkled, his
chest heaved and his wsole attitude was
that of menace and defiance.
Since cannot 60 back" thought he,
setting his teeth firmly together. II will 20
forward; and wo be it to"
At this critical moment his glance fell on
picture hanging against the wall: it was
the head OF our Saviour, and the gift of his
mother: A long, long look did he take at
the mild face which smiled 80 sweetly
from its canvas and then he
burst into tears. They were the best he
had ever shed, for they opened up to him
the fountains of q new life, and e1tineuish-
ed those unholy sparks which despair had
kindled in his bosom. After his powerful
emotion had in some degree subsided, he
knelt down by the bedside and prayed as
only those can who need divine assistance.
he rose calm and refreshed, and seated
hiEself at little table to deliberate on the
course he should pursue. Many and va.
rlous were his thoughts, but they all par
took of the tone Of one grand ALL command
ing sentiment: and by that he was resolved
to be guided. The coinage of his brain was
distilled in that best of all alambics, his
heart; and gradually there was accumulated
within gently flowing river of thought, be-
side which Hope stood waving her green
branch, and bidding him in honeyed ac-
cents. Never despair"
In the morning he rose, after dreamless
night, vigorous and determined, and hast.
ened to carry out one of the most difficult
OF the three resolutions he had formed :that
vas to part, perhaps forever, with the girl
Mary, said he, gazing mournfully into
her fearful face, II love you as swell. indeed
better, at this moment than ever did but
we must part. Circumstances have occur
red which renders this painful step neces-
sary." =;
Can not you explain. Walter?" demand
ed she, clinglng to him.
Dear Mary, don't ask mel cannot, re-
Piled he, painfully. can not, indeed
only to my God! LISTEN" continued he,
solemnly; Tomorrow 1 shall bl far away
from you; and the probability is, that It
would be Il very long time-at present. I
think. many years-before We shall meet
again; so that continuing our engagement
IS a mere m ckery, because the chances
are that I shall be unable to keep it.p
- 'Oh! exclaimed the girl, wounded to the
quick by q sentiment she misunderstood.
Do not mistake me; said he, taking her
hand, and struggling to subdue his strong
emotion: II love you dearly, and that is the
reason do not wish to remain bound to
what may never be fulfilled on my part.
You, knew, would be faithful and true;
but why should you waste the bloom Of
your youth, ana neglect the many opportu-
mites You will have of makiug yourself
happy. for the sake of man you may never
see again? No, Mary, you shall not do 50;
from this moment Won arc free md MAJ "
heaven bless you!"
Tne girl hung down her head and cried
bitterly, for she felt that her young hopes
were about to be withered. =
Walter, animated by the feelings he had
acquired, was invincib.e; his duty required
the sacrifice, and it should be made. Un-
doubtedly it was one of the greatest he
could have made, for he might have played
upon the girls credulity, and maintained
his position as lover without the remotest
prospect or intention Of becoming her
husband But with the resolution to do
night comes a consideration for others.
which weakens the natural selfishness of