South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-10-31
From Che New Yorker.

| night arrayed in allher superstitious ter
rors, when a Pilgrim knocked for admit
lance at the door Of the lone, secluded
dwelling of the hermit Of A., who
art thou, said the Hermit. who thus dis
turhed the solitude of one who has long
since bid adieu to earth, and refused all
| intercourse with its votarles g
"a Pilgrim, faint and weary over whom
the dark shadows of Death are fast gath
ering asks the boon of dying beneath the
roof of humanity = replied the stranger.
in voice SO hollow and unearthly that
it seemed moro like the murmurings
of disembodied spirit than aught be-
longing TO mortality.
The hermit started at the sound ofthe
sepulchral voice which addressed him,
and hastily eoncealing his features be-
meath his cowI, he bid the stranger enter.
The children ofSorrow,' said he, never
sought shelter in vain; Stranger, thou
art welcome TO share my humble pallet
and partake of my scanty fare
On the couch of the hospital BILE Hermit,
the dying man reposed his wearled limbs
to rest. He seemed man still in the
prime of life, and one Of whom the bitter
blasts fadversity had not lightly blown.
Sorrow, more than years, had impressed
its paralizing seal upon a brow where
lofty and capacious intellect sat enthron-
ed, and dimmed the lustre of his dark ex-
pressiye eye-expressive of deep and un-
drained thought, Of utter hopelessness
and unhallowed abandonment to misery
and despair. Wo, that the dark debas-
ing passions which degrade mankind
should ever riot in their power over the
noble, the gifted, and the beautiful. Wo,
wo, that Jehovah's image should bear
the ravages of guilt and remorse-that
the souls God like purity should be sulli-
ed, and the blessed hope of a gloriousim.
mortality cast away for the qualification
ofunhallowed sins-and lost, forever lost,
in the dark and fearful waves through
which they lead.
The Hermit knelt beside the couch of
the unconscious sufferer, and bathed his
parched lips and feverish brow with the
juice of a revving herb. Deep and all
engrossing was the anxiety with which
be regarded him, and darker shades gath.
cred over his expressive brow, as his eye
wandered over the form which, wasted
and attenuated as it was, possessed ma
jesty and grace the sculptor might be
proud to initiate. Wild rolled the Her.
mit's eye in agony as it rested on the mi.
mature of bright and fair haired mai
den which the dying man clasped with
convulsive energy. Was it more than
common sympathy with the.sufferings of
his fellow creatures which shook the
Hermit's frame almost to dissolution?
The fire of life once more rekindled
within the Pilgrims heart, and in broken
accents he expressed his thanks for uns
deserved kindness. Father, he said, i
am unworthy of your care. Thou know
est not the guilty wretch thou wouldst
save from the yawning abyss ofeyerlast-
ing death. l am sinking to the grave
not by misfortune but by guilt. Aye,
blood, the guilt of blood reddens my hand
and stains my soul! Yes, Father $ he
continued, sin paroxysm of UNJUST VEN
geance my unnatural hand consigned
being dearer to me than life to the worms,
and from that hour l became wretch
burdening the earth-a Cain among men
"a God forsaken sinner. Once, indeed,
| believed in the utter annihilation Of all
created beings fatal delusive doctrine!
In this dark hour Of mortal agony even
the wretch'd hope Of humiliation fails me;
and the never dying worm which is prey
ing within; the strange panga which pre-
cede the mysterious separation of the
spirit from its frail tenement all carry
the keen conviction to my guilt stained
heart that there is never ending eter-
nifty beyond the confines Of Earth's exis-
tence. | would not die in the dark creed
of inidelity. would confess my sins
and raise my soul from the burden Of
guilt which Expresses it.-Listen to my
story, even tho thou shouldst spurn me
from thy dwelling as one unworthy to
die within its consecrated wallis"
MY son, replied the hermit, Il am but
a man like myself, the victim of another $
guilt and ungovernable passions, and not
my own. Confess. therefore, thy sins to
God alone and if guilt STAINS thy soul
ask mercy o. forgiveness from Him who
alone is able to remove it and extend
pardon.
Nay, Father, stay me not! Wiiuly eX-
claimed the wretched man, listen to me,
or warning passions will accelerate my
progress to the realms of eternal dark
ness--yet listen and thou wilt,perchance,
pity and not reproach.'
The Hermit seated himself beside the
couch of his mysterious guest, whose tale
of guilt thus began:
b..
'Of the two sons of the Duke of AL
pine, was the younger. In early
\ outh / saw and loved beauteous
mad, a porlionless orphan daughter
of nv fathers vassal. Her only sur.
yiving relative was an aged and indi-
gent widow, who cheerfulIy shared
with her the pit,ance she possessed
ua.,;n, .r,rla means for The pratiflCa-