Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-05-30


and ribbons. and all sorts ofSgewgaws.'
4 "Why, Mr.. Shaw 1 met two of you
little girls minute ago, tricked out lik
butterflies.
I" How were they dressed ?"
" With gay frocks and gay shoes, ant
ribbons and flowers all over"
"Think again What color were
their frocks?"
"What color They were-they
were. Yes, they were white.'
Nature's own sweet emblem of inno
cence-the color Of the virgin lilly. May
their minds be4ever as pure. see nc
harm in a white frock for child, but
good. I always like to see children dres,
sed in White.''
D." Itssmore than do, Mr.. Shaw. Not
one Of my girls ever had or ever shall
have on aashy frock to make her proud
But this was not all. They were bedi.
zened, as l said before, with ribbons and
flowers"
How many ribbons did you see p
Think again, Mr. Graveman."
There we're gay ribbons tied around
their waists, with the ends streaming of
some yard or two behind"
You did not see correctly. Each OF
the little things had pale. blossom col
ored ribbon around her waist, the ends
not over a quarter Of a yard in length
In each Of their little hats was a cluster
of three budding roses and few green
leaves. Dosyou see anything evil in
flowers go
"Ido when in children's hats"
" God made the flowers beautiful and
gave them to US. I thank him for the
gift. Oh if my little babes were as
pure and lovely as the flowers, how my
heart would rejoice keep flower va
ses in my house ,and growing flowers in my
garden and that my children may love
them as ornaments"
e The evil one is binding your mind,
brother Shaw he is leading you away
from truth BY his devices. You must not
conform to the world. Only worldly min
ded people dress up their children with
ribbons and fowers.''
And they eat and drink, also. Be-
cause worldly people eat fruit and Pleas>
ant food shall we use only what is coarse
and unpalata5le l do not think se.-
Every creature OF God is good, and will
use all his gifts 10 thankful spirit, and
then l wilt be in no danger of abusing
them"
Mr.. Graveman expostulated still fur
ther, but without effect.
Il am seriously concerned about bro
ther Shaw, The said to another church
member. ~ am afraid he still longs for
ihe hesh-pots of Egypt-that worldly
spirit. is taking possession Of him. Have
you noticed how gaily his family dress ?"
mot particularly"
They do rot dress like church peo-
pie at ail.''
Shaw is an excellent man. In all the
business L have had with him have
found him strictly honorable. He is one
Of the few who are willing to live and let
live. AS. to the way in which he dresses hi
family that is altogether a matter Of
taste" $50
30. no, not at all i is mater ios
sin. l. is wicked for any one tospa fib
bons and howers on children
shall do my duty as far as am cor
ed. His daughter Ellen is membepof m Y
class. The very next time she comes shall
speak my mind 10 her plainly about the
way she dresses. 1t is scandalous. Isl
any wonder that religion is brought into
di grace whenits professors indulge such
! pride aud vanity %
Ellen Shaw, 10 whom ailrsion had jus!
been made had. from her earliest child
! hood, exhibited sweetness OF temper too
rarely seen. The current of her feelings
and thoughts had always been religious
The consequence was, that she became a
member of the church. and joined class
meeting when only fourteen years oi
age. For two years Mr.. Graveman had
! been her class leader. Sne saw him in
timately in the class room, and his deep
pie:v and professed love Of all holy things
tof the church caused her pure heart &c
invest him with every Christian grace and
virtue, and to bear toward him on this
account deep spiritual regard. To her
, he seemed fsultless.
! Educated at home in school less RI
gid than that in which Graveman was {
teacher, Ellen had not imbited the holy
horror Of what was lovely in exterior
forms that possessed her spiritual guide
and she. under the eye of her mother
used with taste and moderation those or.
-naments which expressed love of tht
beautiful. Her hair was dressed plainly
sometimes. and sometimes it was allowed
to fall about her young face in gratefu
ringlets. Her bonnet was ornamentec
with flower. if it pleased her taste anc
she chose the style of her bonnet in ac
cordance with the same rule. Taste wa
1her guide in dress.
All this was noticed by her class>lea
der, and it stirred within bis heart feel
ing which. little as he dreamed, closel,
analyzed, would have been seen to be an
ger. He called It pious indignation
at sin. II was not so-is was OF the ol
maa Adam. Often had he determined t
speak to Ellen on the subject in class