Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-02-23

poverty, neglect, and abuse, where she viii
know no more hunger, nor cold, nor cruel
ty, nor sickness, nor death. 1t was great
blessing that she was brought here, te
learn of Christ before death came"
After sermon, her class we're taken tc
Lydia's home. There lay the slender form
on a broken bedstead, while the heart
broken mother wept in agony over her on
ly earthly Joy. The besotted father was
sober that day; but be vas ashamed to ma.
uifest grief,if be felt it; for his neigh
bors who stood around, all knew how
little love be had shown his child while
living. So he sat in doggcd silence, his
garments tattered, the picture Of a consci-
ence-stricken man.
o, what contrast was there between
the condition of the miserable father, and
that of his ransomed child! When the
sObbing mother repeated to them the par
ticulars of her patient suffering and peace
full death, do you think Maria regretted her
tenderness toward her or that she had
not stopped to ask, "What will people say?'
before she called at the house, aud led her
where she learned the love and pity Of the
Savior? Maria herself did no. truly love
Christ, then but she possessed by nature
that noble spirit which made her fearless
when doing right that spirit which fitted
her for future usefulness and endurance.
She was real child, free.hcarted, buoy
ant and happy, acting out her feelings and
not striving to depot herself like the dear
grandmother who graced the hear.hstone
in her huge arm chair. G,d gave the
child this strong spirit Of independence,
for He saw that ste would require it all.
He knew that after her sunny childhood
was over, clouds and darkness we're to
overshadow her, and that she would need
strength of heart and firm trust in Him to
carry her over the thorny road
While she was yet young, her father
died aud then, although Maria had less
Of enjoyment and more Of care, she never
repined. She felt that as she had enjoyed
hitherto life Of ease, it was not strange
that she should have her turn Of care
and toll. Hopefully and cheerfully she
applied herselfto the domestic duties which
now devolved upon her. Her outdoor e1-
ercise when child, had made her consti-
tuition strong to endure her present labor;
end the spirit was just as buoyant, the eyes
just as cl-at and blue, when performing
her work at home, as wien in former daye
she rowed the boat with her brothers or
worked with them in the garden. She ask
ed not the pity of her rich friends, nor did
she shun them when in her home attire.
"What Till people say ," never troubled
her in childhood about her play, nor did
it now when in the path Of duty.
Long years have passed, since then Ma
ria has been the mistress of home Of
taste and wealth. Love there gathered its
treasures around her, and with keen re-
lish and true gratitude 70 God did sic en-
joy her blessings, and retain independence
to do right, though it might be strangely
a. variance with the hollow etiquette of
the world.
But change, change, is written on all
below. Another Maria, much like the
one of twenty-five years ago, now sits by
her side to comfort and cheer her as she
did another then. The strong arm on
which the mother and her little ones lean
ed has failed them, and with the husband
vanished also the means Of support. Then
one brother offered to take Maria, and an
other to take the Oldest boy, and q rich
but vain cousin to adopt tho baby, and
somebody else to take care of the mother.
But do you suppose that one who dared to
do just right when child, would shrink
from mothers holy work, fold her hands,
dim her eyes with uuavailing tears, and
allow The lambs Of her fold to be scattered,
for fear Of rhot people ,could say should
she put her hands to toll for their dear
sakes! No, her heart is too fond and her
hope tco strong for that; SO she disdains
the hint that in that way she may still
seem like lady-aud pile, her needle on
the tasteful embroidery. Thus she keeps
d home, where tie split of discomfort
never comes. She neither Graves the smile
of false world, nor breads ,chas people
viu soy of her. Care and sorrow have
chasteued deeply her buoyant spirit but
they hav. not broken down her indepen.
dence, nor shaken her trust in God. You
would love, if you knew her, to sit down
with her happy children at their freside,
and hear from her lips the tales Of her
merry childhood. If she weeps-and we
know she does-cver her buried joys, it is
when her little darliugs are sleeping; for
she will not dim their early years by max
ing them partners Of her grief She knows
too we'll the worth Of . free and happy