The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-03-30
Avn un,eresrin. Tncldenr.

Free thinkers and infdels often ridicule reli.
gon, and those who embrace 1t, but there IS that
within them that tells them that religion is reality
and that those who actuated by lis spirit, and
governed by its principles, are entitled 10 conh.
dence and respect.
The following anecdore related to Us few
days since. IL has probably been p0bilshed and
better than can tell it-but IL will bear repetl-
ton.
Two men were travelling in the far west one
skeptic and the other Christian. The former
was Oh every occasion ready to drnounce religion
as an InIposture, and professors us hyprocrites.-
According TO his own account Of The matter, he al
ways suspected those " no made pretensions 10
piety-fet particularly exposed in The company
Of Chr'stlans-took special care Of his horse and
his pockets when the saints were around him.
hey had travelled late one evening, and were
in lhe wilderness; they at last drew TO a
liary hut and rejoiced the prospect Of shelter,
however humble. They asked admission and OBJ
tanned 1t. But it almost drenry and COM
fortress within Without and there moth
ing prePossessng in the appearance OF the lnha-
bllaEs. These were an elderly man, his vile,
and two ns-sun burnt, hardy and rough
They were apparently hosptabIe, and welcomed
The travellers 10 such h0mely fare the forest af
fordcd: but this air of kindness mgh be assumed 10
deceive them, and the travellers become seriously
u. IL
lonely place, suited to deeds OF rouUrry nav Ut,,~I.
No help was at hand. The two friends commu-
nicated 10 each other their "pprehensions and re-
solved that on retiring to their part of the hut-for
there were two apartments in it--they would Sc
cure it as we'll they could against the entrance
Of their hos-wouid have their weapons of defence
al hand, and would take turns through the night
in watching, SO that one Of them should be con-
stantIy on guard while the other slept.
baS hair fhaU
Joined the family, par,ook OF their homeIy fare,
and spoke Of retiring TO rest. The old man said
it had been his practice in better times, and he
continued i: still, before his family went rest at
night to commend them to God, and il the stran
gers had no objection he would do now The
Christian reioiced to find a brother in the wilder.
ness, and even the skePtic could not conceal his
satis(ac at the proposition. The old man took
down well worn Bible, on which no dust was
gathered, though age had marked it. and read with
reverence a portion of the Sacred Scriptures
He then supplicated the Divine protection, &C.
knowlcdged the divine goodness, and prayed for
pardon, guidance, grace and salvation. He pray
ed,s too, for the strangers tina, they might be
prospered their Journey and at the close OF their
earthly journey, they might have home in Hea
ven. EIe was evidently a OF prayer and that
humble cottage was place where prayer was
wont TO be made.
The travellers retired 70 their apartment. Ac.
cording 10 their previous arrangements, the skep-
tic to have the first watch of the night, but
instead of prmng his pistols and bracing his
nerves Tor the attack, he for wrapping him
self in his great coat and covering himself in his
blanket, as if he had never thought Of danger
His friend reminded him Of their arrangements,
and asked him how he had lost his apprehensions
of danger? The skeptic felt The force oGthe ques-
ton, and of all it impied-and he had the frank
ness to acknowledge that lie could not bnt feel
himself as safe as at New England ireslde in
any house or in any iores; where the Bible
read the old read it, and prayer offered as
the old man prayed -Eaeter NescS Letter.