Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1838-11-28

that Stevens and Wilson walked out toge,b.
er 10 the high hills, n few miles from where
they lived !; for Stevens was anxious to take
every opportunity oftaIking with his cousin,
and pcrsuading him TO amend his ways.
Thar part ofthe country was delightful and
they soon mounted to the top Of the highest
hill in the neishbourhood. 1t was fine
day. and, as they stood to admire the pros.
pect, the though, struck Stevens that, per.
haps he might make an impression upon
the mind Of his cousin, by persuading him
to come TO the edge of,he precipice. The
following dialogue then Legan:
Slerens. Come Wilson, / want you ID
see the valley under this mountain; come
to the edge for moment.
Wilson, Why don't you see low steep
it is will not venture any farther.
S. Where can be the danger of coming
| 10 the edge for minute, if we take care
no, 10 slip Come. And he pulled him
by the arm.
| W. lfyou like 10 60 yourself 60, for I
| have not taken leave of my senses. Don't
you sec that it's holloS underneath, and
might let us down in moment What's the
use Of putting ourselves in such danger?
S. Never mind the danger Don't
you think we are able to take care Of our.
selves?
". Why never heard you so mad be.
fore !: would rather lose all the fine pros
poets in the world. am sometimes taken
giJly in llle head, and even if the ground
should not give way, might fall /; however,
I would not trust myself, at any rate. Is
II not madness 10 venture where there Is
danger of slipping, when we know that, if
we do clip, it will be death to US?
S. We'll and what if we should slip Do
you think we should 60 10 the bottom? -
Could We mol save ourselves, even if we fell
part of the way down?
w. woald not fall single footscp
down that precipce for oil the golden eagles
in the world. What can you be thinking Of!
Just roll stone down, and if il stops be.
fore it gets 10 the bottom, | will venture
close TO the edge.
S.evens pushed a large stone with his
foot, and 1t rolled furiousiy down. They
lost sigh, fit for some time, until il ran
bounding along the valley; and stopped
against heap Of stones in the bottom
Stevens pointed to the sone, and then turn.
ing to his friend, "You are right" said he
"it Is a dangerous thing to venture to the
edge Of precipice; and o, Wilson! re-
member that you are daily going to the
side Of tremendous precipice look at
that stone and think not to save yourself
half way if you should slip. Return ere
you 90 too far, or, mind my words, day
will come when you will heartily repent |;
but your repentance will be TOO late. Ofien
and often have urged you 10 beware Of the
beginnings Of sin, but you have dcspised
the counsel of your friend. You neglect
tho means of grace and break the Sabbath
day. You 80 more frequentlyto the pub
lie house, than formerly; you ore not so
duliful 10 your parents you use bat Ian
guage you avoid me, and 60 with evil
company and where is all this to end
think At the top of the precipice, or at
the bottom? Remember the stone yondcr,
how it rolled down fas'er when once it was
set going. Again, say, beware Of the be.
ginninss of sin Trust no longer your
own heart for the heart is deceitful above
all things, aud desperately wicked.
Ia spite of this remonstrance, Wilson
went from bad TO worse, and it was not till
he had lost the little character he had, and
was plunged into the dreary prison for
theft, tha, he looked back with bitterness on
his past l;f.. Ifany one had told Wilson,
when he first began to frequent the tavern.
that he would ut last be taken up for STEAL,
:ng, he would not have believed word Of
it. Now all that Stevens had said came
in.o his mind. He would have given the
world TO retrace his steps ; he would have
been ,hankfulto to have been the poorest beg.
gar at the top of the precipice down which
he had fallcr but no he had, as it were,
plunged headlong 10 destruction, for in a
little time ho was transported for life bey.
ond the sea. And oil who despise the be-
ginniugs of sin may look forward 10 simi.
lar end !; for, though 10 the Lord our God
belongeth mercies and forgivcuesses," yet
"the face of the Lord ia against them that
do evil" These shall 60 away into ever
lasting punishment. but the righteous into
life cternal.- Yomh's Friend.
WINGS.
Hide inc under lie shadow Of thy wings
: Psalm xvii. 8.
6 XUipucO c;0p;fv prcfocfiOn-fhe fnndar