Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-08-01

al adjoining IOe1l, WucIC nc eVoii tS''' - =
bat that child and that old man We're Dot
TO be separated in vain was he asked to
90 10 his brothers aud sisters; pale, breath
less and shivering, be took bis place as
before with eyes fixed CD his grandtather's
face, but neither weeping nor uttering a
word. Terror had frozen up the blood Of
his heart; but his were now the only dry
ewes in the room; and the Pastor himself
wept, albeit the grief Of fourscore is sell
dom vented ID tears.
God has been gracious to me sinner,
said the dying man. " During thirty years
that | have been an elder 10 your Kirk,
never have missed sitting there one Sab
bath. When the mother OF my children
was taken from melt was on Tuesday
she died, and on Saturday she was buried.
we stood together when my Alice was
let down into the narrow house made for
all living. On the Sabbath joined in the
public worship Of God-she commanded
me TO d9 50 the night before she went
away. Icould not join in the psalm that
Sabbath, fer her voice was not 10 the
throng. Her grave was covered up, and
grass and flowers grew there; SO was my
heart; but Thou, whom, through The blood
of Christ i hope to see this night 10 para
disc, knowest, that from that hour TO this
day never have / forgotten Thee !"
The old man ceased speaking-aDd his
grandchild, now able TO bear the scene, for
strong passions in its own support, glided
softly. to a little table, aud bringing cup
in which cordial had been mixed, held it
10 bis shall soft hands TO his grandfather
lips. He drank, and then said, Come
close TO me, jamie, and kiss me for thy
own and thy fathers sake;;'' and as TIE
child fondIy pressed his rosy lips on those
of bis grandfather, SO white and withered,
the earsfell all over the old mans face,
and then trickled down OH the golden head
Of the child at last sobbing 10 his bosom.
Jamie, thy own father has forgotten
thee in thy infancy, and me in my old
age; but, jamie, forget not thy father nor
thy mother, for that thou knowest and
feelest is the commandment of God"
The broken hearted boy could give no
reply. He bad gradually stolen closer and
closer unto the old loving man, and now
was lying, worn out with sorrow, drenched
and dissolved ia tears, IN his graudfather's
bosom. His mother had sunk down on
her knees and hid her face with her hands.
go! If my husband knew but of this--he
would never, never desert his dying Ia
therl' and now knew that the Elder was
praying on his death bed for disobedient.
and wicked son.
At this affecting time the minister took
the family bible on his knees, and said,
Let us sing to the praise and glory Of
God. part of the 18th Psalm" and be read
with frcmuioas aud brokcn voice, these
beautiful verses.
Within thy tabernacle, Lord,
Who shall abide with thee!
And in thy high and holy bill
Who shall dweller be
The man that waIketh uprightly,
And worketh Righteousness,
And as he thinketh in his heart,
So doth he truth express
The small congregation sung the noble
hymn Of the Psalmist to Plaintive mar
tyrs worthy Of the NAME" The dying man
himself, ever and anon, joined 10 the holy
music-and when il feebly died away on
his quivering lips, he continued still to
follow The tune with the motion of his with
cred hand, and eyes devoutly and humbly
lifted up TO heaven. Nor was the sweet
voice Of his loving grandchild unheard; as
if the strong f, Of deadly passion had dis
solved in the music, be sang with sweet
and silvery voice, that to passer by had
seemed that Of perfect happiness; hymn
sung in joy upon its knees by gladstone
childhood before il flew out among the
green hills, to quiet labour or gleesome
play. As that sweetest voice came from
the bosom of the old man, where the singer
lay in affection, and blended with his own
so tremulous, never bad i felt SO affecting
ly brought before me the beginning and the
end Of life, the cradle and the grave.
Ere the psalm was over, the door was
opened, and a tall fine looking maD enter
ed, but with a lowering and dark counte-
nance, seemingly 10 sorrow, in misery and
remorse. Agisated, COMPOUNDED aud awe
struck by the melancholy and dirge-Iike
music, he sat down on chair, aud looked
With a ghastIy face towards his fathers
death bed. When the psalm ceased, the
Elder said with solemn voice, ssNIy son
thou art come 10 time to receive thy fathers
blessing. May the remembrance of what
will happen 10 this room, before the moro
ing again shine over the Halle Glen, win
thee from the error Of thy ways. Thou arr
here TO witness the mercy Of thy God and
thy Saviour, whom thou hast forgotten"
The minister looked, if not with stern
yet with an upbraiding countenance, 90 the
young man, who had not recovered his
speech, and said, William for three
years past your shadow has not darkened
tbo doar nf tho hn,,co rc fad Thau an he,