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Forgiving not Forgetting.
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Mrs. Flintwell always walked in the straight and narrow way, however sharp the stones; no flowery considerations ever lured her into some more tempting by-road. She had no patience with those whose feet were too weak, or whose evil inclinations were too strong to tread the same flinty path.

When Abbie went to her in contrite mood, Mrs. Flintwell listened frigidly to her confession, and replied in an icy tone, "You have wronged me—I forgive you, but I cannot forget!"

Their social position caused the two ladies constantly to meet. Abbie was always treated by Mrs. Flintwell with marked coldness and distrust. Her air seemed to say, "I know you; I am keeping watch over your doings; I am guarding against you." Her whole manner showed that the recollection of the wrong she had received was ever fresh in her memory; that, in her own language (language so often used by those who say—ay, and think they pardon,) she had forgiven, but not forgotten.

Not forgotten? Then the wrong is registered, not wiped out! If thus chronicled, if unblotted out, then, assuredly, it is not forgiven, however she who pardons with her lips only, may try to cheat herself into the belief that she has actually pardoned. Put no faith in such forgiveness. There is no pardon that forgives, yet forgets not.

To pardon truly, internally, the very memory of the wrong should be gradually obliterated, and if