The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-24
A Sisters Love.

Il was tboughtIess youth said the Rev.
Mr.. -, even more regardless OF serious
things than boys in general. But l had one
tie which bound ME at home, and restrained
me from all outward immoralities this was a
peculiar affection for thy sister. 2Fewbrothers
and sisters, think, ever loved each other as
we did. All our Thoughts, feelings and plans
were shared together, and neither could ENJOY
anything alone. A walk, ride, a book or
concert lost half its charm If Anna were away,
and she was the first to soothe every rising sor.
row.
when | was seventeen, there was revival
of religion in the church to which my father be-
longcd, and Anna and occasionally attended
the evening meetings. l noticed Anna was
very silent on her return from these; but as
did not care to say anything upon the subject,
was content il should he so. Yet there
lurked within me an uneasy fear that she was
becoming more interested in religious things
than was. Icould not bear The idea; it even
mad. me mad to think of my bright, lively
Annals becoming Christian, for Twas certain
it would spoil her for me, and destroy our hap.
piness in each other. became more certain
something was weighing on her spirits, for iu.
stead Of moving nerrily about the house, sing
ing snatches of gay songs. her step became
slow and thoughtful, and her eye was down.
cast and often filled with Tears. Yet with a
cruel sel6shness Irefrained from asking what
disturbed her; and once when saw her eye
resting on my face with an, expression of in
terest, / turned away from the beseeching
glance and left the room.
The next morning found q little note from
her on my table. I took it up with a feeling
of bitterness in my heart, and crushing it thrust
it into my pocket determined not to read it,
so sure did feel that it contained something
about my souls salvation. ! was then a.mem-
ber of the academy, fitting for college, and !
went to the schooi-room, endeavoring, by .unu.
sual attention to my books, to forget the cir.
cumstance altogether But sense of my in
Justice smote me, aud in the course Of the fore.
noon drew forth the note intending to read
it, but determined that it should exert no in.
huence overme had even planned reply
to it, in which should beg her never to let
that subject be spoken of between us. And
yet my heart was so melted by the contents Of
that little note. that before it was finished |
WAS lOTCeQ I'D DO" my Hedu over lue deSh I"
conceal my tears. 1t touched the right chord
in my heart. She said she had told no one Of
the new hope of Heaven which was in her
heart, because she must first speak of it to
me- as she had always done of other feelings.
and that she could not fully enjoy it without
my sympathy. Yes, she was my own trusting,
loving Anna still. Becoming Christian had
not made her cold and distant, as had fan
cied it would and when l went home ] had
long,, frank conversation vi:h her. From
that point date my first religious impressions
to that dear sisters love and prayers owe
my souls salvation, so far as any human in
strumentality is connected with It; and need
not say that she was henceforth dearer to ME
than ever. Yet, had she remained silent at
this point, and had learned the state of her
feelings from others, a barrier would have been
raised between US which might never have
been removed.
DO not fear to speak, young Christian, of
your new hopes and desires to your dearest
friend but speak tenderly, naturally and con-
fidingly, need not add with humility also; for
when was ever human soul filled with the
love of Jesus, that it was not softened hum.
bled by it, and made 'meek and lowly.