Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-01-12
VOL. 53.-NO. As.
Selected for The Gazette,
50 MANY CALLS.

bright coal ERE and warm arm chair in his
parlor at home He changed his heavy boots
I for slippers, drew around him the folds Of hia
evening gown, aud then launging back in tho
chair. looked up to the ceiling and about with
4 an cir Of satisfaction. Still there was cloud
on his brow What could be the matter with
MIR. A.? To sell the truth. he had that al-
ternoon, in his counting room. received tho
agent Of one Of the principal religious char,
\ ties Of the day, and had been warmly urged
to double his last year subscription. and tho
urging had been pressed By statements aud
arguments TO which he ,lll not know well how
to reply. People think, !" soliloquized he to
/ himself, that | am made Of mauey, believe,
This il the fourth object this year for which
J have been requested to double my subscrip-
| ton. and this year has been one uf heavy fau,-
/ ily expenses building aud fitting up this
house, carpets. curtains -uo end to the new
things to be bought do not see really
how ! am TO give cent to charity -.
i Then. there are the bills for the boys and
girls they all say they must have twice as
| much now - before we came to this house
wonder II did tight in buildingis:' and Mr..
A. glanced uueasib up and down the ceiling.
and around on the costly furniture. and look
I'd into the Ere in silence. lie was tired, bar.
raised. and sleepy--bis head hogan TO swim.
aud his eyes closed. He was asleep IN
bis sleep he thought he heard a tap Ut she
door: and there stood plain, poor looking
man who in voice singularly low aud sweet.
! asked for few moments conversation with
him. Mr.. A asked him into the parlor, aud
drew him chair near the fire. The stran-
ger looked attensively round, and then turn
ing to Mr.. A.. presented him with paper
1T is your last years subscription to mis-
/ sions," said he; you know all the wants Of
THAT cause that can be told you; came to
see if you had any thing more to add TO IT,"
This was said in the same low aud quics
voice as before hut for some reason unac-
countable to himself MIR. A. was mo,e en-
barrassed by the plain, poor, unprotending
man. than he had been 10 the presence of any
one before. lie was for some moments silenl
before he could reply at all, and then In
hurried and embarrassed manner be began
the same excuses which had appeared SO sat-
hardness Of the times, the difficulty of collec.
ting money, family expenses, &c.
The stranger quietly surveyed the spacious
apartment. with its many clegancics and hug
uries. aud without ATTY comment took from
tho merchant the paper be had given. bus
immediately presented him with another.
"This is your subscription to tho Tract
/ Society; have you anything to add to it?
/ You know how much it has been doing aud
4 how much more 1t now desires 10 do. ifChris-
tlans would oply furnish the means, DO sou
not feel called upon 10 add something 10 \ n
MIR. A. was very uncasy under this ap.
peal; but there was something IN tho STILL
mild manner Of the stranger that restrained
him; but he answered that though be re-
grctted it exceedingly, his circumstances wcro
such that he could not this year conveniently
add to any Of his clarifies.
The stranger received back the paper with
out any reply but Immediately presented in
its place the subscription TO the Bible Society
and in .ew clear and foreible words remind
ed him of his well-kn claims, aud again
requested him to add something to his dOna-
ton. MIR. A. became impatient. st
Have not said. ? he replied. "that can
10 nothing more for any charity than ! did
last year There seems to be no end to tho
calls in these days At first there were only
three or -four objects presented and the sums
required moderate, now the objects increase
every day. and call upon US for money !; aud
all. after we have given once. want W 10
double and treble, aud quadruIle our sub
scriptious. There is no end to the tLing,--
We may as well stop in one place as anoth.
! err"
The stranger took back the papc., rose and
fixing his eyes on his companion said, in
H Al A \ 4
"One year ago 10 night you thought that
your daughter lay DYING -yoa could not rest
I. tor agopy--upon whom did you call that
night =
Tho merchant started and looked up
there seemed "a change to have passed over
tue whole form of his visitor, whose eyes was
fixed on him with calm, intense. penetrating
expression that subdued hlm-be drew back.
covered bis face and made no reply.
Five years ago, said the stranger. 'whcn
you lay at the brink Of the grave, and thought
that 1t you died then. you would leave fam
ily unprovided for, do you remember how you
prayed Who saved you them"
Ihc stranger drew yet nearer, and said, in
a still lower and more impressive tone, "Do
you remember iften years since. that time
when you felt yourself SO lost, SO helpless so
hopeless; when you spent day and night in
Z prayer; when you thought you would give the
world for one hours assurance that your sins
were forgiven you? Who listened to you
then 7"
1T was my God and Saviour said the
merchant, With sudden burst Of remorscful
feelings; 20 yes it was he"
And has be ever complained Of being call
ed on too often I" inquired the stranger. in
voice of reproachful sweetness. "Say," ad-
ded hc. ARE you willing to begin this night
and ask no more Of him. ifbe, from this night.
viii ask no more from you?"
20 never never. never" said the merchant.
throwing himself at his feet; but as he spako
the words. the figure seemed to vanish. and
he awoke with bis whole soul stirred within
him.
40 God and Saviour what have been
doing !" he exclaimed Take ALL take ev-
| rufhino--wbat IL all hava IN what fhou hagt