The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-09-28

my father; it was not much then; IL VIZ
some disrespeciful name ,ha, ! gave MN
such as speaking Of him as the old Cover
nor at home. instead Of saying my Ia
,her.' Well, he did no, seem 10 notice IL a
all a, that time, bu, day or two a'serward'
he took quie, opportunity Of reminding
me OF wha, said SO flippan'ly, and ot en-
treating me as valued Gods blessing, and
as desired to have pleasant recollec'icns ol
the pas, days when ! grew older, never 70
think or speak lightly of my father OF
mother. ~
1t is strange perhaps, but | never 'forgo'
that mild and gentle reproof; it did me
good, and l respected him more than ever,
ailer that, though he was 80 mean ABOUT
money.
That was not IN. only iimo in which
Westerton exercised an influence over me
for my good.
One Of our clerks was a gay wild fellow,
and once almost persuaded mo 10 60 with
him in the evening 10 the theatre. I Ger.
iainly should have gone il Westerton had
no, heard Of my intention, and called me
10 his desk when business was over. Then
he spoke SO pleasantly, and yet SO serious
ly, about the dangers and temptations to
which | was about to expose myself-o
the obstacles that would be thrown in the
way Of my success, and the grief it would
be 10 my parents il ! should become fond
Of this kind Of amusements; and more
than all he added, such pursuits ohen prove
the downward road 10 eternal ruin-that
promised him I would give up my in,en'
,ion and | did.
had afterwards great reason TO respect
him for il, for the young man I shouldhave
gone with turned out very badly, and
nigh, have been like him. But then wha
a pity j, was that Weslerton was so mean
No, 10 make this part OF my story any
longer, Nr.W Wes,erlon leh The counlins-house
a, las, afer being ihere Q good many
years. |, seemed strange, bu, though he
had such a character Of miserline,s, almos
every one was sorry when he was gone
Some time aherwsrd We saw in the papers
that Henry Wes,er,on was :narried--marriet
at Las, 10 the lady he had kept waiting SC
long; and We thought that she was no
much 10 be envied, especially when We re-
membered his starving ways about his din
ners, and how cheap he used 10 gel them.
ltwss great many years amer this, ant
when | was second clerk at our counting
house, iha, was invited TO spend an even
ing at the house Of an old friend who livct
few miles out of tho city. had 10 60 BY
mail, and was 10 sleep a, my itisnd's house
and GO, back by an early train mex, day.
On entering the carriage, there was on'
other person ,here-a middle aged gentle
man, whose looks, for moment, puzzle,
me. ] felt sure iha, had known him, o
me, him Gbu, could not remember when o
where. The puzzle did not last long; 70
he no sooner spoke than knew the voice
it was ,ha, oil Henry Wes,erion. ] made
myself known 10 him.
And ye, could hardly persuade mysel
,ha, my fellow passenger was the sam,
Henry Westeron / had known in o,he
dsys might be mistaken TO be sure bu
il struck me tina, he had abandoned hi
miserly ways; but then, perhaps the posi-
tion he held compelled him 10 appear vel
dressed, and he nigh, be mean for all ,ha,
made these remarks silently Of course
while our conversation went on; and aher
little time I found my suapicions and iorme
prejudices melting away, for tho time a
least. Let me explain how and why.
am the son Of pious parents, and hat
been trained in TIE nurture and admoni
lion Of the Lord This is Scripture phrase
and an expressive ono; I trust that many
Of my readers know BY experience what !
means. BY Gods mercy, and in answer Il
The prayers Of those parents, had been pre-
served from the illuminating influences o
irreligious and viciou, companions, though
had not been free, as I have shown, from
their cn,icemenis, 10 which. in one instance
a, least, l had almost consented; but l hat
no, in my more youthful days, given my
heart 10 the Savior. It had pleased Goo
however, 4, a sOmewha. later period, TO ena
BILE me TO make this unspeakably blessed
choice.
I, was natural, then, when accidentally
encountered my former fellow clerk, 10 ex'
press 10 him my gri,ude that he had, on the
occasion to which have referred, inierpos.
ed his kind and gentle influence, SO as to
draw me back from what might have been
the commencement Of swifl and constant.
ly accelerated downward course.
did so; and this gaveia turn 10 our con-
versalion which made us regret tho shorI
distance we had to travel together; and
when he leh the carriage he put his card
into my hand, and gave me pressing in.
viiation to his house in tha, neighborhood.
When he was gone, I remained alone in
tho carriage, my mind was naturally rever.
ted TO the Christian intercourse had enjoy
cd, and then as naturally TO the thoughts
we had formerly entertained Of Wesierton
| certainly could not reconcile these. Hi
conversation had been deeply experiment
tai in the religion which, le, scofFers say
what they will, is the direct antagonist ol
selishnes, and which tells US in express
terms iha, the love Of money is the roOI
Of all evil i, had slowed, TOO, with ex'
passive benevolence. But then the habit
of saving and boarding which, nobody
could deny, had brought upon him not the
coniemp, bu, the derision certainly OF hi.
fellows.
'Ah, WE'LL I thought to myself, 'tht