Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-10-05

o"s .''e"he. IL Is enc with which our
pest interests are SO intimately blende,
that cannot refrain from al!udins to il
now. Feeling as | do, that your suffer.
| 'hgs nave been designed to lead YOU to
see within your own bosom things which
must be removed before you can be tru.
ly happy, feel anxious that you should
not suffer in vain.'
thus far, my dear madam feel that
nave not suffer ed in vain. The scales
have been torn from my eyes. and have
been led to see the difference between a
true and false life. Before was mere
artificial being-a gay insect, with no
thought beyond the sunshine and bios
SONS OF summer day. Now am con
sclous that have many duties to per-
form. Would that could enter into
them with true affection! see my
duty, and 90 forward in the effort to
perform 1t. But am often grieved be-
cause do not love my Duty
you are in the right way, Cecilia
Mrs. Hartley said, with earnest tender.
ness. obedience to truth is always first
IN order. The love of it will surely fol-
low sincere and perseverlng obedience.
This is spiritual law. Go forward, then
looking neither to the right nor the left.
Your reward is before you
'How pleasant state it must be where.
IN one can love as well as see her duty,'
Mrs. Merlin said, with smile of pleas.
ure at the thought.
Pleasant, indeed. But that state may
De considered as a beautiful and delight
lul city, to reach which a toilsome Jour
ney has to be taken. 1t is not attained
but by labour and toll. and earnest strue-
giles against various difficulties and hin.
drances.'
Il feel that truth sensibly. And l
feei also another and all sustaining trutE:
the reward is worth all the labour a
thousand and a thousand fold.'
Yes that it is. have had many and
many such a struggles, unseen and un-
known, except in my own bosou, and
| my reward has been sweet Mrs. Hart
ley SAID; while her voice trembled.
you! What struggles for duty could
you have ever endureda When in af1lu-
ence, inever thought of ddty'
And it is doubtless. for that reason,
that our Heavenly Father has seen best
to affiict you. No one here is permitted
to lead an altogether useless life. If
blessed with affiuence, and this is SO used
IN selfish qualifications as to encourage
mere idleness and neglect of all social
uses, 1t happens in every such instance,
that worldly goods are taken away. and
their former possessor compelled to the
discharge of duties that cannot be nut
aside. How strlkingy does your own
case illustrate this!'
1T certainly does. But nearly all who
moved in fashionable life with me, were
alike unmind'ul of duty
sand have not large number of these
very individuals fallen, ike you from
their condition of ease and idleness?
But even in the richer circles, Mrs Mer-
lin. are many who feel sensib!y their So
c'al and domestic obligations. know
many who give the strlctest attention to
household cares, from conscientious re-
gard to duty
'Who Shut themselves up in their kit
chens, and neglect the virtues of social
lfes'
mo Mrs. Merlin. That does not fol.
low as a natural consequence. A wo-
man WAC has the means at command, is
bound to employ suitable domestics to
perform her househould labours. But
she is at the same time as much bound to
direct and govern her domestics. as to
employ them; and his as we'll for the
sake of true order in her family, as for
the comfort and happiness of the whole.
But surely, YOU do not consider soci-
al visitlngs an idle waste of timer
BY no means. II did, would new
er pay another visit in my life. Is my
visit to you mere waste of time?'
i hope not,' Cecilia returned. earn
estly. 10 me it is blessing. You
are lifting up my heart, and filling it
with strength
'And SO should every visit we make be
a blessing to sumo one; or rather. |
should have said, blessing either to an
other or to ourselves. For eitherin Civ
ing or receiving strength, we are in the
way of duty. Sometimes have stepped
from my door, feeling much distressed in
spirit on account of some tlial through !
which had to pass. There was some
friend upon whom | felt that ought to
call; and yet would mach rather have
remained IN the seclusion of my own !
chamber. But an obedience to what
seemed to me right, caused me to con.
quer my own reluctant feelings. Under
such circumstances, have always been
comforted. That very friend has been
tho medium of communicating some en-
couragng sentiment; or she has strength
ened ME by an example Of firmness and
self-sacrificing devotion
But in my circle Of friends, l never
heard the solemn word, duty. / never
remember TO have heard any one con-
verse about domestic economy Mrs.
Merlin said.
And you frequently called to see mes