Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-03-09

and afterwards crept into bed but a voice
seemed speaking in my ear, and it said Cow
| ard r. | turned over aud over fixed my
pillow and fixed it again; but it still kept
saying Coward Coward yes; some
thing within answered that it was but too
/ true--too true.
As any one might see. this secret way of
getting over with my devotional duties, web
as it might serve for one night. could not
answer for every night. nor, indeed, for the
second Was this sneakirg struggle to go
on every bedtime Ali how much better
to be honest and true in the first place -
Remember that
/ WE'LL the second night came. I meant to
be sure and 60 up first this time, and finish
my duty by the time Jem came up. But,
somehow or other, again be got the start Of
me. | felt worse the second night than
did the first. Cowardly, knew [ was, but
the tempter kept saying, mo matter; say
your prayers after you get into bed God
can hear you as well in the bed as out of it .
But | remembered orir mother bad settled
that point long while before. when once
asked her about it, Hugh" she said, I'll
you wanted to ask great favor of a great
kind npon whom your he, your goods, your
friends. your happiness all depended would
yod dare approach him 10 careless. thought
less way Would you not choose the most
respectful decorous and becoming manner,
such as would beft your dependent situation!
You would not come carelessly and indiffer-
emily to God, the King OF kings
Tumbling into bed and praying, when !
was not sick. looked too much like careless
ness, and Twas afraid to do it.
"Jem." was called from the bottom of the
stairs 'Jem I" It was my uncle's voice
Jem drew on his trousers, and went down.
How lucky chuckled. Siezing my little
Testament, and hastily reading over few
verses by the fast failing twilight, threw my
self on my knees and prayed Having yet
scarcely composed my mind for the solemn
duty. Jem was heard returning to the cham.
Der. My first impulse was to jump up. The
awful question, Are you ashamed of Jesus
Christ, your only Friend, now your father and
mother are gone 2 came pointedly to my
conscience. Tpresscd my hand against my
eyes fear, doubt, shame duty. conscience
all spoke together That instant was turn
ing point. 1 kept hnechngl The door
opened, and / kept kneeling! God be prais-
ed, he gave me strength TO confess him be-
fore the world for Jem and the wood house
chamber were all the world to me- Jem
stopped, as he opened the door and saw me
on my knees. 1t was very, very still My
heart beat Violently, as. in low and almost
inartculate tone, continued before my Tod
in prayer. How different were my feelings
when I at last arose, from what they bad
before been. A quiet. peaceful feeling came
over me, and it did not seem as If mother
dear mctherwas not pery far off Perhap.
she was then one Of those ministerine spirits
which the Bible says are sometimes sent on
errands Of love to this world of trial
Jem and 1 both went to bed without say
ing any thing Twas almost asleep, when he
turned over, and laying his brawny arm OF
my shoulder, said, Hugh. who taught you t,
pray?
MY mother answered l.
80 mine lid me-
| DO you? asked
'Ay. that's master question and put b,
boy like you, too. Hugh Do II Tough
| b.. l hold to peoples praying, if its no more
than civil; ard l think folks ought to pra,
in their families; that would teach the younl
folks. II the old folks don't what can yot
expect P
because old folks don't, it's nc rcasor
young folks Shouldn't, Thoughts it, Jem !?
asked. Having done my duty, Ifelt strong
! Hugh, said Jem; Hugh my boy!
say, Hugh, you've got what / call pluck
and it's worth more to anybody, my father
used to say, than all the silver and gold in
the world With this, Jcm rolled over again
to his side. Alas, how little he knew me ,
Sunday morning came. 1t was very beau
tiful arose early. carefully washing and
dressing me before any one was astir
,Icm was all the while in deep sleep -
When he awokc. he started up. rubbing lis
eyes, and asked what time it was. Ibid not
know but told him nobody was up.
Late enough, though, I'll be bound, said
Jem. bestirring himself
DO We walk or ride to church, or how?' /
asked.
How, guess, answered Jem. That's
the way they generally 90. Your uncle S
folks are not much of go-to- meeting hands
that's the long and short of it,
Don't they 60 at all Z asked anxiously.
Pretty much $685. answered Jem. Its
not as was brought up
Nor L. | added No, indeed we al
ways went to meeting in all sorts of weather;
and think it is wicked to stay at home. 1t
is not keeping the Sabbath day holy. to stay
at home when you can go to church
Good doctrine, said Jem, leaving the
room
When We met at breakfast, how dirty and
lazy did everybody loek-sleepy and listless.
too There was none of the busy activity Of
week days, except in my aunt, who was get
ting rich breakfast of pancakes and fried
pork and potatoes. When the breakfast
horn, sounded, my uncle was whiting on a
log in the yard; Nat was playing with the
dog, and Bill was fixing his fishing tackle.
is this Sunday !? asked myself
After breakfast, whispered to Nat, and
asked what time we went to meeting.
That is according to how you 60
How shall we 60? How do you common
ly goT
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