The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-03-12
TIE LAST PRAYER.

TIE LAST PRAYER.
One afternoon IN l8-, several carriages were
seen gathering around an elegant mansion in.
the town Of P. A clergyman and several
physicians were assembled in a darhencd cham
Der, around the accomplished Mrs. L.. The aax-
ioas countennnccs, the light tread, the hair sup
pressed breathing Of the attendants, the solemn
stiffness that p~cryaled The whole g.olp, told too
plainly their fearful apprehension that the dis
case OF Mrs. l.. would b]atloall human skill, and
prove fatal to the sufferer. She had been sud-
denly arrested, in the full flow of health, by a
disease that had locked up all her senses in q
lcthargic stuPcr, from which the skill Of faithful
physicians and the assiduous efforts of svmpa-
thizing friends could not arouse her. Tie loss
of such a friend under such circumstances could
not but be severely felt but the ~utfliction would
seem greatly increased, were she topass intothe
world OF spirits withoatany communication with
those who might still lingcr behind. For sever
al years she had been an ornament TO the church
and her friends earnestly desiredto know whcth-
er her religion proved an unlailing support when
passing through the valley oftho shadow ofdeath;
and when in The course Of his PRAYER the clergy
man entreatcd the Lord that her consciousness
and power Of speech might, if consistent with
the divine will, be restored, most earnestly did
every heart Join in the request.
When all tho means which affection and pro-
f~eseionai sagAcity could suggest had been tried
in vain, her little son, who had iustlcarncd to ar
tlcu!1to q few words, was brought into the room.
with mingled fear and wonder he gazed upon
his mother, ard upon the attendant, watching in
Silenco the issue Of the disease. '.lMa-ma, ma
ma," exclaimed the little %prattlcr, after a few
moments silence. These words effected, us if
ny so7a2 mysterious power, what other %applian-
ces failed 70 accomplish; the mother opened her
eyes. and slowly stretching outhor hand, beck
oned Tor her son. lie was placed in her arms:
in G low voice she commended her offspring to
God, and prayed that he might meet her in hea-
ven. That was her last prayer; and in y few
hours that son was motherlcss.
The scene now changes. We pass an inter
val Of twenty years, and find that sonin College.
The noble and commanding form Of William l..
his ~urbanity of manners, and diligence in study,
soon won him the esteem Of faculty and students.
During the first year he held a high rank in his
class, and gave a promise Of eminent usefulness.
but college life puts 4 young mans principle to
asevero test. 1t is 4 state Of exposure and tri-
al during which no youth issafo, without devoted
piety, q security which William l.. did not pcs
sess, He formed unfortunate connections with
several idle students, the effects of which were
soon apparent in his recitations. He was ad-
monishod Of his danger, but seemed as if spell
bound by some destinations from which he could
not escape. Ii has been Justly said that idle
ness is the parent of many vices; SO it proved
in the present instance. IdIeness led on to dis
sipation, and after repeated ndmonitions and
f~ruitless efforts to reclaim him. William I was
expelled from College n drunkard! Small in
deed did the probability seem that his mothers
last prayer would be answered.
William returned thomc. 1.-The report of his
expulsion from college, and the cause of it, blast
ed the high-raised expectations Of his friends,
and sounded in their ears like the knell5of all
his prospects and hopes. Still they cndeavored
to throw around him such influence and associ-
ations as would restore his self-respect; and with
all the eloquonce of pure affection they besought
him 10 abandon at once and forever the intoxica-
ting bowl. Their earnest entreaties led him to
moderate, in some degree, his excuses, but pro-
duced no radical reformation; and his friends,
wearied with unayailing efforts, were beginning
to conclude that they must give up his cause as
useless.
D"S Nth SiCNht hhNAihS 'hhoh BNH DltblHE
alone in mis- chamber, musing upon the great
change that had within a few years come over
his prospects, when his uncle entered his room,
and proposed n walk. William put on his hat
and accompanied him. Whether by accident OF
design, they walked in the direction ofthe grave.
yard and soon found themselves by the grave o.
Mrs. Il. The Old COMMISSIONERS around, scarcely
visible in thedarkness, read a silent but impress
siye lesson on the fraiityo of man.-Asthe were
leaning on the gravcstone Of Mrs. L.. the uncle
gave William n description Of her character
and Of the circumstances attending her death
particularly her dying prayer that he might NEE
her in heaven: sand nov" said he, taking Will
lam BY the hand, "will you meet her in HEAVIER
OF viii you die q drunknrd" William burst in
to tears and sank down upon his mothers grave
overwhelmed With emotion.--Tho darkness with
out was but d faint emblemof the darkness ant
horror within. Guilt, remorse, shame, stunghin
to an intensity Of anguish such as he had nev
ef known before. His life pissed in rapid re
view his talents wasted--his lime misspent--
reputation hlasted-hopos cruslied--the heart