Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-01-29
SCELLANEOUS.
THE BLIND MAN OF THE MINES.
BY REV. HITCHCOCK.

Allow me here TO refer 10 case that
lately fell under my observation, which il-I
Illustrates more iorcbly than had ever con-
ceised, the priceless value of,he Christians
hope the most unfortunate and degraded.
| bad descended one thousand feet be-
meath the earth $ surface in the coal pits
of The Mid Lothian Mines in Virginia. and
was wandering through their dark, subter-
ranean passages, when The sound of mu-
sic at a little distance, broke upon my ear
II ceased upon our approach, aud caught
only the concluding sentiment ofthe hymn,
II shall he in Heaven in the morning"
en- advancing with our lamps, we found
the passage close bya door, in order to
give different direction to the current OF
air, for the purpose Of ventilation, yet this
door must be opened occasionally 10 lei
the rail cars pass, loaded With coal And
to accomplish this we found sitting by tina,
door an aged blind slave, whose eyes had
been entiraly destroyed by blast of gum
powder many years before ip that mine.
There he sat, on seat cut in the coal,
from sunrise to sunset, day after day; his
sole business being To open aud shut the
door, wlenhc heard the rail cars approach
ling. We requested him TO sing again the
hymn whose last line we baye heard. H.
was indeed lame in expression, and in the
poetic measure very defective, being, in
fact, one ofihose productions which we
found the pious slaves were in the habit of
singing, in part, atleasi. impromptu. But
each s,anza closed, with the sentiment,
81 shall be in Heaven in the morning"
1t was sung with a clear and pleasant
voice, and could see the shrveled, sight
less eycballs of the old man roll in their
sockets, as if his soul felt the inspir-
ing sentiments and really the exhibition
was one of the most affecting that have
ever Witnessed There he stood, an old
man, whose earthly hopes even at the best.
must be very faint; and be was slave
and he was blind-what could he hope for
on earth? He was buried, too, thousand
pressive language of jonah :--"He has
gone dow, 10 the bottom of the mountain,
the earth with her bars was about him for
ever There, from month to month. he
sat in the darkness. Oh, how utterly cheer
less his condiiion Aud yet that one
pleasan, hope Of resurrection morning was
enough to ininse peace and joy in his soul.
had often listened To touching music
had heard gigantic intellect pour forth
Enchanting eloquence, but never did mu
sic or cloquence exert such overpowering
influence ever my feelings as did this scene.
Never before did witness so grand an ex-
hibi,ion Of snbl,mi,y. 0. how compare
lively insignificant did earill's mightiest
warriors aud statesmen. her princes and
emperors, aud even her philosophers with.
on, .pie'y appear! How poweress wonld
all their po5ip and .pageantry, aud wisdom
be to sustain ,ncni, if called To change pa-
ces with this poor slave He had prin-
ciple within HIM superior Ia them all and
When that morning which he longs for
shall come, how infinitely better than theirs
will his lot appear I" an admiring universe.
Aud that morning shall ere long break up
on thy darkness. benighted old man. The
lgh, Of the natural sun, and the face Of
this fair world will never, indeed, revisit
YOU, and the remnant Of your days must be
spent in your monotonous task, by the side
Of the wicket gate. deep in the caverns Of
the earth. But that bright and blessed
hope of resurrection morning shall no.
deceive you. The Saviour in whom you
trust, shall manifest himself TO you even il,
The deep darkness, and at the appointed
hour. the Chains Of sin shall drop ol
aud The double night which envelopes you
shall vanish into the light and the liberty
and glory of heaven. And liz just proper
ton to the depth of your darkness aud
degradation now. shall be the brightness
and the JOY Of tina, everlasting day.
U.s. Rest satisfied with doing well, leave