Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-02-24

just return; the law of God condemns you,
although the law of man sanctions the
wrong. You shall have no peace of soul
your heart will burn you-until, with
justice, you wipe out your own injustice
to him and others whom you have
wronged.''
Against the decree I rebelled long
time. 1t was hard for me to raise Shou-
sand dollars, together with the interest
due from the time the mortgage was fore
closed; and it was like taking portion of
my life to be Obliged to subtract so much
of that time from my gains, and giving it
to man with no legal claims upon it.
At last I could not resist the appeals of
conscience any longer, and went again to
the minister. told him my troubles, and
asked him what I should do.
'There is simple test'' said he, ''Do
you love your neighbor as yourself? If
you do, you will be just to him if it takes
from you the last dollar you have in the
world =
''That was terrible sentence. I went
out staggering from it as if had received
blew"
30 God" said, show can T be Chris
tian?''
''But had a help beyond myself, 9TH
erwise could never have ended the strug-
gle. I knelt before God, and solemnly
vowed for his sake, for the sake of His
pardon and love, would not only show
justice to the poor man [ had wronged,
but would give up, If need be, all that I
had in the world so that I might have
peace IN Him. A strange soothing in1u-
ence came over my soul, and voice seem
to say, ''Though you lose all you have, God
and Christ and the blessing of heart
pure and at peace shall be left you-the
best and only source Of happiness and life."
And in the solemn night time. after gave
up the struggle, that comfort came to me
80 great and precious, that I felt willing,
if it would only stay with me, to accept
poverty, and go into the world poor and
despised, hugging that priceless blessing
to my heart. The next day was as light
as if had wings. Nothing could keep me
from going to see Isaac Dorr, with cou-
pie of hundred dollars in my pocket and a
note for the remainder l owed.
"Well,' said the narrator, with tears
running down his cheeks. II only wish
every person here could have seen the De,rr
family when 1 visited them and made
known my errand. Poor Isaac had grown
quite discouraged, and just made up his
mind to quit his wife and children and 20
to California. His children were crying
and his wife was in the extremity of dis
tress and despair. She received me great
deal better than L anticipated. II had
acted according to law" she said, ssand
Isaac, careless and improvident, was great
ly to blams."
Yes said Isaac. with the frmness of
desperate man, sit was savage game
you played on me-but was a fool ever
to 60 into debt as / did, and then fancy
any one would not take the advantage
when the law permits it. I am ruined in
consequence, and here you see this wo-
man and these babies
The poor fellow broke down as he look
cd at them, and cried like child.
''Isaac," said I, as soon as could speak,
II have come to show you hat a man can
be honest even when the law don't compel
him to be-. I want to do right, Isaac, be-
cause God commands it, and have come
to tell you that you needn't leave your
wife and babies yet unless you prefer TO- -
''Prefer to 60 off into strange country
and leave them here to suffer!' he cried, !,
and he caught the children in his arms
and wrung his wife's hand and sobbed as
though his heart would break
''Then counted out the money I had
brought, and explained what intended to
do, and gave him the note; and such sur
prise and happiness I never saw before.
They would have all kissed my feet if l
would have let them. 1t seemed to, me as
if heaven was opened then and the re; and
it was opened in my heart with such flood
Of life and joy as 1 had never expel fenced
Or thought possible before.
''My friends" added the Captain, his
once hard voice now almost as mellow as |
q woman's, his cheeks still moist with !
tears, II have been constrained to make |
this confession; thank you for listening !
to it, The minister tells me man may
be church member and not Christian |
[ mean to be Christian first, and if I !
Tall"
He could proceed no further, but sat
loWn with emotion more effective than
words.
I have nothing to add to this narrative,
except that he became Christian and
that his example Of thorough repentance,
IF child like faith in Christ and of vigor-
Jus, practical everyday righteousness, ele-
rated many degrees the standard of Chris
,ianlty among my people.
The DISCOURAGED MANIA newspa-
Der once contained an advertisement for a
nan to fill certain position, which con-
,luded with mo discouraged man need
.pply." There was deep worldly wisdom
n this, for Encouragement is a terrible
drawback in fighting 1ife's battle. The
discouraged man is defeated in advance.