Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-02-17
A Mothers Voice.
Rev. DIR. Newton.

A lady living in one of our large
cities, was passing public-house
one day, just as the keeper of it was
turning man into the street. He
was quite young, but very pale.
His haggard face and wild eyes
showed that he had been drinking,
and was far gone ON the way to
ruin. He was swearing dreadfuIly,
and was shaking his clenched tist at
the man who had thrust him out of
the bar. He was so blinded with
passion that he did not see the lady
who stood near him, till she laid
her hand on him and asked in a
gentle, loving voice, "What's the
matter ?"
The young man started as though
a heavy blow had struck him. He
turned quickly around, paler than
before, and rembling from head TO
foot. He looked at the lady a mo-
ment or two, and then said
''Oh L thought it was my moth
er's voice; it sounded so strangely
like it ! But her voice has long been
hushed in DEATH"
& "You had mother, then, who
AONC0 JO0s tIAG
He burst into tears as he said,
"Oh, yes, 1 had an aged mother,
and she loved her boy. But since
she died everything has gone
against me. l am lost-lost to
everything that is good-lOst for
ever.
"NO, not lost forever; for God is
merciful and gracious, and His pity
ing love can reach the chief of sim
ners," said the lady in Il low, sweet
voice, and her words seemed to have
a wonderful effect upon the young
man.
AS the lady passed on her way,
the young man followed her. He
noticed the number of the house
she entered, and wrote down in his
pocket-bOuk The name that was ON
the door-plate. Then he went Oh
his way with new thoughts and
feelings stirred in his breast.
Years passed away, and the kind
lady had forgotten all about this in
cident, when one day a stranger
called at her house and sent up his
card, asking permission to speak
with her. Wondering who could it
be, she went down to the parlor and
found a nOble-looking, well-dressed
gentleman. He rose respectfully to
meet her, and holding out his hand
said in a trembling voice
pardon me, madam, for this lib
erty but have come many miles
to thank you for the great service
you rendered me a year or two
ago."
81 am puzzed to know what you
mean, SIR" said the lady, "ior L do
not remember to have ever seen you
before"
81 have changed so much" said
the young mar, "that l do not won
der you have forgotten me. But
though l only saw you once l should
have known you anywhere. And
your voice, too, is so much like my
mothers.
The moment these words were
spoken the lady remembered the
poor young man to whom she had
spoken kindly in front of the bar, so
long before. She saw him weeping,
and she wept with him.
Presently the gentleman wiped
away his tears, sat down and told
the lady that the few gentle words
she spoke to him on that day had
been the means of saving him from
ruin, and of making him a useful
man.
"Those words-'Not lost forever
followed me-" said he, "wherever 1
went; and it always seemed to me |
like my mothers voice speaking to |
me from the grave. / repented of |
my sins, and resolved to live as
Jesus and my mother would like
TO have me live, and / am thankful
to say, that by the grace of God l
have been able to resist tempta-
ton and do some good in the
81 never dreamed there was so
much power in few kind words"
said the lady.