Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-05-20
MESCEiILAN ".
THE OLD FAMILY BIBLE.
AN INCIDENT FROM REAL LIFE.


the old family bible. more honorable trait
of charact than this cannot be found for all
men, whether christians or infIeis, are prone
| TO put reliance in those who make the bible
their con6dan;, and whose we'll thumbed pa
ges show the confidence their owners possess
in it.
A few years ago there dwelt i'm Ayrshire
an ancieHt couple, possessing of this worlds
gear sufficient to keep them independent
from want or woe, and "a canny daughter TO
bless their grey hairs and lettering steps. A
Gallant of a farmer became enamoured of tho
daughter, and she, nothing loath, consented
| to be his. AS the match was every way wor-
thy other, the old folks consented, and as they
We're DESTROYS to see their bairn comfortable,
, the two were made one. In a few short years
the scythe of time cut down the old people,
and they gave their bodies to the dust and
their souls TO the Creator.
The young farmer having heard much Of
the promised land ayont the sea, gathered to-
gether his duds, and selling such were use
less, packed up those calculated TO be OF SER
vice To him, at his new home. Some neigh
bors, having the same itching for adventure,
sold OF, their homes and homestcads, and
with the young couple set sail for America.
Possessed Of considerable property in the
shape of ''slver," this company were not like
the generality OF emigrants, poor and friend
less, but happy, and full of hope of the future.
The first thing done after the landing was,
the taking cut the old family heir loom, and
| returning thanks and praise to Him who had
guided the barquc TO a safe haven.
| AS the farmers object in coming to this
country was 30 purchase farm and follow
his occupation, but little time was spent in
the city he had arrived in, and as his fellow
passengers had previously determined on lhoir
1 A
light heart turned his face towards the set
ting sun. Indiana at this time was settling
fast, and having heard of its cheap and fertile
lands, he determined on settling within it's
borders.
On the banks of the Wabash he fixed on
| farm, and having paid cash for one half, gave
IA mortgage for the balance, payable in one
year. Having stocked his farm. and put seed
in the ground, he rested from his labor, and
patiently awaited the time when he might 90
forth 10 reap the harvest; but alas! no ears
of grain giaddened his heart or rewarded his
toll. The fever of the country attacked him,
and at the time when the fields were white
with the fullness OF the laborer's skill, death
called him hence, and left his disconsolate
wife widow, and his only child an orphan.
We leave this first sorrow, and pass on to
witness the struggles of the afflicted widow
year afterwards. The time having arrived
when the mortgage was to he paid, she bor-
rowed the money OF a ncighbor who had been
very attentive to her husband and herself,
one who knelt at the same table with her to
renew their professed obligations to the Civ
er Of all good. Hard and patiently did she
toll 10 repay the sum against the promised
time but all would not do; fortune trowned,
and she gave way to her accumulated troubles.
Dishcartened and distracted, she relinquished
f her farm and the stock for less than she owed
her christian Eeighbor, who, not satisfied with
; that, put an execution on her furniture.
On the Sabbath previous to the sale, she
took courage, and Strengthening herself with
the knowledge of having wrongcd no one,
went to the temple of her Father, and with a
heart filled with humility and love, poured
out her soul to Him ''who turneth not away"
and having communed side by side, with her
CHRISTIAN neighbor, returned 10 her desolate
home.
Here her fortitude had like to have forsak-
en- her, but seeing the sold family Bible,"
she reverently put it to her lips, and sought
for consolation from its pages. Slowly she
perused its holy and inspiring verses, and
gathered hope from its never falling promises,
and while the tears flowed freely, her heart
seemed to say
Within this holy book trace
The life of Christ, his wondrous grace,
His anxious care and holy love,
= Not earth's, not mine, but Heaven above.
The path is clear, the track is sure,
Why wait then, these pangs endure;
o, grant, my God, my lie may he
Sincere and prayerful, Lord, TO thee.
The day of sale having arrived, her few
goods and chattes were, III due course, knock
!, ed off TO the highest bidder. Unmoved, she
saw pass from her possession article after ar
ticle, without n murmur, till the constable
held up the old family Bible. This was toe
much Tears flowed, and gave silent utter
aDce to a broken heart.-She begged the con
stable to spare her this memento Of her Teve
red and departed parents; and the humane
=, man of the law would willingly have given i
to her, bat her memorable creditor declared
every thing should be sold. as he was deter
: mined to have all that was owing him.
The book was, therefore, put up, and abou
being disposed of for few sIiiings, whcJ
she suddenly snatshed it, and declaring sh,
would have some relic Of those she loved, on
. the slender thread that held the brown lin
= en- cover, with the intention Of retaining ii
=, The cover fell into her hands, and with il
y two fiat pieces Of thin, dirty paper. Surpris
ed at the circumstance, she examined taen
and what was her JOY AMI delight to find the,
each called for FIVE hundred pounds on tn
Bank Of England. On the back Of one, il
b, her mothers hand writing, were the follow
& ing words:
s.When sorrow overtakcs ye. seek yer b
ble.'
If And on the other, in her fathers hand
i eyer fathers ears are never deaf"
e The sale was Immediately stopped, AL
e the family bible given to It's faithful owne