My heart rebelled against God when my
treasures were taken from me; but the Judge of all the earth knew what
was best for my eternal peace. It was not until these idols were
shattered in the dust that I discovered that I was poor, and blind, and
naked, and not a righteous man, wiser and better than my neighbours. In
my deep sorrow and humiliation I was taught the knowledge of myself;
that I was still in my sins, a proud, unregenerated man. Yes; I can now
acknowledge with the deepest gratitude, that, heavy and maddening as
the blow was, it was necessary to bring me to God, and make me a true
Christian."
'I went up to the monument. It was a simple urn of white marble,
surrounded by beautiful flowering shrubs. The inscription that recorded
the untimely death of his son made me start, it was so painfully
characteristic of the truthfulness of the father:
'"Here, repose in peace the mortal remains of George Leatrim, who died
at the age of 15, of a broken heart, caused by a false accusation and
the unchristian severity of his too credulous father. Reader, mourn not
for the dead, but weep sore for the living."
'I saw that my uncle was watching me with his eyes full of tears.
'He told me the sad story you have just read, sitting beside that grave
in the dim twilight. How much I respected the undying love of the
faithful heart, that never sought to spare himself in the mournful
narration.
'"Ah," he said, rising from his recumbent posture, and speaking in a
cheerful, hopeful voice, "How little we 'know of the spirit of which we
are made.
Pages:
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43