The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-11-08
We a wish to console llDI.. i.

save q wish to console liISIii
mission of mercy and charity, happy in
the thought that / could do good to
those who had done SO much to darken
my life.
Arriving at my fathers house was
shocked and grieved by the sight that
met my eyes. My father was SO changed
since that morning when ] stood on a
distant hill and looked back to my old
home and saw him for the last time.
Then he was proud, erect and strong,
while now saw him bent with age and
trouble, his head whitened and his face
furrowed. My stepmother, too, was so
sadly altered. Instead of the proud. de-
FAINT woman she was when she drove
me from my fathers house | found her
a sunken, wasted skeleton, weak almost
unto death And Mary, my once
naughty sister, what a change there had
been in her! 1t needed no words to tell
me that she had suffered bitterly and
that her hopes and her life were blasted.
saw all that plainly written in
her aged countenance, her deep
sunken eyes and her bowed form.
She had drunk from the cup Of disap-
pointment and had drained it to the
dregs.
( My father met me at the gate when |
alighted from the carriage, and coming
forward, held out his hand. lie was
trembling like leaf, and the tears
stood in his eyes. He held my hand an
instant, his lips moved as if in speech,
then turning away he threw himself
down on the stile and burst into tears.
The scene was too touching for my feel
ings, and |, too, wept true tears of sor-
row and grief. If had harborcd any
thought or feeling against my father, |
should have forgiven him then.
/ Several minutes passed in silence,
after which my father lifted his face to
mine, the tears still rolling down his
cheeks, and, taking my hand again, said,
oh so sadly:
"My child, may God forgive me for
what you have suffered, for you never
can"
Father" said, drawing nearer to
him, 81 have nothing to forgive. have
no ill-feelings for anyone"
God bless you, my child" he said,
softly, laying his hand on my head.
God bless you for what you say, and
for coming to us in this dark hour"
He paused an instant to master the
rising tears, then went on:
MY child, you do not know what I
have suffered, nor how sad and lonely |
have been these long years. My life
has been sorrowful one, and often
and often have longed for some one to
love me as your mother did, and Us you
would had let you. Agnes, have
been punished bitterly-more bitterly
than can tell"
There, father" replied, laying my
hand ON his arm, ''do not say any more
now. 1t distresses me to hear you talk
SO. have come to you, and if can
cheer or comfort you, even a very little,
] shall be happy"
/ went in to see my stepmother, but
she refused to speak to me and turned
her face away. believe it was not re-
sentiment but shame that actuated her,
and | was confirmed in that opinion
when ut last she said to me:
"Why do you come here. to rejoice
ut my misfortune and to laugh at
my trouble? Is it not enough that
/ should be brought down to this, with
out having you come here to see its"
II have not come to rejoice or laugh
at your trouble" | answered. 81 SYM
pathize with you from the bottom OF
my heart, and If can do anything to
comfort you l will do it freely"
| think that speech hurt her more
than any reproach could have uttered,
for she turned to the wall, and covering
her face moaned pitifully. l believe,
though. that it was her pride rather