The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-06-16

He looked now moro careworn and ema-
ciated than as we described him at the
scene of Testers public ignOminy; and
whether it were his failing health, or
whatever the cause might be, his large
dark eyes had a world of pain In their
troubled and melancholy depth.
''There is truth In what she says, be-
gan the minister with voice sweet,
tremulous but powerful, insomuch that
the hall re-echoed and the hollow armor
rang with it; truth in what Hester says,
and in the feeling which inspires heri
God gave her the child, and gave her, too,
an instructive knowledge of its nature
and requirements-both seemingly so
peculiar-which no other mortal being
can possess. And, moreover. is there
not quality of awful sacredness in the
relation between this mother and this
childF"
"AyeI-how is that, good Master Dim
mesdale?' interrupted the governor.
snake that plain, pray your
cit must be even so" resumed the
minister. "For, if we deem it other
wise, do we not thereby say that the
Heavenly Father, the Creator of all
flesh, hath lightly recognized deed of
sin, and made of no account the distinc
ton between unha1owed lust and holy
love2 This child of its fathers guilt
and its mothers shame hath come from
the hand of God, to work in many ways
upon her heart, who pleads so earnestly,
and with such bitterness of spirit, the
right to keep her. 1t was meant for a
blessing; for the one blessing of her lifei
It was meant, doubtless, as the mother
herself hath told US, for retribution
too; torture to be felt at many an un-
thought of moment; pang, a sting, an
ever recurring agony, in the midst of a
troubled joyl Hath she not expressed
this thought in the garb Of the poor
child, so forcibly reminding US of that
red symbol which sears her bosom%
"Wel said, againl'' cried good Mr..
Wilson. 81 feared the woman had no
better thought than to make a mounte-
bank of her child"
sob, not sol not sor' continued Mr..
Dimmesdale. ''She recognizes, believe
me, the solemn miracle which God hath
wrought in the existence of that child.
And may she feel, too-what, methinks,
is the very truth-that this boon was
meant, above all things else, to keep the
mothers soul alive and to preserve her
from blacker depths of sin into which
satan might else have sought to plunge
her. Therefore it is good for this poor,
sinful woman that she hath an infant
Immortality, being capable Of eternal
| Joy or sorrow, confided to her care, to
be trained up by her to righteousness
| to remind her at every moment of her
| Ell 10 l., ~ nv
the Creators sacred pledge, that if she
bring the child to heaven the child also
| will bring its parent thither. Herein
! is the sinful mother happier than the
sinful father. For Hester Prynnes sake
/ then, and no less for the poor child'E
sake. let us leave them as Providence
hath seen fit to place them"
''You speak, my friend, with strange
earnestness," said old Roger Chilling
worth, smiling at him.
F'And there is weighty import II
what my young brother hath spoken.
added the Reverend Mr.. Wilson. '.What
say you, worshipfu1 Master Bellingham
Hath he not pleaded well for the poor
womanF'
Indeed, hath he" answered the mag
istrate, ''and hath adduced such argu
1nents that we will even leave the matter
as it now stands; SO long at least a
there shall he no rurther scandal in thu
woman Care must be had, neYerthe
less, to put the child to due and state'
examination in the catechisln, at tn.
hands or Master Dimmesdale's. More
over, at proper season, the tithinl
men must take heed that she go both t.
school and to meeting"
CONTINUED