The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-10-31
HF or "a 4 m d Es eligi low S
THE WEARY FINDING REST.

The following affecting story related by Mr.
Dudley, an agent of the British and Foreign Bible
Society, at the anniversary Of the Birmingham
Sunday School Union:
In the county of Kent lives, lived n clergy
man and his lady, who took a very active part in
the Sabbath School connected with his church
They had in the school boy, the only Of a
widow, who VIGOROUSLY wicked. despising all
the earnest prayers ond admoniiions of the clergy
man who out ofpity for his poor widowed mother,
kept him in the school Is months; at length he
found it absolutely necessary to dismiss the lad, as
a warning to others lie after enlisted
soldier in regiment that ordered to A
merica, it being during the last American war
Some time after, the poor widow called upon the
clergyman to beg Bible of the smallest size. Sur
Prised at such request from individual who
was evidently on the verge Of eternity, and who
D he knew had one two Bibles Of large print,
which she had long used to good purpose, he in
quired what she wanted it for She answered, ga
regiment is going out to America, and TO
send it TO my poor boy: and oh! sir, who knows
what it may do"
She sent the Bible which the clergyman gave
her, by pious soldier, who, upon arrival Mt their
destination found the widows the very ring
leader Of the regiment in every description of vice.
A fter the soldier had made himself known, he
said, "James, your mother has sent you her last
present"
''Ah?" he replied, in careless manner, is
she gone Mt last / hope she has sent me some
cash.
The pous soldier told him he believed the poor
widow dead; "but," SAID he, "she has sent
you something of more value than gold or silver
presenting him the Bibe,) and James, It was her
dying request, that you would read one verse, at
least, OF this book every day; and can you efuse
her dying charge7"
"Well, - said James, cit is not too much TO ask,
4openng the Bble) so here goes.
He opened the Bible at the words, "Come un to
mo all We that weary and heavy laden, and
will give you rest"
"WeIl, )" said he, 'tthats very odd. I have open
ed to the only verse in the Bible that could ever
learn by heart, when was in the Sunday School;
never could for the life of me, commit another.
1t is very strange! but who is this me, that is men
toned in the verse?''
The pious soldier asked if he did not know.
He replied that he did not.
The good man then explained it TO him; spoke
to him of Jesus, and exhibited the truth and IN.
vitations OF the gospel. They walked to the house
of the chaplain, where they had further converse
ton; the result was, that from that hour he became
changed man, and was as noted for exemplary
conduct, as before he had been for his wcked-
ness.
Sometime after his conversation, the regiment
IN which he was, engaged with the enemy; at the
close OF which.the pous soldier lin walking through
the field of blood espied under spreading oak the
dead body of James, his head reclining on his Bi
bic, which was opened at the passage, "Come unto
me all we that are weary. sc. Poor James had
gone to his eternal rest.
Mr. Dudley said he had frequently held the BIZ
BILE in his hand; there no less than ifty pages
stained with the blood fpoor james. How en-
couraging, said M d., is this for Sabbath School
teachers TO persevere for, should there he but one
seed sown, 1t might, as in the Of the widow s
son, produce plentiful harvest. The only verse
he ever committed to memory, the means,
in the hand of the Holy Spirit, of bringing him
out of darkness into marvellous light; and James is
now, we trust, joining the song of the redeemed in
heaven.