SWEET REVENGE by Locius E. Christian

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 13, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 32.

SWEET REVENGE.

By Locius E. Christian

BY LOCIUS E. CHRISTIAN.

The Harris family were gathered about their fireside one evening late in March, reading the latest events of the day, when suddenly the door bell rang, the door was opened by an unseen hand, who threw in an envelope, the door again closed, and the messenger departed quickly. The family consisted of father and son. The father had lately passed his sixty-seventh mile-post, and the son was about seventeen. The father was feeble and in very poor health. Herbert, the son, went and picked up the envelope, and promptly handed it to his father, who, knowing from whom it was, tore it open with trembling hands, and began to read as follows:—

M. R. HARRIS—Dear Sir: If the money is not forthcoming by the 28th of this month, I will foreclose. I can not wait on you any longer. I have waited too long already. Remember, no longer than the 28th. This is my last message.

Yours respectfully, JAMES L. ALDEN.

No sooner was it read than it dropped to the floor from Mr. Harris’ hands. The news well-nigh overwhelmed him; he seemed powerless to speak. We shall take opportunity of this pause to find out what caused this. Harris was once a prosperous merchant, but one misfortune came, which was succeeded by others, and, in order to keep up his business, he was compelled to borrow money from Alden—a man of whom no good thing could be said—who took all Mr. Harris had for security. Shortly after this, Mr. Harris’ wife sickened and died. His business moved along very well for a time, but reverses came; he failed, and lost all. He afterward worked hard to get back his home, but his health failed him, and the last $200 on his $8,000 home remained unpaid, and now he receives notice that if it is not paid in two days, his home is gone; and, not having $2.00 in the house, he sees no way out. Having recovered from his shock, he requested his son to write as he dictated.

JAMES L. ALDEN, Esq.—Dear Sir: Yours received and contents noted. Can not you wait a little longer, until I am able to earn the required sum? At present I am unable to do anything. Do this and you will oblige your old friend.

M. R. HARRIS.

The message was sent, and an answer came immediately:—

You have my last message. Remember, the 27th.

ALDEN.

If Harris was surprised before, he was more so now; and, seeing that there was no way left open whereby he could save his home, he immediately began to make preparation to leave the place. The 28th came, and with it Alden’s agent. Herbert had just left with the last load of goods. Harris remained a few minutes; it seemed hard to part from the place he had so long called home. It seemed to him that he was parting from some old friend; but finally, with slow steps, he began to cross the street, looking around every now and then as if to say good-by. He heard the tramp of horses and shouts of people, but he seemed deaf to the noise; and then, when it was too late, he saw a runaway team, which knocked him down. He was picked up insensible, and borne away to the hospital. The doctor examined his patient, and said he could not live longer than twenty-four hours at the most. The son was called to his side.

“Herbert,” said the father, slowly, as if it caused him great pain to speak, “place your hand on the Bible that is on the stand.” The son obeyed, wondering what his father would have him do. “You know what has taken place between Alden and myself; had he but waited a little longer, I would not now be lying on my death-bed.” He stopped a moment, as if thinking deeply. “Herbert, I soon must leave you in a cold and cruel world, penniless. I wish I could make it otherwise, but it is now too late. Promise me if ever you get up in the world to take revenge on Alden.”

“Father, you ask too much of me; pray do not make me do this.”

“But you must do it.”

Just then the son thought of his Christian mother, and he exclaimed, “Father, I promise.” Suddenly the father threw out his arms, a “Farewell” escaped his lips, and all was over. He had crossed the great divide.

Many summers have come and gone, and now in a large building, in his private office on Fremont Street, sat Herbert Harris, a rich landowner and real-estate dealer. Williams—his employer—had just brought in a card bearing the name of James L. Alden.

“Show him in,” said Harris.

Alden is the same hard and mean man that he always has been, only his steps are feebler and his hair is white.

“Good-morning, Mr. Harris.”

“Good-morning, Mr. Alden.”

“I called to find out if you can not give me three months’ time in which to pay the mortgage. I have done my best, but I can not collect a cent, and now unless I have a little time, I am utterly ruined.”

How came this about? Alden had grown bolder and bolder in his business transactions, and at last he was caught in his dishonesty, and, in order to save himself from the penitentiary, he had to pay a large sum of money. To do this he had to borrow money, and Harris had loaned him the sum at ten per cent interest; but now the time had come for settlement, and he was unable to pay, and Harris had him just where Alden had had his father many years ago. Harris had not forgotten the fact, and now the time had come to revenge his father. A mighty battle was taking place in his mind between right and wrong. His father bade him to take revenge, while, on the other hand, was the strong influence of his mother, who would have him do otherwise. He was undecided. Alden thought the time long, and, thinking that he might have dropped the subject, spoke again:—

“Harris, can not you really give me three months’ time? If you do, I will pay you well.”

“Alden,” said the other, as waking from a trance, “I have not forgotten the past, how when my father was in the condition you are

now in, you showed no mercy to him. At my father’s death-bed I promised him to have revenge on you. The time has now come.”

“I ask your forgiveness. I did wrong. I know you have me in your power, and what you do will determine my fate. I humbly ask your forgiveness. Do as you will. I trust it to your better nature.”

“Alden, I forgive you, but I can not break the promise that I made to my father; therefore I will have revenge; but since I have become a Christian, I can not do it exactly as he wanted me to. I will take revenge by not giving you the three months you ask, but give you, instead, six months’ time; I also drop all interest, on one condition—that you will treat those who owe you as I have done by you.”

“I will. God bless you, Harris; God bless you.”

Williams came in at that moment, and said that three persons were waiting for Harris.

“Harris, I never expected this. May God bless you.”

“And may he do the same to you. Good-day.”

“Good-day.”

The kindness of Harris so impressed itself on Alden that, before the year was out, he began to study God’s word, and soon after became a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus. He became a different man; instead of being hated and shunned, he was loved and respected by his fellow-men. The great change in his life caused others to seek salvation. They said, “If it can do so much for him, surely it can do as much for me, sinful as I am.”

Alto, Iowa.