Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1846-02-26
JOHN STJMMERFIELD.

benlgnant light, then disappeared, ana WAS
seen no more Many an eye beheld It's pro-
gress with wonder and delight. Many a.
heart bounded with Joy as it felt the lnhu-
ence of the light thus shining from this bril-
liam orb. Ii was star Of the first magnl-
tude, and of the most cheering PROMISE
The beautiful vistant seemed lent for awhile
to earth, as if Heaven in the plenitude of
its mercy, designed to present new proof
of its power aud willingness to endoW hui
manity with such gifts and graces, as should.
instruct and bless the race on which its
mercy is bestowed. He-the gentle and the
lovely-came from foreign land, but no
land was foreign to him, as he could be no
foreigner in any Christian land, that loved
the sound of the gospel he had preached
He adopted this country as his own, and
this country in turn adopted him. He made
his way into all hearts, because all hearts
made way for him. He leveled the dlsunc-
ton of determination, for his constant theme
was the love of Christ to man, and the love
of regenerated man to Christ, and 10 the
whole brotherhood in Christ. His name
was JOHN, and we'll did he bear it, for like
that amiable apostle, he seemed TO dwell IN
love, and love to dwell in him. Combining
the impassioned fervor of youth with the
wisdom of maturer years, and the energies
of an accomplished intellect with the rich
JUNCTION of a sanctiied heart, he lead his
hearers through the gates of the sanctuary
to the vestibule of heaven, and babe them
listen to its ravishing melody and aspire to
its holy companionship. | seem even now
TO hear, through the long vista of lnterven-
ing wears, the musical cadences OF that voice,
which none who heard can ever forget.
Those themes on which he dwelt-the love
of God-redemption through the blood OF
Christine song Of exultant angels over
penitent souls-the lamentations of the holy
over those who reject the gift of God-the
sublimities Of the last day, and the solem-
mites of the final judgment-themes in
themselves pregnant with an undying mte-
rest-these, when set forth by the living
messenger of God in strains such as were
given him to utter, did indeed strike the
soul as realities too Indispensable to escape
the deep considerations OF mortal men. The
grave has received into its silent bosom
many of those hearers, as it long since clos
ed on The preacher but many too live, who
will not accuse the writer of partial enthu-
siasm in this "reminiscences Of one so iOndly
loved. and sincerely lamer:ed. ....
If he stood before us ii his youthful
morning, it was with an aspect that seemed
TO preclude the hope Of his asc, asior to the
meridian of life. His countenance pale,
thoughtful and spiritual, as if "commercing
with the Skies" impressed US with The an
ticipation that his ministry Oh earth would
be as brief as it was brilliant. That anticl-
patton lent an additional characterization
ly though it was-to every production OF
his intellect, every picture Of his magma
ton. every flight of his fancy, and every
effusion of his heart. That gush of feeling,
so natural,sso warm, SO eHhilarating to the
responsive sensibiIities of thousand hear
ers; it came from fountain soon to be seal
ed by the cold hand of death. 1t is thus
that the many feel mysterious but mighty
sympathy with the fate Of a single one of
our race, on whom genius has conferred en-
dowments which are themselves exalted in
to a spiritual life by the spirit Of God. En-
dowments still more regaily endowed by
Him, whose prerogative is TO regenerate, as
we'll as to create mind
But not alone in the solemn assembly Of
public worshippers was the power of his
oratory felt OF all those meetings con-
nected with the exercise OF beneiicence to
men, at which his attendance could be Sc
cured. he was the charm and the crown
AT New Y ork he burst upon the public eye
II
tender strokes of eioquence, that not only
ministered to present qualification, but aWak-
ened universal expectation. Nor was it Or
diaarIy disappointed. The striking turns
Of his wit-the pIayfulness Of his 'humor-
the benefcence of his satire-the ease, the
grace, the graphic beauty with which bis
mind unfoIded the subject in hand-the fine
blending of the useful with the beautiful
and the effect of all, marked him, as one adj
mirably fitted for the work in which he was
engaged. Why could he not be spared
Must that "cypress bud," Of which Milton
so beautifully speaks, be SO early, 50 dis
tinctly visible in the ''garland" of his hon
ors. INTERVIEWING its solemn shade with tht
brighter colors that wreathed his youthful
brows? Even so did it seem good to tht
dispenser Of life and death Let us not thel
doubt because we are disappointed, or com
plain because our hopes are crushed. Q
the friends of this lovely youth it might b
said in the language of the poet,
"Alas! for them, though not for thee;
They cannot choose but weep the more;
Deep for the dead the grief must be,
Who neer gave cause to weep before"