The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-01-01
A MEMORY OF NEW YEARS EVE.
Forgive Us Our Trespasses as We Forgive
Those Who Trespass Against Us.


Those Who Trespass Against Us.
The choir of the - Street Church
gave 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 certain
place in the melodious recitative they
repeated:
''For-give-us-o s-our-trespasse -as
we forgive those who trespass-against
u.s."
A man sat in a 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 of
| humiliation, for to him each simple
word was an arrow of conviction.
''Forgive-us-o our- trespasses as
we forgive those who trespass-against
u.s." He called himself a Christian,
yet at that very moment his own flesh
help, which he could give. He called
himself a Christian, and gave literally
to the cause of Christ, but here he failed
| - IL, - h. - dc
He had spurned from his door in thi!
time of peace and reconciliation his only
child, who few years ago had left hin
to marry the man of her choice. HI
had closed his door and his hear
against her, and when she humbled {
pride as strong and rebellious as hi
own, which indeed she had inherited
from him, with her hair and eye, anC
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!''
He had said to himself that he was
right; he had recalled high. sounding
examples to aid him-had written OF
the fly leaves of the books she had left
"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it il
10 have q thankleSS ch1ld!
| Poor Nellie! as if she had'not suffered
too!
And now all other thoughts-all vim
dictive resolves-were overwhelmed il
that softly surging sea of melody.
tForgive-us-our- -.trespasses-as-
we forgive = those = who trespas
against st-us-?
1t was New Years eve. In squali,
part of a great city, in the most miser
able room of most miserable tenemen
house, lay a little dying child. 1t
white and wasted face shone among th
few dark rags of poverty, like the even
ing star, and the dark eyes, soon t
close on earthly trouble, were fever
bright in the eyes of the iickerini
candle. A woman, young. pallid, d
shevelled, with sort of reckless resolv
dawning in her set face, knelt by th
baby sufferer, and now and then we
the parched lips with all the nourist
ment they had tasted for many hours,
drop of cold water.
Mamma! Mammal rang out th
little voice strong and shrin with pair
81 tan't see 'ou.'
I'm right here, darling; no one sha
separate us" With d fierce shiver th
woman added: "Not even in deathr'
A peal of bells rang out, it was mit
night. All the good church people wei
getting up from their knees, shakin
hands and wishing each other happ
New Year!
} Ring out the grief that saps the mind.
t mammal" cried the little quiverin
{ voice of the child, II amt to say m
| payers before 1 die
| The mother took the waxen-hand
/ hers, and knelt by the miserable bed an
soon the two voices blended in the
nightly recital of the loved petition
} They neither of them noticed when tt
t door opened, and they had reached tt
clause, 'forgive us our trespasses as "
, forgive those who trespass against us,
when a loud, firm voice responds
'.Amenr' and Nellie rose and W;
+ clasped in her fathers arms.
hope the - Street Church cho
will chant that prayer this New Year
! eve. Indeed, l have good reason fl
knowing that they have been private
q advised that it will be expected of ther
:, For Nellie and her father and that swe
child will be there, the happiest trio
the city, and when the wild bells ''rir
out the old, ring in the new." they WI
be on their knees, hand clasped in han
/, to welcome in their new year of peac
forgiveness and prosperity, but abo'
S all to Join with thankful hearts in silel
t response to that pathetic and remer
e bered petition, so dear to both:
give-us- our tresspasses-
n as-we-forgive those who trespass
against us. ."-Detro1 Free Press.
e wAA1 a Under DID.