Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-07-09
A cIERaYnAN TURNED soLp,Ea.

Church Of Scotland. At school and at col.
lcge he was distinguished for his love Of
learning, and as minister was unrivailed
Tor his eloquence and mental alta nmeuts.
lie had been settled about year, and was
upon the eve oil being married to fnc
young woman, whom he had loved from
childhood, when the heritors and sever
English gentlemen. who were then on a
visit 10 the North, attended Kirk to hear the
famous preacher. He more than verified
his fame; he enrapiured his audience. HIS
theme was the story Of his church. Its
many years of disastrous wars, its martyrs,
ito heroes, its undying hope, even when
despair seemed to shrout It in endless night;
ito unwearcd tolls aud its final triuinpas
were each 10 turn presented u the minds
OF the hearers, with a power and feeling
that DEFY description. He stood the genius
of eloquence personiiied. Bat there was
one among his hearers who was not bewil-
dered by his glowing pictures.
The gsntehearted Bella, his betrothed,
when the congregation dispersed, followed
him 70 the manse. He received her in his
study, but while conducting her to a chair
she sunk upon the floor, and barst into tears.
80 jamie jamie y she exclaimed, as h G
raised her tenderiy in his arms, and seated
her on sofa, "ye haze broken my puir
heart ;" How SO, my Bella explain ~
"Ye were drunk, raying drunk, jamie, and
| wonder the elders did nae take We out o.
the pulpit. Yo whined and ranted, and
sometimes, God forgie me for saying sac,
thought saw the Evil One standing be-
side you, laughing and clapping you on the
shoulder. My puir brain reeled-i was mad
and knew it--Im mad now-I Gamma live
ont this day. feel my blood freeze-O,
God, be mercitul to me sinner, and save.
O save my jamie = Her head reclined upon
his bosom, she gazed t pom him for moment,
and expired ia bis arms.
IIc had preached his last sermon. No
entreaties oi congre CATION who loved him
no iattering offers of future prefermeht,
tendered BY the gentry, could induce him to
resume his labOrs as minister.
FIVE or six years pis-ed, when the writer
Of this, who was his scho 1ltellow, accident
ally met him in London. jamie was then
one OF the principal teachers in large
educational establishment, and was highly
esteemed r.. the mo.al excellence ot his
character, do well as his varied learning
and skill rs a successful teacher. He was
dressed in deep mourning, summed society,
and when the labors If the day closed, he
either wandered alone through the streets.
or retired to his lodgings. The scene Of
Bella's death was ever pfesent,O his IN EN-
DRY.
Her pure soul, said he, saw him as he
was, poor, vain, sci connected sinner For
the purpose OF concentrating his thoughts
and inhising life into his sermons, he was
L. ha
fore entering the pulpit. The morning be-
fore he preached the fatal sermon, he felt
rather nervous, for he knew there would be
strangers To hear HIN, aud ha took nearly
two passcs. What he said, or how he
conducted himself, no effort Of memory
could recali--the death Ut Bella alone had
m rgcd into itself the doings % that dread
iul day The compliments which he re-
ceiyed sounded IN his ears like satire aud
mockery and The very name OF liquor i'm
pressed him with rror
He left home and came 10 l1nd IN, where
he obtained situation as teacher; but
e, cry thing appeared 50 black 10 him that
he expressed fear be should, in some un-
guarded moment, destroy himself
Hi, ficnd, who was sailor, suggested
some active employment, thut would cali
into play MS physical faculties, aud thus
give his mind spell, and ended by offering
to procure him place before the must in II
ship. II like your seggestlon," he said,
but dislike the sea" Then turn soide
ana seek employment in ind a, where there
is always plenty OF iighiieg' Il wili," he
said, sprnging from his char, when my
engagement expires, | will purchase an
Ems gas commission wonder he thou Iht
never suggested Itself to ne, for my ances-
tors, far back as | can trace them, were
soldiers. Better, far better, die on the fl ID
OF battle, than fall by ones own hand :"
We separated,
A few weeks since, in running my eye
along the list OF those who had distinguished
themselves at the battle ClInkermsn, saw
the name Of Lieut.. COL. A letter from
nv friends has since informed me that he
had served in India under Lord Cough, and
was promoted for his gallant conduct in
three campaigns. He was present at the
battles Of Alma, BalakIava and lnkerman,
aud at last accounts, was III good health,
engaged in the siege OF SebastopOl. He
was still! single his "heart was dead to
love - Boston Alias.