The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-07

He would not have given me over in my gray
hairs
And as our boy, Mark Sutherland, stood
gazing in bitterness of spirit upon the beautiful
scene of his love and JOY, the maddening scene
of his trial and suffering, these words escaped
from his bursting heart ooh, God if ] had
worshipped thee as worshipped her, Thy beau
tiful work had not now been alone-alOne in
my SORROW"
It was the sincere earnest cry of stricken,
penitent, suffering heart
1t wac answered then and there. Around
him fell an influence softer and more genial
than sunshine-more refreshing than dew-a
spiritual influence, warming renewing, sup
porting--a Divine influence, kindling and
strengthening the soul within him.
The Comforter had come, and was acknowl-
edged With uncovered head, and uplifted
heart then and there Mark Sutherland conse
Grated his life to the service Of God, and His
work on earth
From the beautiful vale he turned and, in
spired by new strength and courage, put spurs
TO his horse, and gallopped rapidly ON towards
the road leading to the town of C, where,
six weeks since, lie had parted with Lauder
dale He reached C in time for an early
breakfast Herc-not wishing to leave his
family in ignorance of his fate, and by his de-
parture thus 10 cut down the bridge of COMMIT
nicatiOn between them and himself-he ad.
dressed letter to his bachelor uncle, Paul
Sutherland. informing him that his destination
was some Northwestern town, whence as soUn
a he should become settled, he should write.
He gave this letter in charge of the landlord,
TO DO forwarded rs soon as his uncle should re-
turn from the North. He then mounted his
4 IL a. -, abb har hn
intended 90 embark in a steamboat up the Mis-
sissippi. He reached the city by nightlall, and
found his baggage, sent by the stage-coach,
had arrived in safety He took the boat that
passed that night: and the next morning he
found himself many miles on his way up the
river.
The world was all before him, where to choose
His place Of rest and Providence his guide
And to young, adventurous hopeful spirit,
this uncertainty, joined to liberty, was not with
out its peculiar charm During the greater
part of the day he remained on deck, with a
spy-glass in bis hand, examining the face of
the country on either side Of the river The
lawns and villages on the Lower Mississippi
did not attract him in the least degree. Their
situations were low-their beach suggishly
washed by the thick and murky water-their
thoroughiare wet and muddy-their general
aspect unWhOlesOme to the last degree.
Bat, farther up the river, and above the
mouth of the Ohio, the country and the color
Of the water began to change. High bluffs,
gray old rocks, and gigantic woods diversified
the shores-crystal creeks and verdant islets
varied tho river. He approached the fine
" Rock river country"
Beautiful rs q poetic vision of Elysium had
seemed the luxurious valley of the Pearl
But this gigantic scene-Rock river, Rock
island, with the opposite shores Of the Missis- {
sippi widening here into a lake-like eXpanse--
had breadth and grandeur, Titanic vigOr
and vitality of beauty, the most consonant, the
most imposing and encouraging, to his own I
young energetic spirit. {
The boatstopped opposite the village of $, O
Just a. the morning mist was rolling away be.
fore the sun, and revealing tho scene in all its
picturesque beauty and fresh life. The young
city was but two years old-yet, infant of the I
Tltaness West it was growing and thriving {
most vigorously. Hero, then, Mark Sutherland ,
determined TO take up his abode-here to live
and labor. lie ordered his baggage into the
boat and stepped in after it, and was swiftly
rowed to the shore Here, too, in order to be-
gin Alright and betimes, be shOuldered his own
trunk, while Il porter followed with his box Of y
books, and wendell his way to the hotel on the
hill s
TO BE CONTINUED