Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-11

Nth the pious aud yirtuous, and protect him
10 The utmost of your power from the sigh' or
hearing Of any crime, in word or ACTON. lie
mus, be educated in religious and moral pri"'
o;,le. of the s,ric;est description. Let him
NOT enter the word, lest he learn to parlake on
its follies, or perhaps Of its wees 10 short'
preserve him as far as possible from all SIN,
save that OF which too great portion belongs
TO all she fallen race OF Adam. wan the APP
proach of his twen,y-6rs birth day comes 'he
crisis of his fate. If he survive It, he VIII oe
happy and prosperous on earth, ana chosen
vessel among those elected for heaven. Bull II
il Be otherwi,e"-The astrologer stopped
and sighed deeply. "Sir," replied the parent,
still mores.alarmed Than before, your words
ave so kind, your advice so serious, that VII!
pay The dfpest attention 10 your oehtsts; Out
can YOU not aid me farther in this most lmpof'
,ant concern. Believe me, l viii not be un-
grateful" 81 require and deserve no gratitude
for good action" said The stranger, In es-
pecial for contributing all that lies In my power
70 save from an abhorred fave the harmless m.
FAM 10 whom, under singular conjunction OF
planes last night gave life. There Is my az
dress: YOU may write to mr., from time TO time,
concerning the progress, of The boy IN religious
knowledge. II he be bed UP as ! advise, |
think it will be best that he come 10 my house
a, the time when the fatal and decisive period
snnroaches, that is, before he has attained his
twenty first year complete. If you send him
such as desire, humbly trus, that God will
protect his own, through whatever strong
temptation his fate may subject him to-" he
then gave his host his address, which was
country-scat near post town in the south OF
ENGLAND, and bid him an aHrcionate farewell.
The mysterious stranger d'parted; but his
words remained impressed upon the mind OF
the anxious parent.
He lost his lady while his boy was still in
his infancy. This calamity, think had been
predicted by the as.rologcr; and hus his con-
fidence, which, like most people Of the period,
he had freely given to the science, was 'ivried
and confirmed The utmost care, therefore,
was taken 10 carry into effect The severe and
almost asce,ic plan OF education which the
Sage had enjoined. A tutor Of the slrictest
principles was employed TO superln,end the
youths education; he was surrounded by do
mr. sites Of The most established character, and
closely watched and looked after by the anx
ious father himself. The years Of infancy,
childhood, and boyhood passed as the father
could have wished A young Nazarene could
no, have br, brought up with more rigor. All
tina, was evil was withheld from his observa-
ton; he only heard what was pure in precept,
he only witnessed what was worthy the Prac'
tice. But when the boy began 10 be lost in
the youth, The attentive father saw cause for
alarm Shades Of sadness which gradually as
sumed darker character, began 10 overcioud
the young mans temper.
Tears, which seemed involuntary, broken
sleep, moonlight wanderings, aud melancholy
for which he could assign no reason, seemed
to hreaten al once his bodily health and the
stability Of his mind. The as,rologer was con-
tlhis ftfUi state Of mind was Jui he commehee
men, Of his trial, and that the poor youth mus,
undergo more aud more desperate struggles
with the evil iha, assailed him
There was no hope Of remedy, save that he
showed steadiness Of mind in the study of the
Scriptures. :" He sufftrs" continued the letter
Of the sage from The awakening Of those har-
pies, the passions, which have slept with him
as with others, till the period Of lille which hr
has now attained. Better far better, that they
torment him by ungrateful cravings, than thai
he should have 10 repent having satia'ed them
by criminal indulgence" The dispositions Of
the young man were so excellent, thai hr CONS
balted by reason and religion, the fits Of gloom
which al times overcast his mind; and il was
not ill he attained the commencement Of mis-
2lS' year hat they assumed character which
m de his father .rembie for the consequences
II seemed as If the gioomiest and mosI hidrous
Of mental maladies taking the form IF
religious despair. Still the youth, was gentle,
courteous, afftc'ionate, and submissive 10 his
fa,her's will, and resisted with all his power
the dark Suggestions which were biearhed into
his mind, IS 1t seemed, by some emanation of
the Evil Principle, exhorting him. like The
wick, d wife Of Job, 10 curse Gid and die
The Time al length arrived when he was to
perform what was then thought long and
somewhat serious journey TO the mansion Of
The early friend who had calculated his nativity.
His road Law through several places Of intel
est, aud he enjoyed the amusement Of travel
ling more than hr himself thought would have
been possible Thus he did moi reach ,he place
uf his destination ill noon on the day preceding
mis- bir'h day. 1t seemed as if he had beeo
carried away by an unwonted tide Of pleasure
BILE sensations, so as TO forget in some degree,