The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-07-23

ly puritan settlers of Massachusetts. His an
cestors, for many generations had been devout
members of the Church of Christ. He was the
first alien from the commonwealth of lsreal
His mother was all amiable, but not plous
woman and some thought it was owing to
her that he had not profted by the Instructions
of his pious father, and had turned a deaf ear
to the gospel which he had heard from his in.
fancy. He loved t,e world, and in order to Sc
cure larger portion of its goods, he was will
ling to leave the home of his childhood, and tie
graves Of his fathers, and take up his abode on
the borders of civilization.
His wife was one who preferred Jerusalem
to her chief Joy The old time worn out meet
ing house, with its high square pews, and huge
sounding board, was as beautiful to her as the
most faultless specimen of architecture to the
counoisseur. She desired that her children
might grow up under the influence of the
truths which were proclaimed in that house.
Her chief desire with respect to them, was that
they might become rich in faith, and heirs Of
the kingdom. In the spring she was constrain-
ed to bid farewell to her native village. After
a wearisome journey, she found herself and fam
ily in what was then a wilderness, in western
New York. The gospel was not preached in
the vicinity, nor was there even the log school
house erected For a time, Mr. E., observed
the Sabbath so far as resting from labor was
concerned. He even spent some time in reading
the Bible, but he did not pray. In conse.
quence, that blessed book was gradually laid
aside.
The climate, and perhaps the labors incident
to life in wilderness, caused Mrs. E. to fall
into decline. When, after lingering illness,
she bade her husband farewell, she charged him
to send her children to her native home, that
they might there be taught, in the school-house
and the church truths which could make them
wise unto salvation. Mr.. Earl complied, in part
with his wife's request. He sent his daughter
Julia, who was nine years of age, and her youn-
ger brother. The older one he detained to as.
sist him in his lahors.
1t was six years before Julia returned to her
father. She had spent that time among the pi.
GUS friends of her departed mother. She found
the home of her childhood greatly changed.
A neat little village surrounded the tasteful
dwelling now occupied by her father. The
spire of the village church rose aloft, and the
school-house was not far distant. She rejoiced
to return to her home, though she was to meet
its chief charm no more. A check was soon
given to her Joy. When she sat down to the
evening meal the blessing of God was not in.
voked. 1t was with great difficulty that she
could eat When the hour Of retiring came;
she was still more unhappy, as the family sep
Grated without prayer.
Mr.. E. soon perceived that his daughter did
not feel at home in this house. 1t made him
sad at heart, for he had long looked forward to
her return, with hope that she would restore in
part, the loss he had experienced. He said to
her one day
tJ1ia, you do not seem to feel as much at
home as would wish
After some hesitation, she replied, 4 do not
feel safe here
DO not feel safer said he in astonishment.
Il am afraid to live under roof where there
is no prayer
The remark went to the fathers heart He
thought of all the mercies he had received, the
protection he had experienced, unmarked! He
continued to think of his ways till his soul faint
ed within him. He looked at his oldest son,
Sabbath breaker, and ignorant of God, and
could not conceal the truth, that it was owing
to the act of removing him in childhood from
the means of grace, and exposing him to infu-
ences that in all probability would prove his
ruin.
In few days he asked Julia to read the
Scripture and pray in the family. 1t was with
Joy that she heard the request but with great
difficulty that she cumplied with it. 1t was
not till she was reminded of the JOY it would
give to her mother, could she be witness of
it. that she consented to make the attempt
In few weeks on Sabbath morning, the ia
ther himself took the Bible, and having read u
portion, kpeeled down, and with tears besought
God to teach his stammering lips how to pray
Light, peace, and safety took up their abode
in dwelling now no longer prayerless.
An UPSET To =" ENTERPRIslNG WIDOW
WITH PRErT TER-ArrENTIoNs MIS-.
UNDERSTOOD t,sw Orleans Crescent re.
lates good stol J of widow,in that city, who
had fixed her heart upon thriving merchant,
who kept family grocery store on the corner.
She thus commenced her martial tnanGuvrcs:
:. She maneuvred to have him attendher daugh-
ter to all balls and dsorees Of the season to which
she had access, and managed to take him to
the theatre in their party on several occaslons;