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Entered according to Act of Congress, in June, 1867, by J. W. Burke & Cos., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the So. District of Georgia.
Vol. I.
Written for Burke’s Weekly.
“FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES.”
ELL, I could never have
believed it of him. and
1 shall have nothing
more to do with him.”
“But remember,
George, }’Ou have heard only one
||L side of the story. Give Frank an
Vj o, "v opportunity to explain, before you
condemn him.”
“He never can explain it satisfactorily.
Remember how I have trusted him and
defended him against the attacks of oth
ers, and now to be treated in this shame
ful manner is too bad.”
The speaker was a fine-looking boy of
fourteen, who stood leaning against a
tree, while his companion, with book in
hand, replied to his ill-tempered remarks,
and tried to pacify him.
George Howland and Albert Anderson
were pupils at Mr. B ’s school, in the
beautiful Southern city of S . They
Avere of about the same age, and bosom
friends. Frank Wilder, the lad who had
incurred George’s displeasure, was a fel
low pupil, of the same age, who came
from a distant town, and for whom George
had formed a strong friendship. Frank,
though in the main a good boy, had some
traits of character which were not calcu
lated to make him popular among Jfiis
companions. His manner was haughty,
and his disposition overbearing. The
child of rich parents, he had evidently
been petted and spoiled at home, and had
not yet been taught the severe lesson that
he was not to all the world what he had
been to the loved and loving ones at
home.
George was one of the first acquaint
ances Frank made after he came to S ,
and an intimacy and friendship were term
ed, which had grown and strengthened
until the time when our story opens.
MACON, GA., JUNE 13, 1868.
George had often been called on to defend
his friend’s character from the attacks of
those who deemed themselves slighted
and insulted by the supercilious manner
of the proud bojq but his friendship had
known no diminution, nor had he ever
allowed himself to think illy of his friend.
But on the day on which wc introduce
them to our readers, an incident had oc
curred which was likely to disturb their
friendship, if it did not destroy it for
ever.
On the Saturday morning in question,
an election had been held for President
of one of the societies connected with the
school. Frank and George were members
of this society, and one of the candidates
Edward Wilson was an intimate
friend of the latter, but had been so un
fortunate as to incur the enmity of the
former by not yielding in every instance
to his opinion. The opposing candidate
Samuel Jones —had, on the contrary,
by fawning upon Frank, so won his good
opinion that he became his active parti
zan, and openly advocated his election.
He was, as usual, overbearing in his man
ner of electioneering, and could not toler
ate opposition. On the morning of the
election, he had approached his friend,
George Howland, and insisted that he too
should support Jones, and when George
declined to do so, and attempted to arguo
the matter with him, he grew quite an
gry, and after some insulting Avords turn
ed and left him.
This, though most ungracious conduct,
George could have overlooked, but after
the election of Wilson, and the defeat of
Jones, Frank, in the presence of a crowd
of boys, made George the subject ol some
very outrageous language, which was re
ported to the latter, and had aroused his
indignation.
How, there is no denying that George
Howland had been very badly treated.
He had been the steadfast friend of Frank
Wilder, “through evil and through good
report;” had stood up for him single
handed, against almost the entire school,
and had, by acting as peace-maker, got
ten him out of more than one difficulty;
so that Frank’s conduct was marked by
the basest ingratitude. And,then, George
had a perfect right to support his candi
date without justly incurring the anger
of any one. And, therefore, Frank was
not onl} 7 ungrateful, but intolerant. But,
admitting all this, was George justifiable
in denouncing Frank, without at least an
effort to win him back to a sense of rea
son and justice? I think not. George
professed to be a Christian —to follow the
teachings of Him who said: “Forgive us
our trespasses, as ice forgive those who
trespass against us;” who commanded
His disciples to forgive their enemies
“seventy time seven” times; and yet
we find him refusing to forgive the first
offence of his schoolmate.
But, says a little reader, was it George’s
No. 50