Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1855-08-15
Contributions.
Written for the Monmouth Weekly Herald.
IDOL WORSHIP.
BY BEATRICE.
BY BEATRICE.

Some years since it pleased God to al
low for little while, a ray from His holy
shekinah to alight upon our threshold
It came in the form of an infant brother;
how we loved the little one none can tell
He was the very personi6cation Of infan-
tile grace; his chubby little hands were
extended in friendship to all; a heavenly
smile Illuminated his CONFERENCE.-The
brow was calm and unruffled as the bosom
of lake.
Lowlv we bent at the shrine of the wee
one who held our very heart-strings in
his tiny hands. Life, Death, Eternity,
all were swallowed up in this one thought
-love for our idol Softly we bent over
him and watched the varied changes of
his countenance as he slumbered, and
were ever by his side to catch the first
bright glance from his eye as he awaken
ed. Soon there came dark, fearful day
for us all.
Our idol was sick-sick unto death !;
his mild blue eyes were partially closed;
his little chest heaved slowly and painful
ly; his hands lay languidly by his side,
and the deathdews gathered upon his
brow. Oh! how earnestly we prayed
that he might be spared to US; how eager
| ly we watched for change in his most
dangerous symptoms, but all to no pur
pose: the Death angel had marked him
for his own.
We knelt beside him and prepared our
selves for the final stroke; not long was
it delayed a sweet smile o'erspread his
features, halo Of light seemed to rest
upon his brow, one faint struggle at the
fountain head Of life, and all was over
The casket lay before US, but the gem was
lost, irrecoverably lost. A shadow seemed
to rest upon US, desolation reigned within
and without. We laid him to rest in the
little churchyard and turned toward our
lonely home, inwardly cursing God in the
bitterness of our Affections.
Years fitted by. Again and again was
our home circle entered by the remorse-
less tyrant One by one the earth's ties
were severed until | was left entirely
alone. Darkness reigned triumphant
No thought had for any but the lost
Time passed on, another came, bright,
beautiful being. who lowered near me-
and spoke words of peace and love to my
disorded mind. Soon l felt a new life
being instilled into me. l once more
lived and felt myself Of the inhabitants Of
EARTH
My whole existence seemed to be en-
tirely swallowed up in man-worship.-
Bright visions Of the future danced before
me again I knelt devout worshiper al
the shrine of an earthly idol. Happiness
was within my reach. Alas like the ig
mas tatuus it eluded my grasp when it
seemed nearest to me-
One after another had my idol shrines
been deseerated by the great Reaper, anu
yet one more victim remained for the al
tar.
Brightly the hectic flush tinged his
cheek; clearly the death-light burned il
his eye, and knew that the spoiler was
soon to rob me of my heart-king Now
indeed had the iron entered my soul; my
brain was as sea of molten lead; wildly
| begged for mercy of Him whom | hac
but just now cursed; begged Him to spare
this my last and only treasure; but even
as | ceased my wild, incoherent prayer
his spirit passed away, leaving me doubly
alone. Closely did l strain him to my
throbbing heart, and strive to call bach
the life-tide to his breast, but in vain
Then sort Of indiscribable calmnes
took possession of me; fearless I gazet
upon his placid features, smoothed bacl
the raven tresses from his forehead, anC
quietly arranged his limbs, knelt beside
him. taking his cold hand in mine, l triet
to pray; my voice was choked, my hear
swelled even to bursting; hot, binding
tears came at last to my relief. | saw
myself in my own hideousness; read the
secrets of my own heart; l had worship
ed the creature rather than the Creator
had made unto myself other gods befor,
Him, and this was my punishment; ye
who shall say that the retribution wa
not just