Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-07-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Nev Monthly Magazins.


Valuable as Religion is in its temporal
effects to all classes of society, there is
one point in which 1t is peculiarly the
blessing of the poor. | refer to its rein.
ing influence. Apart from all the out
ward distress OF poverty-i,s hunger and
cold and prvaton--ihere is a work
wrought upon the spirit by its hard ne.
cessltes, which occasions suffering far
keener than the body may feel or know.
No one who has not felt or narrowly OBJ.
served the process of poverty-the per-
petual lettering of desire, the pinching,
abstlnent calculation, the daily smothering
IN the heart Of impulses irresis,ibly strong
"a duty not the less painful than it is 81
lent and habitual-no one who has not
looked upon the unaleviated and uncom-
planning misery Of the poor, pressing down
with whitening and leaden closeness, eve
ry nerve capable Of sensation or enjoy
ment-no one who has not watched their
self-denying and unbroker labor, contin-
ued when the strength is faint and the
heart is sick, and seen them when releas-
ed at the extreme moment meeting, with
the apathy of exhaustion, the caresses and
comforts OF their wretched home-no one
who has not seen all this, and compelled
himself to conquer his avertcd eye, and
look upon it with the steady gaze of SYM
pathy, can have any idea Of their inioler.
able misery-any adequate conception Of
lis degrading, deadening influence upon
the spirit and temper of humanity. And
this is not merely temporary forgetful-
ness of their natural capacties-not a
cloud that darkens for an hour but may
pass by. 1t is a gradual and final shut
ting out Of light from the mind. 1t is the
rending one by one OF the exquisite hbres
Of life-dviding, with an edge keener
and wound about the heart with mex
pressible tenderness. 1t is the pressing
forever upon the eye images of dismal
want, and upon the mind sick conscious
ness tina; will not be put by, Of desperate,
irremediable wretchedness.
We are not in this country familiar
with such poverty as this, but the effect
extends propor,onally to every degree of
want. Wherever it is fel, daily, it sub.
dues the spirit, and shuts up in the mind
its own ever-present image, and kills like
a mIdew the delicate fibres of refinement
and feeling. And what is the remedy 7
The circle Of common pleasures is lnvs.
BILE to the poor, for they have not its tails.
man of gold! 1t has no medicine for
"those who have no money!" and no
"wine and milk without price" The
beauty and fragrance and cheerful music
of nature-glts not for the rich alone or
the poweriul--are lost upon senses dead
ereG by inward care. They all come in
their proper seasons, and pass through
their beautiful changes, but the poor have
no heart TO enjoy them. And is this all !
Is there no other remedyi Has the clear
seeing Providence of God left class Of
its creatures at the mercy of chance
they cannot govern, which may bring
them at any time blindness to the coin.
mon light Of Heaven, and fe;ter for eve.
ry sense capable Of joy Religion, as il
is meant for all, so ii is adapted to the ne.
cessities of all. Ii enters alike the cottage
of the peasant and the hall of the noble,
aud brings to both the same priceless gift !;
but to the former it brings also another
and not a triling blessing. | will not
dwell upon the progress OF It's pure refine.
ment and its beautiful and certain eleva-
ton of taste. will only direct your eye
to the poor within the limits OF your own
walks of benevolence, and ask the result
You may select the religious portion OF
them without passing threshold. An
invariable neatness is about their dwell
ings. The humble vine creeps over their
door, and the flower. pot stands in the win
dow, and the curtain that shuts out the
intruding eye from the low room is OF
snowy wilderness. The child that plays
at the door is quiet and clean. The sound
of labor is not mingled with noisy voices
in the day time, and at evening the psalm
of the Sabbath service is heard, or the
mother sits quietly in the porch, or reads
by her faint lamp, the Book wherein her
trust is hidden. Enter her cottage, and
you will find meek cheerfulness in her
manner, mild expression in her face,
and tone, free at least from the violence
common TO her station, and If she has felt