The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-05-03
WOoDsFIELD OHIO, FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1914.

were bending beneath the dew.drops, and the air
was heavy with perfume; every thing was hushed
and silent, even the song of the bird tempered in
its sweetness; and l prayed-oh, how ferventy
prayed, that might-that zoe might together find
"the way, the truth, and the life."
al had escaped from the tumult and the compa-
ny, to commune with mine own heart, He to whom
all hearts are open, knows that prayed more for
him than for myself Suddenly the church bell
sounded in my ear and arose to attend its blessed
summons. was pushing back the silver stars of
clustering jessamine, that curtained the arbors
entrance, when l saw the object of my prayer,
coming towards me. Perhaps l would not have
drawn back had he been alone; but his intimate
friend was with him and shrank beneath the
shade. As they approached, they laughed and
talked together, and SO loudly that heard what
one of them would have given worlds never had
heard.
"'The sacrament will take up so much time
that cannot meet you as intended This SEN
tence attracted my attention; though when, indeed
did he speak that was not attentive' Oh, how
/ shdddered at what followed!
"'Then why do you go? Why submit to what
you despise' would not do it for any woman on
earth
"'I would do more than that for Rachel, but
when once away from this, she will get rid of all
her early prejudices, and become one of the world
her mind is comprehensive, and her love for me
will teach her the superiority of natural for
NAL religion
"'To have preaching wife, TO be obliged to
go TO church, to sing psalms on Sunday, and take
the sacrament once month-a pretty prospect of
domestic felicity!
"'Pshaw! you do not suppose my present lite
type of that which is to come? No, no; do
not intend to be canonized under the denomination
of st. Alfred; it pleases her; but believe me, she
is not half as bad as she was. | remember when
she would not read newspaper on Sunday!
'"Is it possible!'
"Fact, upon my honor. Now she is getting
better; must tolerate the mummery till we are
married, and then
-"Kate, Kate, heard no more A torrent of
bitterness overwhelmed me. The blessed sacra-
l prayed to exut that my religion was declining
to plan its destruction! do not ask you to pity
me nop, because my transgressions have been par
doned, my race run, my sorrows ceased their
troubling, my spirit has found its rest! But then,
OF rather when was restored to perfect conscious
ness, you would have pitied me.
"For weeks could not leave my bed; the de-
lirium of brain fever for time spared me worse
agonies, but the temptation was with me still. l
knew that Afred's attentions had been unremitting,
prayed for me. To whom was he to pray? His
people were not my people, his God not my God.
And yet love him, Kate, | pray for him still-at
morn, at midnight, by the way, and in secret; his
name is on my lips, in my heart! My mother,
though she knew by bitter experience that two can
never be as one, except in the Lord, she almost
wished me to perform my contract; she feared
that though the spirit was willing the flesh was
weak; she talked of the believing wife sanctifying
the unbelieving husband. 1t might be so, and if
had married, believing that he believed, would
have borne my cross; but the film had been remov-
ed from mine eyes; he was an acknowledged
infdel, regarding the holy ordinances of religion
as mummeres. Could | look up to such one as
my guide through life' My father spurned me
from him, talked OF the lands which had lost, the
station had cast away! My bride 's-maid mourn
ed that her splendid dresses could nat be worn;
you, Kate, little fairy of FIVE years old, wept
bitterly the loss of cake But oh, when he, the
loved one, promised to be all that / desired; said
that could save him from the destruction into
which he would surely plunge, if did not share
his name-then came my worst temptation; then
felt how bitter 1t was to remember that he who
had deceived me once might repeat the deception.
..They tell us we ought to forget the faults of
those we love; found remembering their perfec-
tions the most dangerous of the two Enough!
we parted. He said, II his life, il his opinions
became really religious, would marry hm' |
said. Yes He went forth again into the world,
and he forgot me; remained in my own home;
l forgot not him.
"Hs career has been thoughtless, brilliant and
extravagant; he has grown Of the world, worldly,
while have found rest, aud peace and hope-and
ere long, ere you have read these papers, shall
have been made immortal. Oh, then, beloved
Katharine, let your prayer be, "Let me not be led
into temptation" for once led therein by the van-
ties, the pleasures or the riches of life, our escape
is doubtful, and our trial great"
Bitterly did Katharine weep over the records
of life which was terminated before twenty sum-
mers had stamped the perfection of beauty on her
brow; but am happy to say that Kate was saved
much misery by the wisdom she CLEANED from the
of Rachel Morrison.
IRON TRApE.-Tne Pittsburg Sun, of the 9th
inst. says, the iron smelters from up the Alegha-
ny, have stored the most of their pig iron, refusing
to selIfor less than $50, and have returned home
The iron merchants here express their inability to
,o .hs - tba ,raaent nrices of iron and nails and