The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-10-26
TrRoM THE CHRISTIAN ENeUIRER.
THE QUAKER AND ROMAN CATHOLIC


Petilian had an only son, who disgraced
Instantly, wasted his property, half broke
his 1ather's heart, and fed all proflieate and
diseased as he was, abroad. Petilian never
forgot that he had a son, often wept at re-
collecting it, and grew grey with hoping, "a
gainst hope, that he shcull live to clasp his
pentent son in his arms. After twenty five
years, in which he had often been informed
that his SON was alive, but become worse and
worse ;-Rufus, rough but honest captain
of ship, came to pay Petilan visit. Par
don me Petilan, if / ask when you heard of
your son. The old gentleman took out his
handkerchief and wiped his eyes. l can
give you some intelligence of him, added
Rufus, and, on the whole, not unpleasant
PetiliaD looked hard at him, his jaw quiver-
ed, he drew himself forward and sat OH the
edge of the front of his chair. Rufus added
he has become quaker Petilian lifted
up one hand, the tears ran down from both
his ewes, and he exclaimed Is he alive -
He is alive and WE'LL My SOM yes
your son.--I have seen him and conversed
with him, and what tell you is true Pc
| tian tainted. Rufus recovered him, and
when he was cool, told him: Il have been
abroad. One day shipwright, rough blunt
man, came OH board and told me that he had
reproached your son for his conduct in man
ner so forcibly that he could not resist it, and
that in consequence of the remonstrances OF
his own conscience, excited by their con-
versation, he had laid aside the practice and
quenched the love of vice, and that lie now,
for four years past, had lived life of devo-
ton, temperance and justice. After his re-
formation he had gone to work with the
shipwrght, and had married his daughter,
and was led by that family into the mode OF
Christianity which we here call Quakerism
for the shipwright himself was Friend,
and held forth on the nature and practice of
virtue, in little assembly of his own peo-
pie. l was curious to see him and went with
nv informant on shore. There found him
with his broad brm, eating his morsel with
his Abigail, ,-one of the neatest of women,
and two children, the eldest of whom is a
picture of yourself, and called, friend Peti-
iian, after thee. l proposed an interview
with you, which he refused, with tears of
the most unaffected repentance for his sins,
and expressions of esteem for your virtue
He said ought to ask pardon of my faith
err, and l would but recollect captain, my
father is man of birth, fortune and fashion,
and of the Roman Catholic religion. Thou
wilt forgive me il i say that ! fear the pre-
allow him to take pleasure in me, now that
a change SO barbarous in his eyes has taken
place in me ; for virtue unaccompanied with
the gayety of the world or the ceremonies
of the church, hath no being. much less
beauty in the eyes of such men. l think,
therefore, on the whole, that it would be an
act of cruelty to disturb the peace OF my ia
ther; perhaps he hath long ago buried me
in imagination, anhit would revive his grief
to raise me from the dead. I trust that at
the resurrection of she last day, the infinite
mercy of God will make the sight Of me
an addition to his joyy RUFUS paused: l:, Pc Pc
him probably might engage him to lay a.
side his garb of virtue without endangerins
his virtue ITSELF % no. said Rufus, it
would be dangerous to mike the experiment
besides, can tell you he is an inconverti-
BILE man. You must eithey see him as he is,