Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-03-02
Fron GOdey,s Lasy,s Book.
THE HOUR or PRAYER.
sY MIss ~ 4. EAIRMAE.
love 70 steal awhile away
From every eumb'ring care.
Andspend he hours Of parting day
In hnmhla Irrafaf,nl .,ra...

Andspend The hours Of parting day
In humble, grateful prayer.
How quietly Tie still hour Of iuilieh
steals on. The suns last golden raw
which fingered % long upon the eastern
mountains, as "ifpsrting were sweet sor.
row." has disappeared. The last tcsy
tintis fading from The evening cloud. A
deeper shadow settled over ibe valley. -
One BY one nights unwearied watchers''
shine out in their ..faF of depths. /" The
bird folds its weary wing within its little
nest. The murmnro III the haa "a siitI---.s
THE bus- hum Of man. is hnshed. For
brief space the restless world reposes.
II is the hour of prayer and meditation
The Sabbath of the day:
aAa is so still, so soit in earth and air,
You scarce would start to meet spirit there
Secure, that naught Of evil could delight
To walk in such ! scene on such night"
Il breaihes its own blessed quiet over
the Christians spirit, and disposes Bim ia
deep and earnest communion with him.
self, and with his Father. The world
loses its hold upon bis heart, wealth, plea
sures. honors, earths vain array, seem
now but what they ars-iIlusions, fleeing
shadows. Cares and vexaticns, which
perhaps, too much occupied .shis mind,
and ruffied his temper during the day,
now sink into their real insignifcance-.
He lifts bis eye 10. the magnificent ,frmd l.
ment above him. and feels he is but ,
speck, an atom, in the vast creation; be
thinks OF his immortal spirit, and the
priceless ransom paid for it, and knows il
outweishs the worth Of worlds. Il
Then serious, but pleasant thoughts pos-
sess his mind: 1.-THE rapid fight Of time
how soon lis last hour shall have struck
for him, and his ransomed spirit breath
ing its last prayer, and dropping lis fral
tabernacle, shall rise 10 its blissful home
in heaven. Oh, what light breaks upon
the tomb! VIII at en- effulgence Of glofy
beams beyond IL! His is indeed the con-.
mon LOT, as ashes TO ashes, dust to duste
and the clods df the valley are piled upon
This once living, breathing form. BIZ
what then II is only the senseless clay
which mouldeTs there; death cannot toutt
the immortal spirit; that il not shroudsd
in the grave. !
But the twilight fades, darkness gathets
deeper silence peryades all nature. II
is TO him the Fstill small voice" Of his IA
Their, and be t'wraps bis face in his nj n.
lie, and bows down in PRAYER.
There is q power in the voiceless eIo.
quehce of the hour even for the world.
ling. It's gentle influence, like a MES
senger from Heaven. breatbes on his. IN.
quiet spirit. and the warning elemsb il
within are hushed. Unwonted thougbti
press upon bis mind. The bubbles be 6al
Just been so eagerly pursuing, seem NOV
but bubbles. He throws back q hasty
glance 10 wasted weeks, months. years
that are gone like vision Of the night pc
yer 10 be recalled.
Life, life, oh what vapor It's; aquick
ly passing dream; toll and care. jealopsy
and. strife, hopes and fears, a weary strag
gle for some unsubstantial good, have
made up almost its sum. All, how seldom
are its early promises f0lillee and eyer
if they were, even if the world spread al
its gifts before men, yet they are trsnsien
as the morning cloud, and melt away Iik,
the morning dew. Yes. the Christian ha
chosen 'the better parts" bis hopes shall
not fade away. Well. well, when reach
ed that epyious elevation; when | have
gathered al little more wealth when
have brought few more worldly scheme
10 susceptible termination. then my af
fections shall lose their hold upon ih'
world /; / will be Christian.