Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-07-06

Mercy FOR the Wan0erer.
But there may be one wanderer that
would like 20 have o kind word calling
homcward. I have told you that society
mas no mercy. Did I hint ct an earlier
point In this subject that God will have
mercy upon any wanderer who would like
TO come back 70 the heart Of infinite lovey
A cold Christmas night In farmhouse
Father comes In from the barn, knocks
the snow from his shoes and sits down by
the fire. The mother sits at the stand
knitting. She says TO him, "Do you re-
member IL Is the anniversary tonight!'
The father Is angcred. He never wants
any allusion to the fact that one had gone
away, and the mere suggestion that IL was
the anniversary OF that sad event made
him quito rough, although the tears ran
down his cheeks. The old house dog that
had played with the wandercr when she
was child comes up and puts his head
on the old mans knee, but he roughly NJ
pulses the dog. He wants nothing 20 70
mind him OF the anniversary day.
A cold winter night In n city church. II
Is Christmas night. They have been dec
Grating the sanctuary. A lost wandcrcr Of
the street, with thin shawl about her, at
trnctcd by the warmth and light. comes in
and sits neor the door. The minister Of
religion is preaching Of him who was
wounded for our transgrcssions and bruised
for our iniquitics, and tho poor soul by tho
door said: why, that must mean me
Mercy for tho chief of sinners; bruised for
our iniquitics: wounded for our transgrcs-
sions.'"
Tho music that night In the sanctuary
brought back the old hymn which she used
TO sing when, with father and mother. she
worshipcd God I'm the village church. The
service over, the minister went down the
aisle. She said 70 him: Were those words
for mcs Wounded for our transgrcssioss.
Was that for mey' The man Of God I'M
dcrstood her not. He knew not how to
comfort q shipwrcckcd soul, and he passed
on, and he passed out. The poor wandcrer
followed into tho street
what ere you doing here. Meg" said
the police. What arc you doing here to-
nights" "Oh." she replied, II was In 10
warm myself. and then tho Yattling cough
came, and she held To the railing until the
paroxysm was over. She passed on down
the street, falling from exhaustion, re-
covering herself again, until after awhile
she reached the outskirfs Of tho city and
passed ON into the country road. II seamed
30 familiar She kept on tho road, and sfps
saw In the distance light in the window.
All, that light Ind bccn cleaning thcr,
every night since she went away. On that
country road she passed until she came 10
the garden gate. She opened II and passed
up the path where she played in childhood.
She came TO tho steps and looked In at the
flre on the hearth. Then she put her fin.
gers to the latch. oh. II that door Ind
been locked she would have persisted on
the threshold, for she was near TO death
But that door had not been locked since
the time she went away She pushed open
the door. She went In and lay down on
the hearth by the fire. The old house dog
growlcd as he saw her enter, but there waf
something In the voice he recognized, and
he frisked about her until he almoSs
pushed her down In his Joy
In tho morning the mother came down.
and she saw bundle Of rags on the hearth
but when the face was upliftcd she knew
Il, and II was no more old Meg Of the
street. Throwing her arms around the N.
turned prodigal. she cried, "Oh, Maggici''
The child threw her arms around her
mothers neck and said. oh motheri''
and while they were embraced a rugged
form lowered above them. II was tho IN.
ther. The severity oil gone out OF his fnre,
no stopped and took her mp tenderly and
carried her 10 mothers room and laid her
down on mothers bed. for she was dying.
Then the lost one looking up into her
mothers face, said: q Wounded for our
transgresslons and bruised for our In.
squities,' Mother, do you think TINT
means met "Ob, yes my darling" said
the mother. "If mother is so glad 90 get
you back. don't you think God Is glad Ia
get you backi''
And there shc lay dying. and all their
Dreams ard all their prayers were filled
with the words, Wounded for our trans
gressions and bruised for our iniquities. -
until Just before the moment OF her de-
parture her face lighted mp, showing tho
pardon Of God had dropped upon her soul.
And thero she slept AWAY ON the bosom OF