The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-10-19
Franks Sister Lucy.

on small square parcel, sealed, and di.
rected TO me in the handwriting Of my sis
ter. Wondering what proof of Lucy s
kindness it could contain, broke the seals
1t was my pocket Bible--that Bible in
which my mother, only few weeks be.
fore her death, had written my name; ou
Fof which she had read to me, and which,
with her last laboring breath, she had en-.
Joined me TO study. That Bible had &C.
companied me to school, ard it had been
preserved by me as relic of mothers
love-a trifle, valuable on that account
but priced for no other reason. 1t was
long since had opened it; and with some
l.laeree of vexaGon at Lucy's officiousness
j tossed ii carelessly aside. 1t opened
and a small note dropped out from between
+. My curiosity was again reused, and
opened the note. Not much was written
on that small sheet Of paper, but the few
words it contained were full of affection;
they were fright words" They were to
the following effect:
"Dear Brother-My only brother Frank:
DO moi be angry with me, your dear and
only sister, for writing these few lines.
must tell you how dearly love you, and
how sorry, how very sorry | am at your
leaving home. But hope ii is for the
best, and that you will be glad some day
that this has happened; and if you are, |
am sure shall be.
at does not become me, who am so
much younger than you. to give you ad-
vice; but will you grant ,ne great favor?
| want you to read the Bible. have read
it very much OF late. Frank; and, O, ifvou
tknew how much happiness have found
in doing so. | am sure you would read i,
too.
| sour dear mother has gone 10 heaven,
| Frank. | wish to meet her there. and to
be with Jesus, the Saviour Of sinners, TO
cast myself at his feet. and tell him how
much love him for dying for me. And
o, Frank. dear Frank! want you 10 be
there too, and papa, and aunt Rebecca.
and all-all that love. Sometimes it
makes me very sad. the fear that we shall
not all be there al last; cannot bear the
thought; and then pray, and that relieves
me. O Frank! if you would but read the
Bible. aud go to Jesus and pray to him.
you do not know how happy it would make
you: for he has said, Him that cometh 10
me, | will in no wise cast out" Only To
think Of having your sins pardoned. and
being made fit for heaven, that glorious
happy place!
Il will not say any more. Do not be
angry with me for what have written, for
am. indeed,
Your very loving sister, Lucy
After reading this note. sat for some
time like one stupa6ed. $685. said
at last. or at leastso thought to myself;
Il thought there was something odd abou.
Lucy OF late; and this is ii-she is becom-
| ing religious. We'll. and am glad of il
too. half wish | were: but
Then my thoughts wandered back 10
my mother. and hcrlast words again came
to mind. lhrew myself on my bed, in
the bitterness of self reproach. What a
despicable thing had become, aud how
much wretchedness had brought upon
my father, and to the home which had
!oh, by not obeyiag the commands Of my
mother.
O, the trouble that sin brings; and O.,
its decetlulness, too. s.Well we'll" |
continued to muse. Il will reform; will
do as Lucy wishes me. | will see what
can be DONE
undressed myself, laid my hoad upon
the pillow. and sunk to sleep. 'rhe Bible
remained unopened; and the next morning.
smiling al the conflict OF the proceeding
night, 1 put back the book into my trunk.
Let me stop here in my own history to
Tsay something about my sister Lucy.
| hoy kaf, ebo
very affectionate and very docile; and that
thence the education of her childhood had
not been SO painfully carried on as, under
the Strict eye of Aunt Rebecca. might have
been expected. There was one element,
however, in which that education had been
lamentably deficient, as well as exceed
ingly erroneous. What little she heard
about religion was In praise Of its forms,
and in ignorance of its spirit. She thus
became, according to the account she gave
OF herself in after life. little Pharisee, for
NAL, and vain, and scornful; laying claims
to much fancied goodness Of ofheart-igno-
rant that she needed any change.
But this knowledge was brought to her
in way that melted her heart, and drew
her by the gentle ..cords of love- at once
10 tue OaViOur.t AUlu much tnat was IN
furious and misleading in the instruction
she daily received, there was one redeem
ing trait-she was permitted TO read the
Bible; lit was the Sunday book. Eormany
years she read it as matter OF course,
and without being impressed with its con-
tents as a message from God to her. But
at length the scales dropped from her eyes.
By the teaching of the Holy Spirit, she
saw, understood, aud felt the infinite pre-.
ciousness ofthe Gospel She received the
kingdom OF God as little child, and be-
came .wise unto salvation through faith
in Christ Jesus
From the day, the happy day, in which
1.-THE truth as il is in Jesus" beamed upon
her understanding and warmed her heart.
she was lost to the world, and counted all
things as loss, that she might win Christ
and be found in him, living .by the faith
of the Son Of God, who," she implicitly be-
lieved. slowed and gave himself for
her."
Dear. Lucy! she was, indeed, tone in a
|thousand;' she was erich in faith, and an