Untitled article | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, December 31, 1867

Anecdote of Douglas Jerrold.

CHARLES DICKENS relates the following of Douglas Jerrold: Of his generosity I had a proof within these two or three years which it saddens me to think of now. There had been estrangement between us—not on any personal subject, and not involving angry words—and a good many months had passed without my ever seeing him in the streets, when it fell out that we dined, each with his own separate party, in the Stranger’s Room of the Club. Our chairs were almost back to back, and I took mine after he was seated and at dinner (I am sorry to remember), and did not look that way. Before we had sat long he openly wheeled his chair around, stretched out both hands in an engaging manner, and said aloud, with a bright and loving face, that I can see as I write to you: “Let us be friends again. A life is not long enough for this.” Jerrold was not a Christian, but his conduct in this case was worthy of a Christian character. On a dying bed how insignificant will appear many things about which we contend in bitterness and wrath! Life is too short, its inevitable sorrows so many, its responsibilities so vast and solemn, that there is, indeed, no time to spare in abusing and maligning one another. Let not the sun go down on your wrath. Never close your eyes to sleep with a heart angry towards your brother and fellow-sufferer. See him and be reconciled to him if you can. If he is a true man and a Christian, he will listen. If he is not, you will have done right, and your soul will be bright with the sunshine of Heaven.