THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS.
THE power of forgiveness even for an offense against human law is well illustrated in the following incident: A soldier was about to be brought before his commanding officer for some offense. He was an old offender, and had often been punished. "Here he is again," said the officer, on his name being mentioned; "flogging, disgrace, solitary confinement, everything has been tried with him." Whereupon the sergeant stepped forward, and apologizing for the liberty, said: "There is one thing that never has been done with him yet, sir." "What is that?" said the officer. "Well sir," said the sergeant, "he has never been forgiven." "Forgiven!" exclaimed the colonel, surprised at the suggestion. He reflected a few minutes, ordered the culprit brought in, and asked him what he had to say to the charge. "Nothing sir," was the reply, "only that I am sorry for what I have done." Turning a kind and pitiful look on the man, who expected nothing less than that his punishment would be increased with the repetition of his offense, the colonel addressed him, saying: The soldier was struck dumb with amazement; tears started in his eyes and he wept like a child. He was humbled to the dust, and, thanking his officer, he retired to be the old refractory, incorrigible man?—No! from that day forward he was a new man. He who told the story had him for years under his eye, and a better conducted man never wore the Queen's colors.—Selected.