Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-06-20

II
your ffankincense and mRsfas Where
are the gems IRON the he3gFs treaSury.
that Vie are ready TO sacriHck on the altar
Of ycut Lord e ST 4
The young maiden whom Shs had iTsi |
addressed. cas-; one fearful. stsnest glance
GA her gay companion. hen nt9hinding the |
rose from her brow. the iewbss from her
neck, and drawing from he Fingers each |
golden ring, Where is the alt4g she cried
that ! may place my oderinxs there I
Come with me, said the ttsaager. and
! will lead youlwhere you ckf. is:ld sssors
precious gifts than these 4lts that will
re,ala their beauty. when slfese garlandsl
shall sither and The diamonds aud fine
gold become dim.
The maiden took hold Of tia strangers
hand. and passed through the Ball, which
she had so lately entered id lhoughiless
vanity and mirth. Her compadions press
ed round Der and impeded heHway.
,sOh. stay with U.S. they exclaimed.
and follow not the steps Of the:s,ranger,
your eyes are dim. your ckeSk is pale,
shadows are gathering over YOUR face. -.
She may lead you to the chambers OFF
death.
Hinder me not cried The fair maiden a
4 may mol slight the voice ibat sunmons1
me. Though walk through The valley
Of the shadow OF death | wilsfear 70 evil i
h A celestial smile beamed on the face
Of the stranger as the young girl uttered
these words, and they disappeared from
tho festive ball Through lifelong sweep
ing shadows Of midnight ihsS glided on.
ill they came TO awretched hDssl, through
whose shattered easements the digit gusts
were moaning, making moss melancholy
music.-By the dim ight OF D pper they
Sehold pale mother, cradliag Iher vast
ed infant in her arms, striving te hash iis'
feeble wailings. looking dowa3wsh hollow
eyes On the fearful rayages OF famine and
disease, then raising them ID agony TO
Heaven, imploring the widoH'I and the
orphans God 10 have mercy On pes.
Lay down your golden oitdilings here
said the stranger, and your Saviour wills
accept the gift Have we ndt zeal that
whosoever presenteih cup bi eold wa
terto one Of the least OK his EisSiples in
his name ,giveih it unto him III
The maSdea wept as she laid fer offer
| ing in the widows emaciated hind. Again
I8he beauteous stranger smiled
The tear Of ply, said she, is tie
brightest gem thou hast brought
She led her forth into tile darkness
once more, and held such sweet and heav-
emily discourse, that the heaTtto The maid
en- melted within her bosom. Tney came
Ito dwelling whence siraiua bf solemn
music issued, and as the light saresmed
from The srching windows, il was reflect
ed with ghostly lustre on marble tomb-
stones cleaning without.
/ They breathe forth reqnRnI for the
dead, said the stranger, and che lenleled
the gate through willows thatgvdpt over
the path. The music ceased, and The low,
| deep voice. Of prayer ascendsd through
the silenee Of the night. Ibe maiden
knelt on Tie threshold. Tor she felt that
she was not worthy 10 enter into The tenn.
pie. She hardly dared to lift Der trenb.
ling eyesto Heaven, but bending her fore !.
/ head 10 the dust and clasping her hands
on Her breast, she exclaimed, God be
a.eF1iiql 70 me sinner T
Thy Saviour will accept the offering,
uttered the stranger in her esi ;sethe pray
er Of broken and contrite splrit is en- in
1 cense more precious TO Him, rthsn al! the
odofs Of the East
| You shall SEQ me again, said the strang-
er when she led the young maiden 10 hel
own home, by the light Of the aswnine
day. you shall see me again, snd We viii
| walk together once Tnore-bui not among
scenes Of sorrow and death. for'lhe} stsll
all have fed away. Neither will VIZ walk
through The shades Of midnight, for there
| will b no night there There willbe no
moon nor stars 10 illuminate the plaee.
for The glory Of God shall tighten il, sad
The Lamb be the light thereof Pare well
II may not dwell with YOU. hll ye shall
come and abide with me. il yalepa'inue
to walk IN the path where have gaided
fyour steps, tE
Never more were the steps ofihs, young
uaiden seen inthe halls Of mirth. or the
paths Of ain. She went about afDknk the
Echildren Of sorrow and want, binding up
1.-The wounds! of sorrow, aud relieving The
pangs Of wee. She hung oyer ihe death
bed Of The penitent. and breaihea WORDS Of
hope In The dull ear OF despaitg Men
looked upon her as she passedsaiegx 10
i her youthful beauty, IS sn sRget3 vtsisaut,
and they btessed her in her wapderihgs-
lHeronce companions turned aside shrink
ing from communion with one " tole e1 %
now spoke i holier language ihan ihaf Of
earth. They fell that she Was 10 longer
one 81 them, and after wondering aud
speaking Of heFsa little While she was foT-
| gotten 81 Them in The reseriss II, Plea
/ sure.
1 AT length she was no longer seen BY
Those who watched Tor her daily sdniilis
Etralions. Her place was vscsnlan Che
! temple OF God. The music Of htr setce
was no more heard in pfsyer sr.i praise.
i On loMly couch ID bes own dSgkened
i room. lie youne fnAiden was reclining 80
Her lace W. pslIid, and her eyes dim
ana her mother was seeping over haf.--
\ Flower wtfs- strewtd upon her. pillow
4 whose sweet breath stole lovingly owe
lher faded cheek and as the curtains 0
i her window waved softly 10 tha pigh
breeze. The moonbeams glided 10 add kiss
| ed her wan. brow. The mother beard o.
f