text:  If there be truth in tears in prayers of penitence that fall from him who stand upon the borders of eternity--who can gain nothing by hypocrisy and may lose by it the priceless treasure of an immortal soul--if serenity and joy are signs of a repentance spoken a forgiveness felt then Heaven had assuredly been merciful with the culprit and had remitted his offences as Heaven can and will remit the vilest