Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-12-07
yIIsCELa.ANY.
From the "Trss and is Fruit"
THE POWER OF WOMAN.

social, but II was total failure. | felt
the power of the fatal poison momen-
tarily increasing. | saw the inCuiring
eve OF my wife fixed upon me. with \
+ look OF unutterable grief IL was only
with her aid that ! was able to reach
nv pillow.
The checks which her ignorance had
imposed upon me being now removed,
all restraint was soon swept away, and
| came home night after night in a
state most revolving 10 the feelings Of n
delicate. afectionatc female. In vain
nav amiable companion wept and cx-
poStulaied. | was too much entaug-
led aud corrupted TO break away either
from my vices or associates. They
neither feared God nor regarded man.
| was led captive by their devices.
became, will not say an infidel
for was too ignorant of the theory Of
skepticism TO be one. became 4
mocker "Fool> make mock at sin"
and such tool was I. knew Just
enough of the Bible 10 make II my
'jest-book. saw that this part Of my
conduct was extremely painful to my
pious wife, and tried 20 restrain myself
from triiiing with the Bible in her pre-
sencc. but loved 10 raise loud laugh
ter among my boisierous companions
and the indulgence served so 10
strengthen the pcrnlcious habit, that
%as often detected ia the use of this OIL
iensive language.
Ii was not tall became q father, that
her touching appeals on this subject
reached my conscience. "AIust this
child" she would saw, with tears, "be
trained up under these blUc.ui infucn-
ces: Mast he be taught by parental
example TO despise and ridicule the
Scriptures with his lisPing tongue, be-
fore he j. able 70 read its contents. or
realize rs heavenly origin No coun-
te:acting influence OF mine can oblite-
rate from his mind the Jest with which
his father assailed this or that sacred
passage"
Our son now became an interesting
little prattler, initiating whatever he
heard or saw. perceived with a sort
of diabolical pleasure, that the first eff
forts of his inlan! tongue were 10 int
tate my profane language, the recollec-
ton of which now sends a thrill OF
grief and horror.through my besom.-
Ia vain did his sorrowing mother en-
; deavor to counteract the influence o:
my wicked example. | continued TO
+ swear, and he 10 initiate my profanity
unconscious of its turpitude. On a
certain occasion returned from one OF
my gambling excursions and found my
wife and child absent. On inquiry,
ascertaincd that she had gone to her
customary place of retirement in a
grove, at some distance from The house
| knew she had gone there for the
, purpose of devotion. had been &C.
; customcd to see her retire thither al
the evening twilight, and, though
thought her pieiy unnecessary, had
no objection to 1t as a source Of happI-
ness To her; but that she should take
, her child with her. excited my sur
prise. felt curiosity to follow her.
. did so, and took a position unseen by
; her, but where had full view Of her
attitude and features. She was kneel-
ing beside a rock, on which Law her
! Bible before her. One hand was plac
ed on its open pages: the other held
the hand OF her fairy boy who was
. kneeling beside her. his eye intently
, fixed on her face. She was pale and
careworn. Her ewes were closed, bu;
the tears were chasing each other down
. her cheeks, as she poured forth her
burdened soul in PRAYER. first for her
husband, that be might be reclaimed,
and saved: and especially did she
. plead with God that her son whom
she unrCservcdly dedicated 60 him
/ might be saved from those sins which
were taught bim by bis fathers exam
pie. "SaIe him. she cried with ago.
nv. Save HIM from taking thy great
and holy name IN VAN. for thou will
d no: hold him gu,llcsg that tnkeih thy
name IN vain. and give bis anxiDu.
, mother wisdom, fortttule and grace
b clectually 10 correct aud break mp the
habit oi pfoflnene,s.' Poor mother
Pretty mother r'--slid The child. RISING
and wiging OF the tears with his soi'
hand. Don CIV, mother lalher 2HI
come pretty soon Wretch that am
, said I 10 myself What pangg have
rent that gentle bosom That child
has So often seen her weeping on &C.
count Of my pro'rsc'ed absence that
the little fellow now suppose % the
cause Of her present agony and tears.
] crept silently from ny hiding place.
. and returned home With conscience
harroved up by the kccnc.l sclfrc-
proachcs. I knew that brs feelings
were NJ: The Gtful ebu.lltons Of pas-
SION or excitement. had long been
convinced that her conduct vas fczu-
lated by firm lnd vinuous principles
and that The Bible which ! s1 lightly
esteemed, was the rule Of her LIE On
her return 10 The house she was 90.
iemn. but the law Of kindness sull ruled
Der tongue she dad not rept0ach me.
but from that day she firmly and faith
fully corrected our little son tor the use