Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-06-14
New Series-VOi. -g-N0. 81.

" '
best for us, because our hearts are evil, and
inclined to lead Us into evil. Left free, as
now leave you, my son, let me entreat
YOU to choose the path of safety. II may
not be so inviting at first; YOU may not be
able to enter it except through sell-denial
but you will not walk in it long before
discovering that the flowers which spring
up here and there have sweet and sooth
ing perfume, and that your feet are not
weary, although the way looked rousb
when viewed from the path | have SO ear
nestly warned YOU not to take.
We are sorry to say that the words OF
Mr.. Lewis did not sink as deeply into the
heart of James as they should have done.
1t is true that he thought about them, and
to a certain extent, comprehended their
meaning. But his inclination was stronger
than his reason. As his father had not
laid his commands on him, he after a
struggle in his own mind between sense
OF right and desire to enter into pleas
ure whose charms his Imagination had
heightened, suffered himself to enter the
way in which was no safety, and before
he dreamed of danger, he was led aside
into the commission of an act that violated
human and Divine laws.
When James returned home, he fel!
afraid to meet his father. Oh, how unhaD-
Py he was ? Never in his life had be
been 50 wretched. He had gathered the
first fruit that hung temptingly from the
branches that bent over the wav he had
chosen to walk in. But it had proved
IN hIS 70 bittar I
that his father had said, when warning him
not TO choose the path Of error. came Vi
yldly 10 his mind, and almost with tears
did he repent of his folly. Alone in his
room, bowed down with shame and self
condemnation, James Lewis sat after the
shadows OF evening had fallen. Gradual
ly, as the twilight deepened, and his ewes
seemed to reflect the objects around him.
the mind Of the lad became confused and
filed with rapidly changing images.
Suddenly there was great change.
He found himself standing on beautiful
plain, from which departed two roads
towards which he was walking. His
mind was tranquil and happy. One of
these roads looked exceedingly inviting.
Bright flowers sprung thickly beside it. and
trees, among the branches of which sported
birds of the gayest plumage, grew ali along
lis borders. The other road presented
nothing attractive. The margin was near
ly barren, and began at once to ascend a
steep and somewhat rugged hill. As
James drew near the point where these
two ways diyerged, he met an old man,
with mild cOuntenance, and ewes lit up by
wisdom.
Iou see before You" said the old mau,
g the Way of Life and the Road of De
struction. Choose now, which will YOU
walk in. The road 10 Destruction looks
far more inviting than the Way OF Life,
but the flowers you see have no sweet per-
tume. the fruits thai hang temptingIy from
the trees are bitter to the taste, and the
road which looks smooth and pleasant, is
in reality rough and stony.
" The farther You 60 IN this road, the
less attractive 1t becomes but with every
step of progress in the Way of Life, the
more beautiful will all appear. The one
leads to Death. The other 10 Life
Choose now, the way in which YOU will
walk"
The boy paused only few moments.
He looked, first at the attractive way, and
then at the path so full of beauty.
The old man has erred" said he 70
ms heart. " This is the road to happiness
and to Life, and the other is the wav to
Destruction"
And then he entered, with hurrving feet,
the Road to Destruction. Earnestly the
old man called after him, and tendarIv did
he warn him; but the boy needed not.
In his eagerness to reach q spot al a
short distance from the point where the
two roads separated, and at which there
was a beautiful arbor, with a fountain
throwing bright waters into the sunny air.
his foot struck agalnst.a stone that was NOT
perceived, and he fell to the earth with a
jar. He was in so much pain
from the fail, when he reached the green
arbor. that he could not enjoy its pleasant
shade nor take delight i'll the beautiful
fountain. With groan, he threw himself
at full length upon the green sward, where
ne had lain only few minutes, when he
sprung to his feet in sudden terror, for
lose TO hlm had crept poisonous serpent
hat was just about striking him with.i1s
ieadly fang.
With less ardor the boy moved on the
way ne had chosen. Soon number of
lowers, glowing in all the colors of the
arrested his eyes, and he stepped
side to gather them. But their odor was
o offensive that he threw them to the
arth quickly. Another flower tempted
Inn with It's beauty but in plucking il he
ore his hands with thorns.
Pauslng now, he looked back, and the
wish arose in his mind that he had taken
he other road. He would have re-iraced
rs steps, but he remembered the serpent
t the fountain, and feared 10 60 By thai
angeroNs place again. So he moved on