The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-09-10


ed in lis scenes of agitation, trouble and
danger.
one of those evenings, the servant show
ri into the minister's study tall, bold
booking, dark sisascd man, in the prime of
life. who. with little of the usual courtesy,
advanced into The middle of the room, aud
somewhat abruptly declared the sacred plr-
no4s OF ms visit. But before he could re-
ceise a reply, lac looked around and before
him. aud there was something 81 solemn Ia
the old minister's appearance, as he sat Ike
. snifit. with his uucloadcd eyes fixed up
on the intruder, that that persons counte-
nance i,il, and his heart was inynlantartiy
knocking against his side. An old larse
Bible. the same that he read from in the
pulpit. was living open before him. One
gi;nmeriag candle showed his beautiful and
silyery locks falling over lbs temples, as his
head had stopped over the sacred page u
dead silence was in the room, dedicated Ia
meditation and prayer; the old man, il was
known, had for some time felt himself to be
dyinr, and had spoken of the sacrament of
his summer as the last he could ever hope
10 administer SO that altogether, IN the 81
hence and dimnes5 The sancllty thr UNIV Grid
,iuess of the time, the place, aud the being
befarp him. the visitor stood like one abash-
ed and appalled, aud bowing more reye-
renly, or at least. respectfully, he said,
with hurried and quisering voice, Sir,
come for your sanction TO be admitted Ia
the table of the Lord
The minister motioned 10 him with hi.
hand TO sit down, and il was relief to the
trembling man TO do SO, for he was in the
presence Of one who he felt saw into his
heart. A sudden change from hardihood
70 terror, took place within his dark nature /;
lac wished himself out OF the unsupportablt
sanctty ofthat GREATNESS room and IA re-
morse, that had hitherto slept or been
drowned within him, now clutched his heart
things, as if with an alternate grasp OF frost
aud fire, and made his knees knock against
"a n other where he sat, and his face pale
as ashes.
"Norman Adams, saidst thou, that thou
wilt take into that hand aud put into those
lips. the symbol of the blood that was shed
for sinners, and OF the body that bowed on
the cross, aud thea gave up the ghost? Ii
50, let US speak together, even as If thou
vert communing with thine own heart
Never again, may JOIN in that sacrament,
for the botr Of my departure is at hand
Say, wilt thOu eat and drinll death TO thine
immortal soul :"
The terrified man found strength to rise
from bis seat, and staggering towards the
door, sid, Pardon, forgive me, am not
worthy" f." II is not | who can pardon,
Norman. Tie power lies not with maa !;
but sit down-you are deadly poie-and
though, | fear, an il-ii1ing and disEolutr
man, greater sinners have repented, and
been sayed.-Approach not now the table
Of the Lord, but confess all your sins before
him IN the silence of your own house, aud
upon your naked knees on the stone floor
every morning and every night aud if this
you do faithfully, humbly and with a con-
trte heart, come TO me AGAIN when the Sa
crament is over, and will speak words of
comfort 10 you, it, then, am able TO speak,
/, Norman, 1t should be on my death bed.
This will do for the sake of thy soul
and for the sake of faher.-Normau,
whom my soul loved, and who was
support to me III my ministry for MA
NJ long years, even for two score aud ten,
Tor we were at school together and had
your father been living now, he would ike
myself, nave this very day finished hi. cieh-
ty-ilith year. send Won not from me in
anger, but IN pity, and love. Go, my son,
and tins very night begin your repentance,
for if that face speal, the truth, Your heart
must be sorely charged"
just as the old man ceased speaking, and
before the humble, or at least ailiighted cal
prt had risen to go, another visitor Of a Ve-
~ different KIND WIS shown INTO the room.
yoGag, beautiful girl, almos, shroudcd in
z her cloak, with sweat pale face, Oh which
4 sadness seemed IN VAIN to strive with the
natural expression Of the happiness OF
youth.
"Mary Simpson," said the kind old man.
as she stood with timld courtesy near TIE
door; "Alary Simpson, approach, and re-
celye from my hands the token for which
thou contest. Well dost thou know the
history of thy SaviouI's life and rejolcest
Il the life and immortality brought 10 iislt
by the gospel. Young and g9ilcless. Mary,
an thou, and dim As my memory now Is Of
many thiass get DO we'll remember tie
evening, when first beside my knee, thou
hfardst read how the Divine Infant was
Ld IN the mtlger-hoW tie wise men
nom the east CAME 10 the piece Of his natl
tHy-and how the angels were heard sing
laS IN the fields of Bethlehem all the night
iOng'
Alas! every word that had thus been ut
tered, sent pang into the poor creatures
neari, aud without lifting her eyes from the
moor, AID III a voice more faint and hollow
.Ian belonged TO one so young, she said,
IN sir, came not as an intending COM
ln"ealt YET the Lord my uod knows
f S'dl AM rather miserable than guilty, and
ne Vii not suffer my soul to perish. though
aOaby is now within me, the child of guilt,
ana ana sla' and horror. This, my shame, come
40 tel YOU but for the father of my babe
m .nO'oFn, cruel though he has been to me,