Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

sue las eSeu now praying IO9 uini, utiu 40 ue
recalled 10 Eiiud the wrongs which he had in
ficted on that unconplpining woman, his
heart was melted within him. There is no
chastener like sickness; the most stony bosom
softens beneath it. He thought Of the long
days aud nights during which he must have
been i'll, and when his insclted and abused
wife had watched auxiously ct bis bedside.
Oh! how he had crashed that noble heart
and now this was hcr.return She prayed for
him who bad wfouged her. She shed tears
Of joy because her erring husband had been
restored, as it were, to life. These things
rushed through his bosom and the strong
nlau's eyes filed with tears.
Emily-dcar Emily" he said, :" I have
been q villain, and can you forgive me?
deserve il not at your bsnds--but can you,
will you forgive wretch like ne? 90
"Oh! can forgive your" sobbod tho crate.
fol wife, Eyes! yes! but too gladly. BUTT is
not against me you have sinued, it is ugains;
good and righteous Cod"
al know It'll know it," said the repcntant
husband, sand to bis mercy l look. canno,
pray for myself, but oh! Emily pray for me.
lie has preserved me from the jaws Of death.
Pray for me, dear Emily"
Tho wife knet at the bedside, and while
tho husband, exhausted by his agitation, sank
back With closed eyes on. tho pillow, eco read
tho noble petition for the sick, from the book
Of COMMON Prayer. At times the sobstf EN-.
lily would almost choke her utterauce, but the
holy words shc read had at length, soothing
effect both on her mind and that of her hus,
band. When tho prayer was over, she re-
manned for several minutes kneeling, while her
husband murrnurcd nj intervals his heart fell
responses. At length she rose from the bed
side. Her husband would again have spoken,
to beseech her forgiveness. But with glad
feeling ut her hearth feeling such MS she
had not had for months--sho epioined silence
on him, and sat down again by his bedside tc
watch. At length he fell again into calm
slumber, wsile the now happy wife watched
at his bedside until morning, breathing thanks.
givings for her husbands recovery, aud shed
ding tcara ofjoy the while.
When the sick man nwokc ut daybrcak, hi
was changed being. He was now ccnvalcs
cent, he was more, be was q repcntnnt man
He wcpt on tho bosom OF his wife, and made
resolutions Of reformation Which. after his
recovery, through the blessings Of God, he was
enabled to ful6l.
The fortune of Walpolo was mostly gone,
but sufficient remained from its wrecks, IL
allow him the comforts, thoHgn not tho lux
uries Of life. He soon settled his affairs ana
removed from his splendid mansion to quie,
cottage 10 q neighboring village. The only
pang he felt was ut leaving the home which
for 90 unny years had been the dwelling of the
head OF his fanily--the home wbereSEis uncle
had died, md which Ind been lost only through
his own folly.
& Neither Malpolc nor his wife ever regretted
their loss of fortune : for both looked, upon 1t
AZ the mcAus used. by an oYcr-ruGng lroyi-
dencc to bring the HUSBAND; back 10 therath
of rectityds; and they preferred to ii therefore
with feelings rather of gratitude than OF re-
pining. In their quiet cottage, on tho wreck
ct their WEALTH. they e,ioyed,a 4lappiucss Is
which they had been strangers in the days OF
their opulence. A family at lovely children
sprung up around them, and it was the daily
task of tho parents to educate these young
minds in the path ofduty anIrcctitudc. Oh
the happy hours which they enjoyed in tha,
whfls, vine-embewered outage, with their
childr, IN smiling around them, and tho con.
seriousness of we'll regulated life, filling theil
hearts with peace.
Years rolled by and the hair of Walpole be-
gan to torn gray, while tic brow of his sweet
wife showed more than one wrinkle, but; still
their happiness remained undiminished.