Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-05-16


q sudden relicf--relief from that parched
| scorciling bitterness, E4l5th 8asrapidly drying
up The yery; lile-lloolI oi her heart ~,
She wept and prayed. She cast her bur-
-deas upon her Saviour ami felt that she could
i=bc submissive. She felt dcsolate, however
alone in the world, with no one to care FOR
her, but Jesus, and she prayed earnestly that
she might soon be with him. But how strange
I! have been his ways-wllat dream; has been
! the recent history OF ny life, and yet how
7! rea!; and she picked up the parchment, and
read ii over and over. and gazed long. with a
/ perplexed. anxious look, at the signature.
4 1T vas him rescnei me, no doubt; but if my
I fathers suspicious were iust, I hope l may
never see his face,'' and Vertitia tossed the
! parchment into the corner. and hid her face
/ in heI hands. -:
/ Weeks rolled away The storm of perse-
cution still ragged. The streets and lanes of
the City were strened with unburried bodies
Yertitia seemed indifferent as to her fate
Indeed she seemed, at times, very anxious to
die, though she felt it her duty to live and
make herself uscful, as long as the Lord viii
led. She went out iudiderently on the streets,
spending most CT her time in visiting the
families 0fthe poor and afflicted. In the evs-
ming, she was in the habit of visiting the now
, desolatc and deserted family mansion. She
would stroll for hours through the grounds,
viewing the flowers; CT, seated in the little ar
Dor, she would think Of the heavenly world,
and sing Of the Kew Jerusalem.
One evening, as she thus sat, with her eyes
raised TO heaven, and with visions Of glory
pictured out before her, shc was suddenly
startled BY strange voice, as Of sonit one IN
deep distress. 1t proceeded from behind
{ thick cluster Of vines not far from the ar5or.
She lis:ened--it Was The voice oc some ono en-
gagged IN prayer, but i: was the prayer of
heart in intense, bitter agony. The cry for
mercy vas mingled with the most bitter self
reproachings.
'.NYho can il be, . thought. Veirtitia OF
course, it is cue Of our prosecuted sect; but
why sech bitterness and agony ? Does not his
blood clense fron 81! sin7''
She listened again.
s'Thcre! there, now! that's the prayer of
hope-yes, OF one who has found the Saviour
precious. lie has just laid hold of the cross
by faith. How strange Wonder who it is
sone one, perhaps, like myself, who has
come hither 10 pray and mediate alone. Ell
sec.'
Yertitia rose 70 her feet. and slowly proccc-
ded up the walk, i'll she could see behind the
thick cluster i-siacs. Through the dusty
shadows, she could observe the outline of
tall form kuelt on the Garth, the hands clasped
tightly across the breast, and the fact turued
to tie distant skies. For moment She hes;-
tatcd what to do-whcther to make known her
presence, or quietly withdraw from the
grounds. But just as she concluded to DO the
latter, rs At least the most prudent, the man,
with a bitter sigh, rose to his feet. His eyes
were instantly upon her. Though fully sat
siAfied that he WAS a Christian, Nertitia felt
much eInbai rassed, and turned to walk away.
:.Tlee not from me- said the man, implo-
ringlyi s'if youihaye any word of comfort. I'm
z man of unclean lips--a wretch uaIone, with
out the mercy Of God in Christi
= Yertitia,s tenderest sympathies were walked
She. knemahe bitter anguish Of asoul under
Conviction. She tUrhed, and walked tow&Tds
him. AS tke iesseniiig shadows revealed the
features, she threw, mp her hands, and uttered
a faint, trembling cry. 7,sss aoaI rs- as's aa5
1t was Marcusl l'F s COZ, 'a. EaHs
The fears of Valens proved unfoundea This
NOBLE ard generous young officer, though
deeply wounded, and carried away by the
audden rush of his feelings, had not, IN fact,
betrayed the family. a remark, however,
which had Inadvertently escaped his lips. as
he accompanied his eager and excited friend
to the great square, as related, had ledto their
arrest. From the moment Marcus had learn
ed this, he was The most wretched and unhap
py ofbcngs. He resolved at once TO do. all
in his power to save them. He was present
in the Forum the night of Vertitias trial; and
with the help of Dannus, an inferior officer
under his command, has succeeded in rescu-
ing her, as stated, from ;.worse fate than even
death itself. He had likewise made the most
daring and determined efforts 10 save the life
OF Yaicns, but without success. lie was pres
cnt at his DEATH with faint hope still linger-
ing in his breast; but he was there only to en-
durc the bitter agony Of seeing him die, and
to witness, with still greater horror, the tragi-
cal end Of Valencia. aEa
But God had him there for purpose of his
own, He designed 10 oEerrule oEerrrule 'he 'he 'eliiroiS 'eliioiS
tragedy TO the glory of his name. A religion,
for which its disciples would thus suffer death,
and which could SO wonderfully sustain man
in his last moments, Marcus justly concluded
must be fac.-a reality From that moment
he resolved to embrace it. He had sought an
interview with one or two Christian friends,
by whom he was instructed in its leading and
- 1far~ "