The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-10-27
The DIipm ROhbcr,

1.-The word of God is quick and powerful,
and sharper than any two-edged-sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder Of soul
and spirit, and of the joints and marrow; and
j. 4 dIscerner Of the thoughts and intents Of
The heart. ."-Heb. iv. -.
During the awful visitation Of the
Cholera, a clergyman, after day spent
in ministering, the support and comfort
of the Gospel to many a sick and dying
soul, had retired early to his bed, hopeing
to enjoy for few hours the repose which
he so much needed He lay still for some
time, but could not sleep, the scenes he
had witnessed that day, the countenances
of the dying, some racked with agonizing
pain, and some in the lived death like
torpor of the collapsed state, still seemed
before him and a nervous feverishness
from this excitement banished sleep from
his eye-lids. Oh, thought, that men were
wise, that they understood this, that they
would consider their latter end" (Deut.
xxi. 29.) Blessed is the people that
know the Joyful sound of the Gospel, -
(Pslam xxx I5, "they shall walk, Q
Lord, in the light of thy countenance;
and when they pass through the valley Of
the shadow Of death, they will fear no
evil: for thou wilt be with them thy
rod and thy staff, they comfort Them"
psalm xxxiii. a and he shuddered at
the fearful contrast which that day pre-
sented to him, in the case Of too many
The clock struck twelve, and he had just
fallen into a slumber, when a mock at the
hall door aroused him; he heard it open,
and in few minutes his servant entered
the room. "Sir there is a man below
who SAYS he must speak with you
Ask him his name and business" He
says, sir, he must speak to yourself
Mr.. T. rose, dressed himself in haste, and
went into the hall. The man stood close
TO the door Mr. I. held the light to his
face, which be seemed rather anxious TO
hide He had frightful counte nance
What do you want with me, said the
clergyman. | want you TO come to a
dying man, who wishes to speak to you.
What is his complaint?' p "Cholera,' -
Mr.. 7. hesitated, and at length said, Il
cannot go with you, you do not even tell
me your name, nor the place to which
YOU would lead me; should fear to trust
my life in your hands" "Iou need not
fear" said the stranger; "what end would
It serve to take your life; come with me,
take no money with you, and on my
honor you are safe" Mr.. I. gave an
other glance at the man, and the word
honor, connected with the appearance Of
such q being made him smile. Sit
down." said he, l will 90 with you. He
went again to his chamber committed
himself to the care of his heavenly Faith
er, prayed for bis blessing on the intend
ed visit to the dying man, and felt so
strengthened and assured by his COM
munion with Heaven, that be seemed to
have lost all fear of accompanying his
ferocious looking guide.
He followed the man through many
streets of the large and populous city at
length they came to a street long and mar
row, with houses bespeaking wretchcdness
and well known as quarter Of the town
remarkable for the vice as well as pow
erty of its inhabitants Mr. Z. followed
his guide into a long and dirty entry,
which ended in a square; be there stop
ped, and took out Of his pocket knife,
with which he began to scrape away some
earth from the ground. {" can 60 no
farther with you," said the clergyman;
but considering he was already as much
in the power of the man as he could be
in anv possible situation, his courage re-
vived, and he watched with intense inter-
est the movements of his strange compan-
ion. After some time he opened small
trap-door, which led to vault of con-
siderable depth "Fear not" said the
man, as be let himself down by rope
fastened at the inside. Mr.. I. felt at
this moment the awful horror Of his stu
alton, he could have fed, but he knew
the man would soon overtake him, and IN
the dark be could scarcely find his way
back. He therefore determined to pro-
ceed; and committing himself again to
the protection of the Almighty, he watch
ed at the edge Of the pit until he saw a
light glimmer within it, and the man
placed ladder firmly, which be ascend
ed few steps, and entreated the clergy
man to descend, assuring him again Of
his safety. He did descend into this pit
of darkness, which reminded him of the
descent of the prophet into the den of
lions; for at the bottom, stretched upon
the ground, he beheld number of men;
savage and ferocious as beasts of prey,
who raising their haggard countenances,
stared wildly upon him. The man then
led the clergyman to the fartheat end
where, in a corner, stretched upon straw