Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1841-04-08
TIE STRANGER ANp THE MAIDEN

hlins rays. reflected b. shining ohrySial and wreath.
lS siiNcrsn myriad forms OF beauty and grace
Ice music sent iorth the merry. gladdeuing strains.
anu rounding. feet kept time To the JOYOUS melody
Evening shades d~ccpened into midnight gloom with
on'' yet still the gay notes were hcari. aud tho IN
wearcd jewellers continue! ihcir graceful cVulut,nns.
Jlstas the rlork struck twelve stranger entered
the barqpcting room. sud as he passed slowly uuau.
rtounc"d, and un ccOmp,u;CJ ~ any guide or psoI,c-
tor. every eye was turned towards her
WI" can she ber whispered q young SRI 20 her
partner. drawing closer 10 has side.
lie answered not. 50 iaicnly was he wing on the
hsurc. which nov stood in yhc centre oi ube hall
booking calmly AMI uumpvcd on iho.c around. Her
Nhiic robes tell IN long and su apcr'rs tbd> tn her
icCt her far shining hair Hlaicd back irlm hes face
like hcccy clouds. tu-rl hy The mOlnbcam', radiance.
aud ihc Sii!! depths fiber uzure eyes Sh"uc With n
thysteSiIu, uuiI,hpm1hlc lustre.
why arc We gathered herr asked she of thc younr
maiden. who shuuuk back as she eilded near her,
wuh Eosclrss step. What meats these glad strains,
and the apwcrs That decorate your hrow'
Tho low thrilling melody Of the strangers voice
echo d to The rcJ.u,csi corner Of that slacous hall. and
the miast,cl> passed 10 hs'en.
Ills a iedal oyc.' answered the trembling maiden.
'ani we have me, IN Joy aui mIr'h to commemorate
the era
why is this night chosen as a scene of fcsii,iyr
asked the sweet toned stranger.
1t l. Christmas eve replied no mlilen. the bright
night "i"ur StvI"ur, aud !, sour custom u celebrate
It with music and dancing
1T was once celebrated IA ancient days. said the
stranger, with a splcudur aui beauty that Nuuld
shame The decorations uf these walls. While the
shepherds OF Ch1ldcl were watching their nucAs be.
meath the starry cloucs OF midpight. they heard the
strains OF more than murtal mclsly gushing around
ihcm-ro!ling aloyc iIem-thc thrilling ct Invisible
lIlrps, accompanied by celestial Voices. all brca,hiug
one sweet trIun 'hIni anihcm-"Gloryt L, II, IN TIA.
Highest; on earth, peace and goud viii 10 men
While thcy l.t'url IN aJorug wonder. one ur the
stars of lIHaNrn -Irl~N tr,v, 80 4. ,m. - ,-...lf.-
slowly over The depths uI ether, held H. silver iamp
over the mnnger where slept the babe Of Bethlehem.
tacn the wise men of the East came with their c.Stly
"iieungs, and laid IhCn dOAu at the feet OF The IN.
Lam iScdccmcr. Aud where are your giIsE cuuilnu.
ell she, turning her still shining eyes tom one 10 the
o'hcr of the lhroug. 'Nhnt have We brought this ni-bt
1" lay nj your SaNio drs feet INSTRUMENTATION of
yonr gratitude and love. Where IS Your gold, your
ir'nkr:sccrsc and myrrh! Where arc the gems from
ihe hearts treasury, Iha'y e are ready To sacrifice on,
tme altar of your LpIdg!
The young maiden whom she had FIRST addressed
cast ono fearful. earnest glance on her pay com.
panions, Then unHindug the rusrs from her brow. The
Jewels from her neck, and drawing irOm her timers
each golden ring. Where is the altar she cried.
that ! nay place my clrring!"
Come wUh me- said the stranger. and I will lead
yon where yoa can find more precious gilt. than these
-sIis that viii retain their beauty, when the gar.
land shall UIihcr, aad the diamond and tine gold be.
come dim
The maiden took hold oflhe Strangers hand. and
passed through tie hall, which she had >, lately ca.
tered ~ Ih"agailcss vanity aud mIrth. Her cumpan.
I"Hs, pressed round her aud impydcd her way.
'Oh' stay with u.s. they exclaimed, and follow not
vac S'elS oi iie siriuscTi your eyes arc dan, youT
'"ee"s are pale shadows are gathering over your
ace. sac may lead you 10 ihe chambers ul dcaIh.'
IIiHder me- not, C!irJ The fair maiden; i may not
slight The voice that summons e-.Vhp,ph walk
through The valley of the shadow UfGca,h, I will fear
uo evil
A celestial smile beama' on The face OF the siran.
S'f' rs The young glrl uttered these words, and they
aIs 'pr"arci i!nm the i,stal hall. Through the long
sweeping shadows of midnight they glded on, III
lh"y came io a wreiChCd howell through whose IA I
tered easements the n ghl gust was moaning, maxim :
mus melancholy music. BY The dian lisht Ola rap,r
'A'y behcid a pale mother. orldlng Lcr wasted infant
ia her arms. striving o hush us feeble wa!linrs. / .Dk.
mS down with hollow eyes on The fearful a,ages OF
inm"e and disease, 'Aen raising rh,m in agony To
Heaven HnPl3nng The widows and the orphans Gusi
iu have mercy on her
Lay down your golden offerings here said the
gracious stranger. and your StViiur Will accept the
SiL. Have we not read that whgsocvcr prcscnteIh a
cup OF cold wat r 10 oac of the least OF his disciples
III hns name, gsveIh it unto him"
The maiden Wcpi, as she laid her Offering in the
widows cm1cilIcI hand. Again The beaulcuus stran
ger smiled.
The tear Of pity said she i the br cbfcsr ron,
thou hast hroagln.'
She led her forth into The darkness once more. and
held such sweet and heavenly DISCOURSE. that the
heart OF The 'uuidcn melted within her busum. They
came 10 a yelling whence strains Ut solemn mIsIc
issues, aad as the light sIrcalned from the arcliue
Windows, Il was reflected with ghOsily lus;re ON mar.
| Die tomb stones without.
They breathe iJTIh 4 requiem fr The dead sal!
TIE strange; and she entered the gate through vii
lows that weptOVcr the path. Tne mu ic ccascda and
The l~oW'iceP, vOiIc %. payer asceuded through Ihe -
lsnce OF c nighi. The mai J. n k = I on ihe tlreshoa
] lT she fell fll4f she ,yns pnf Nu,.tI,. 4. .,.,.- H.. 49,.
pic. She hardly dare To lt her Trembling ewes IL
heavens bat bending her forehead 10 the dust. an.
tinSI1hg her hands on her 5rJusi. she exclaimed. God
be mcrcIiui 10 ne d SINNER
Thy saviour viii .cccpt the on;ring. uttered the stran.
ger III her ear; the prayer ola broken an cunlnie
si'fl Is AZ incense more precious 10 hun Than all the
oilers Of he East
You shall see me again. said the stranger when
sHc led the young maiden 10 her own home. by The
hight Of the dawhing day you shall see me again. and
We VIII walk together once mofe-but not among
scenes OF sOrrOw and death, for they shall all have fed
away. Neither will we walk through the shades of
midnight. for ihcre will be 40 night there. Tbcre
Wall bc no moon nor stars 10 iliuminatc The ulaca. for
the glory OfGod shall Tighten il, AMI the Lamb be Inc
hight thereof Farewcli-l m1y not dwell wuh YOU.
but you shall come and abide with me. IT YOU roIiiu.
nc 10 walk IN the path where l have guided your
STEPS
Never moro were The Steps Of That young maiden
seen Iu the halls OF mlril, or the paths of san. She
went among the children ofsouDy and want. binding
uP ihc wounds Of soupW and relieving IEc pluas of
want. She hung over The death bed OF the pcnIfcnt.
and brcaihCd woids Of hope into the dull ear Of drs-
pair Men looked upon her rs She passed in her
youthful beauty as an angel yisitInf. and they blessed
her m her wUudcungs. Her once companions turned
a-ije shrinking from communion with one whose cyos
now s.uac a hulicr language than That Of Garth
They iCli that She was no longer Uiilcm uuI after
wond,un. aud speaking OF hers lulc while. she was
forgotten BY chem in the rcyclues q pleasure.
~ length she was 30 longer seen by those who
watched Gr her daily ministmtiyn. Her Place was
vacant u lhe Temple Of Cod. The music Of h,r
voice was uu longer heard 10 prayer and praise. On
20 lJNIy couch iu her own dark nom That young mai.
e,u "ss reclining. Her Ece was paIiii, aud her eyes
aim, lud Der mother was weeping over her Flow.
es vfro srrDwcd over her pillow. whose sN,r.
breath stole lovingly over her hded check, aud a- The
]curHIns of tho windows waved softly in the Iaht
brC,zH, the moon beams glidcd 90 and Kissed he,