Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-27

read to her the experience of a reformed
drunkard, which had been slipped under {
crazy-shntter by some unknown friend. {
This was the once happy Idella Pember-
ton, and her worse than orphan children.
Her husband had drank till he was sot
nay, more, a pruper.
His property was gone, his kindness
was gone, and upon the feeble Idella and
her daughter fell the support of the fam
lily. She was frail creature, and the
suferings of the mind, combined with
those of the body, were wasting her
away. 1t was apparent that without a
change she would soon be beyond the
griefs that were .preying upon her bosom.
Yet she murmured not. Amid the want
that poured upon her, and the reproaches
of her husband, she was uncomplain-
ing.
"0h, mother, what shall we do9 Is
there no hope for my dear father2" said
Agnes laying down the book, and sob
bing as il her heart would break.
Yes, my child. there is hope in God.
\ He has said, call upon me in the day of
trouble, and will deliver you.' In
Him have confided, and in Him do /
still hope. He has never forsaken us al
together, nor will He while we :rust in
Him."
"Dear mother, how can bear it?-
You are dying every day, and when you
are gone, what will become Of me and
my poor little brother Williel Oh,
mother, can't we get father to sign the
pledgei"
Be calm, my child. The Lord is
good, and should be take me, He will
provide for you and your brother. You
/ must go obefore Him with your wants.
Take your mothers wants before Hin
through Jesus Christ. Remember that
the promise is, that if you ask, you shall
j receive. Cast your burden on Him and
he will sustain you.'
"My dear mother let US go to Him
noU. Now let US kneel before Him here,
feel as if he would answer our prayers.
!. | knov He will. o, mother, let us try
4 and prove Him now"
And in that lonely hour, while the
. wild wind was moaning piteously with
q out, and coldness was pinching the suf
! terers within, did that girl and her moth
a er bow before God, to test His faithful
q ness. And never did purer aspiration
4 ascend to Heaven than the pleading O
. that suffering band. Never did angel
watchers assist by their mysterious min
. istrations in holier cause. 1t was III
= agony of a breaking heart as it groane
If under the accumulated wrongs Of year.
The vision Of the past swept before tn
- wFetched ldella, aud her soul seemed I
a embody all its hopes into one.
y She wrestled, struggled, and wept, a
/. if her heart was crumbling beneath th
intensity Of her agony. She prayed fc
-a the reformation Of her husband-for
,rt to begin then-thGt moment, whereve
+. he might be. Her words seemed to b
he the raising of faith far above unbelief-
n. the sundering Of its fetters-~the lawn
re- of the torn, bleeding heart before Go,
he o, Thou righteous Beingl" she e.
n. claimed, "who has promised help
3. need, hear from Thy holy habitation Ii
a wretched inmates OF cold hovel. Tho
no who hast in Thy mysterious dispensatior
3. banished me from the protection Of p
. rental love, and who hast for Thine ow
ds wise purposes, left me and my little on,
nd to struggle on in misfortune and wan,
IN o, look upon US in our misery, and al
Il swer our supplications. o, reclaim hi
.lv around whom nv heart still clings, eve
aF. in his degradation, and save him from
of ternal wo. o, righteous God do b
,er lieve,-help Thou my unbelief! Bril-
fnl him back to the path wherein we on,
he walked happily together, and"-
vas At that moment the door opened, az
al. William Pemberton rushed into the arr
in of his kneeling wife, exclaiming-
vas 80, my suffering angel Idella, yo
not prayer is answered. | have this mig
ck- joined the Sons of Temperance, and
m there is grace in heaven to aid a poor So
- fering worm, my pledge shall be kept
lu- "Amen," fervently responded Il
sed bewildered, weeping wife.
lila 80, Idella can you, will you forgi'
All all-my unkindness, my cruelty? Tn,
He from this night forward, God being II
the helper, will be sober man, and W
red seek to make you happy"
IDS "Dear husband let the past be forg,
the ten" replied the happy vile, while $
still cried aloud in the delirium of her 10
, in '' let us trust in God for the future"
n of agnes, my daughter, will you f
re- give your fathers unkindness, and pr
,ep- that ! may never part from my reso
it ton? ?'
and 80, my dear father, will love y
e. more than l ever did, and will alws
a. pray for you," said the sobbing girl, a
ber- she threw her arms about her fathe
neck and kissed away his tears.
II of "And, father said Willie, whostc
lsts, by weeping at the strange scene, "y
oard will let me love you, and kiss you,
the do mother, won't you