The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-11-23


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" Nay, even now, my friend" said he
may God have sent me here to pray for
you and yours that lie may take your
load away, and make you free aud hap
py in his son"
Ills fervont prayer told all the secrets
OF my heart, aud all its guilty stainsand
dwelt with fearful power upon the blood
of Calvary, that Christ has shed to pur-
ify the lost. And ere the word amen
was reached, my soul responded to the
fearful call and sought forgiveness at
the hand of God, Nor sought in vain
For then, my purpose was to serve my
God, and seek his grace that all the tolls
of earth. might have respect to saving
sinners here. and to better life when
this shall pass away.
Nor was purpose all in vain I felt
encouraged to hope, my guilt had been
removed, and that by grace I found the
way to heaven In the mean time, I'd
quite forgotten the raging storm. till an
hour was passed, and the sun shiued forth
again in all its glory But sun more
glorious shincd within my soul. and IS
our new made friend departed | felt that
an junction from the heavenly world had
blessed his words to me- had travoll-
cd among members of Christian churches
for 50 many years. and never heard n
kindly word about my souls salvation, |
felt, that this was Il special messenger of
I,1 l,,t ,I Il
Sabbath morn, sat me down within the
outer porch Of the house Of God which
stands up yondcr on the hill. aud Il
youth. deacons son who rcscmbled
YOU, my young friend, quite strikingly.
came up accosting me with 'Wcll, old
tinker. you might as well 90 along, there 5
no occasion for your craft in heaven, no
old tin kettles there, nor brass to mend.
This is gentle church, and men of hum
bic garb, should not obtrude" d" And
then | heard your father pray for heath
en- lands, and men depressed in poverty
and shame, and spite of all your words.
| felt gratitude to be so remembered
And now | would requite the fathers
sympathy for me. by warning you of dan
ger and Of death. | will for.ve you
too, for what passed to-day, and all your
rude behavior to an old man. I've told
You how God smiles on Stubbs Valley
My wife and children there have learn
ed to love their Saviour and when the
Sabbath comes, at early morn. we 90 to-
gcther to the house of God threading
cur way through the forest path, some
five miles off to where the border settlers
have made a log house Of logs in which
to worship God.
James, the son of Deacon Simmons.
who in fact was the listener to the fore
going conversation, aud the subject Of
the old tinkcr's reproofs, had been cdu-
Gated to better principles than his con
duct towards this old man would seem
to ind icatc. His wicked heart was lead
ing him to these improprietics, to break
down the dictates of conscience which
had been made TO rcprovc him more
keenly on account Of tho light and
Knowledge he received, perhaps, from Il
too careless religious education
But James never forgot this interview
with the old tinker 1t was, in fact,
sermon to his conscience, and was bless
cd to his conversion to Christ When
afterwards he related the wonders Of di-
vine grace in his conversion, he made
honorable mention Of the old tinker with
tears of gratitude.
\ few years after, we find James Sim
Sfp ut Of
cal institutions, preparing for the duties
Of the ministry lie has now become Il
young man of sterling promise and of
fcrvcnt devotion. 1t is shrewdly sus-
pectcd, however. that he has given bis
heart to a young lady of equal promise
and worth, who is instructing ladies
seminary in the vicinity. How much Of
her domestic history he had learned it is
not important at this point to enquire. Tc
lovely countenance and bland and at
tractivc manners, was added in her en-
dowments, benevolent heart and The
graces of devoted ,christian life H.
decd she had improved every opportui
ty for education and refinement, anC
had been quite successful in securing :
public favor commensurate with her mcr
/ its.
/ James Simmons years of study soor
went past, and he was about to 90 out
to seek the salvation OF men according
to the commission received from hi,
Master. But he had leaned on the
eounsels and cncouragcmcnts Of his in
tended bride so long that he would not
persuade himself to 60 out alone to his
work.
In short, James Simmons and Chris
tiana Stubs were married in day ol
two, we find them at the tinker's home
stead, in Stubs Valley. But it chang
ed from the lonely retreat which it wa,
in former days \ turnpike road has
been cut along the banks of its noun
tain stream, and manufacturing wi
lage in the appropriation Of its water
power has sprung up. The old tinker
has no longer occasion to 60 abroad il
the pursuit Of his trade, for his oul
daughter is now educated and married
and the course of events has given new
value to his thousand acres of mountain
land Instead of a log meeting house
five miles off, thro' the pathle's forest
region, we find a sanctuary in the hear
Of the Valley, in little cottage churcl
the villagers have erected.
To be short we may say that Jane
Simmons became the pastor OF thi
church, and as he had received his frs
effective lessons of christian instruction
from the old tinker, he ever treated hin
not only as the hOnored father of his be