Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-04-04
VOL. Xx.---NO. I2:

never to desist till they had discovered what
was the matter with him, and cured him of
playing the Methodist; for their alarm as to To-
sing the life of the Club" had been wrought
up to the highest pitch, by one of their number
declaring that, on Unexpectedly entering Boyle's
room, he detected him in the act of hastily hi.
ding book, which he actually believed was the
Bblel
Alas alas had poor Boyle possessed sufi-
cent true moral courage, and dignity of mind,
not to have hidden the Bible, or whatever other
book he chose to read, how different might have
been the result
After time, one of his compeers, more deep
ly cunning that the rest, bethought himself Of
assuming an air of the deepest disgust with the
world, the Club, and the mode of life they had
been pursuing. He affected to seek Boyle's
company in mood of congenial melancholy,
and to sympathze in all his feelings Thus he
succeeded in betraying him into much mispla.
ced confidence as to his dream, and the effect it
had produced upon his mind. The result may
readily be guessed. His confidence was betray-
ed-his feelings of repentance ridiculed and it
will easily be believed, that he who "hid the
Bible" had not nerve to stand the ribald tests of
his profigate companions On such subject.
cannot trace the progress, and would not, if
could. Suffice it to say, that Yirtuous resolu.
tlons once broken-prayers once offered, uolu,,-
tar,y called back by sin from the throne of
Heaven-aH acas lost! yet not lost without such
fell struggle between the spirit of good and
evil rs wrung the colour from his young cheek,
and made him, ere the year was done, haggard
and n grey-haired mani
From the annual meeting he shrunk with an
instructive and shuddering horror, and made up
his mind utterly to aroid Il. Well aware of this
resolve, his tempters determined he should have
no choice How potent, how active is the spirit
of evil How feeble is unassisted, unprayertm
man! Boyle found himself, he could not tell
how, seated at that table on that very day, where
he had sworn to himsefa thousand and thou
sand times nothing on earth should make him
sit!
His ears tinged and his eyes swan, as he
listened to the opening sentence of the presi-
dents address: Gentlemen. this is leap-year,
therefore it is gear and a day since our last
annual meeting!'
Every nerve in Boyle's body twanged in ago.
ny at the ominous, the well-remembered words.
His first impulse was to rise and fly; but then
the sneers! the sneers!
How many in this world, as we'll as poor
Boyle, have sold their souls to the dread of a
sneer, and dared the wrath Of an almighty and
eternal God, rather than encounter the sarcastic
curl of fellow-creature's lip
He was more than ever piled with wine, ap.
plause, and every other species of excitement,
but in vain. His mirth, his wit, were like the
lurid flashes fromthe bosom ofa brooding thun-
der.cloud, that pass and leave it all darker than
before and his laugh sounded fendish even to
the evil ears that heard it.
The night was gloomy with frequent and fit.
fal gusts of chill and bowling wind, as Boyle
with fevered nerves and a reeling brain, mounted
his horse 10 return home.
The following morning the well-known black
steed was found, with saddle and bride on,
quietly grazing OIL the roadside about halfway
to Boy le's country-house, and few yards from
it lay The stiffened corpse of its master