Connecticut western news., 1884-01-23
A NEW YEARS MEMORY.
WHY AN OLD MAN WAS BOWED IN
 ANGUISH.
He is Convinced Of His Wrong Doing and Arrives in Time to Make Preparation.

He is Convinced Of His wronR-DoinE and
 Arrives in Time 10 Make Preparation.
 The choir of the - Street Church gave a service of song on New Years eve.
 They began it with that beautiful and comfortable prayer of the ages, whose brief and simple petitions embody the needs of all souls, "Our Father, who art in Heaven"
 They chanted it in tender minor key, each word distinctly articulated, and falling like the dew of Heaven into the hearts bowed there. At a certain place in the melodious recitative, they repeated:
 For-give-us-our-trespasses-as we forgive those who against us."
 A man sat in prominent place there, on whose silvered head the soft-blended light from the stained glass of the chan eel windows fell like rays of glory. As the choir, in that sweet, soft monotone of harmony, repeated the petition of the prayer this mans proud head sank lower and lower, until it touched his breast in an abasement of anguish or humiliation, for to him each simple word was an arrow of conviction.
 "Forgive-us - our - trespasses - as we forgive those who trespass-against us." He called himself Christian, yet at that very moment his own flesh and blood was perishing for want of help, which he could give. He called himself Christian, and gave literally to the cause of Christ, but here he failed to do one of His first commands. He had spurned from his door in this time of peace and reconciliation his only child, who few years ago had left him to marry the man of her choice. He had closed his door and his heart against her, and when she humbled 8 pride as strong and rebellious as his own, which indeed she had inherited from him, with her hair and eye, and begged for help for her dying child, he had spurned her from him with these cruel words:
 "Go you have made your bed-now lie in it l"
 He had said to himself that he was right; he had recalled high.sounding ex- amples to aid him-had written on the hy-leaves of the books she had left:
 'rHow sharper than 6 ssrpsnt's tooth it is
 To have thankless child r'
 Poor Nellie as if she had not suffered, tool
 And now all other thoughts-all vim dictive resolves-were overwhelmed in that softly surging sea of melody. us-our-trespasses we - forgive - thoss--who -- trespsss-- against--us r
 *
 It was New Years eve. In squalid part of great city, in the most miser. able room of most miserable tenement house, lay little dying child. Its white and wasted face shone among the few dark rags of poverty, like the even- ing stars, and the dark eyes, soon to close on earthly trouble, were fever bright in the rays of the hickering candle. A woman, young, pallid, dis hevelled, with a sort of reckless resolve dawning in her set face, .knelt by the baby sufferer, and now and then wet the parched lips with all the nourishment they had tasted for many hours, drop of cold water.
 Mamma Mamma l' rang out the little voice strong and shrill with pain, ''I tan't see 'ou."
 "I'm right here, darling; no one shall separate us." With fierce shiver the woman added: "Not even in death '"
 A peal of bells rang out, it was mid. night. All the good church people were getting up from their knees, shaking hands and wishing each other happy New Year
 "Ring out the want, the care, the sin, i Ring out the grief that shps the mind" Mamma I' cried the little quiverine voice of the child, "I ant to say my payers befo' I die"
 The mother took the waxen hand in hers, and knelt by the miserable bed, and soon the two voices blended in theii nightly recital of the loved petition. They neither of them noticed when the door opened, and they had reached the clause, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, ' when @ loud firm voice responded "Amen !" and Nellie rose and was clasped in her fathers arms. I hope the Street Church choir will chant that prayer this New Years eve. Indeed, I have good reason fol knowing that they have been privately advised that it will be expected ofthem. For Nellie and her father and that sweet child will be there, the happiest trio in the city, and when the wild bells "ring out the old, ring in the new," they will be on their knees, hand clasped in hand, to welcome ill their new year of peice, forgiveness and prosperity, but above all to join with thankful hearts in silent response to that pathetic and remem. bered petition to both
 For-give-us-our trespasses-as- we-forgive those who trespass--- against us." M. QUAD.
 MADAME and baby had just returned from promenade. Monsieur asked for | dataiia uOb my dar s,nod pau,a n