Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-11-10

cere pa,hos Of his manner did the rest,
and Tom, for once, shed tear ni ten
delness. Ii was too unusual "A Hash Of
shame maniled his check, aud the tear
was brushed away.
N The feelings Of both the boys were
too deep for conversation. They had
tucked hands, and there they SAT silent,
/ but not unconscious. A few things,
/ brought by Alexander, were presented
N in as few woids. A warm grasp n:
II parting, and an awkward invitation from
\ Tom TO repeat his visit, closed the inter
/ view.
An acquaintance, thus begun, was
kept up by almost daily intercourse, aud
The effect of a good example, and reh-
gious instruction, on Toms mind and
manners, was 80 remarkable as IN as.
ioD,sh even the supplied inmates Of The
II hoyel. The usual consequence OF :"
n agreeable d change, Is the desire 10 com
4 munic ate il tn others, and, above all, To
those whom we love. Toms mother,
II with all her faults, had been kind 10 hun,
n and 10 her he often addressed himself,
II on sacred subjects, with an earnestness
and eloquence, that gradually recalled
her TO, nj least, more moral state. She
/ ceased to drink, became more careful oi
her person, and even ventured 10 stem
HE torrent Of abuse which her husband
often poured on her, for trying 10 per
suade hin, To better course of life
The teacher, who observed these things
with no common pleasure, had too much
tact 10 interfere between Tom and his
maternal prosely,e bu, took pains,
while insirnc,Ing the boy according TO
his age and capacity, to throw in advice
and information for the more malurrd
mind of the other. At length she he
came even soicilous for his visits, and
finally requested his frequent instruction
She had herself been brought up in fash
ionabIe afiiuence, and carefully educated
in the accomplishments" as they are
called; but her parents, having no res
pecl for religion had left her totally ig.
norant ofspirltual matters, AT fourteen,
Cranch, then dashing young "buck,"
ran away with her, for which she was
dIslnherted, and abandoned by her pa
rents. A few years sutiiced to waste
the small fortune OF Cranch, who was
not able to pursue any occupation steadI-
lily. Dissipated habits had taught him
the exhlliraiing influence of ardent spirits,
| and in them he sought refuge from the
depression Of poverty, and the reproachcs
, Of his wife. Woe followed woe, until I,
IN utter despair, the poor helpless woman
, plunged her reason also in the eDiicing
cup and the children, neg lected, misled
and uniaught, followed the natural i'm
, pulses of our ruined nature, and were
, notorious even in "Swine- AlIcy,' for
their impudence and wickcdness. The
downward course of vice had brought
; the whole family into position, where
+ the offended laus Of society we're usl
about to seize and scatter them, probably
f forever when the adventure with the
Sunday scholars brought them -conspicu.
ously before the eye Of iac Of lore,
which bound them together, not on y IN
time, but through eternity.
Step by step, Tom and his mother
drew nearer TO the Throne of the Com
lor,er; and by the time his leg became
sound, the boy went with Alexander 10
the Sunday school, TO bring back 10 his
mother the treasures, old and new, llbe-
rally brought forth by the sfa'igoble
Instructor. In time Bob and Kate were
induced to visit the school and the
young Cranches, once the terror and the
leaders of wine-Aley, became conspic-
uous, in the best ot schools, for talent and
good conduct. Instead OF wasting the
week. days in idleness aud mischief, lhev
sought for profitable employment and
in variety of methods, earned enough
to buy a bedstead, few chairs, aud
some other comforts for their kind mo-
ther.
Example, preccpt, en,rcaty, were all
I lost on Cranch. His terrible indulgence
had acquired the force OF long habit, and
ne would not make a single elluu Ia
throw it off Indeed, the sight of his
rescued wife and children stung him To
the quick for he could not help con-
trastlng their condition with his utter
abandonment. Draught followed draueht,
until the wasted constitution exhibited
painful symptoms of decay. lie, who
used to lie snoring on the bare floor, was
now unable To sleep IN "A recumbent pos
iure, even in bed That almost hope less
r disorder, dropsy Of the chest, had iaslcn-
ed on him. Pain and gasping respira-
ton did what advice and example failed
to accomplish /; aud Cranch, after long
and distressing endurance, died, con
fdng in the blood Of the Lamb, slam
from the foundations Of the world. Such
u work was not done without great effort
on the part olhs family. To he teacher,
who had been the happy instrument OF
so much good, the agonlz'ng struggles
of Mrs. Cranch aud her children, for his
conversion, were a religious feast. by
every device, and at all times, they
brought before him the absorbing sub
ject. Sometimes they unveiled the ter
rors Of death, unprepared for, and some
times they whispered, in aiiectiona,e
tones, the gentler accents ofihe Preach
, er of the Mount of Olives Sometimes,
, by reciting the narratives of those who,
though stepped in sin, had been turned
|, from the evil Of their ways, they sought
I to stimulate him to the effort after good.
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