Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-01-24

4
over his paIelcheek. One arm was
off above the elbow, and there was
q wide scar over the right eye.
The younger final arose and sta.
ted the object Of tie 4. ,ine, and
asked il there was q clergyman pres
ent to openfwith d prayer.
/. Our pafson kept his seat, and the
s., and shSs ! 4 le 9 short pray
al the conc ,,s; -. 3 s|rnarks.
S aud psslsie aas gallery e +,
speaker, using the arguments which
l have oited heard since, and con.
cluded by denouncing those Engaged
in the new movement as meddlesome
fanatics, who wished to break up the
time-honored usages OF good society,
and iniure the business OF respecta.
BILE men. At the conclusion of his
remarks, the tavern keeper and his
friends got up che ers and the curren,
of feeling was evidently against the
strangers and their plan.
While the pastor was speaking
the old man had fixed his dark eve
upon him, and leaned forward MS il
to catch every word. rI !
As the pastor took his seat, the
old man arose, his toll form towering
in its semmetry, and his chest swell.
ed as he inhaled his breath through
his thin, dilated nostrils. ome, il,
that time there WAS something awe
inspiring and grand in the appear.
ancc oil the old imam as he stood
with his full eye i pom the audience
his teeth shut hard and a silence like
that fdeath throughout the church
: He bent his gaze upon the tavern
keeper, and that peculiar eye lin.
gered and kindled= for half mo.
ment. H - !.
The scar grew red upon his fore.
head, and benea iii the heavy eye.
brows his eyes glittered and glowed
like those Of a serpent. The tavern,
keeper quailed before that searching
glance, and | felt h relief when the
old man Withdrew his gaze For q
moment he, seem ed lost in thought
and then in q low andtremulous tone
commenced. There was a depth in
that voice, n thrilling pathos and
sweetness, hieR rivets every heart
in the, house, before tlIe nrsE pcr.od
had been rounded. My fathers at.
tention had become fixed on the
speaker with an Interest which | had
never before scen h..n exhibit.
can but briefly r9 member the SUBJ
stance #of what the Old man said,
though the scene il as vivid before
me as any u have ever witnessed.
/. "My ffriends!-l am q stranger in
your village, and | trust may call
You fi'irnds--a new star has arisen,
and there il hope In the dark night
which hangs like apall of gloom o.
ser our country" With Il thrilling
depth OF voice, the speaker cottinu-
ed; 20 God, thou that lookest with
c6mpassion upon the most eriing of
aarth's children, ! thank thee that a
.razen serpent hasrbeen lifted, upon
Which the drunkard can look and be
flped; that a beacon has burst out
ulon the darkness that surrounds
hin, which shall guide back to hon
Grind heaven, the bruised and weary
wdiderer." -: I . I'M
Ills strange what power there is
in SINE voices. The speaker was
slowend measured, but tear trem-
bled y every tone; and before ! knew
why, tear dropped upon my hand,
FOLLOWED by others like rain drops
The ole man brushed one from his
own eyE, and continued: i
"Men and Christiansl You have
just head thu | am a vagrant
and a faMtic. ! am not. As God
knows myNwn sad heart, came here
to do good Here me and be just. /
u am anpld man, standing alone
at the end ofife's journey. THERE'S
a deep sorro, in my heart, and tears
inmy eyes. have ourneyed over d
dark and beaonless ocean, and all
| life's hopes haze been wrecked, lam
without irient, home or kindred
upon earth, am look with longing
to the rest Of r. night of earth
Without friendskindred or home!-
1t was not SO one. ~:.. =.
No one could athstanl the touch
ing pathos Of TIN old man.. | no
ticed tear trernhn g on the lid Of
my fathers eye, atl ] no more felt
ashamed of my own !. - i
-%"No, my friends, it was not so
once. Away over he dark waves
which have wrecked nv hopes, there
is the blessed light oiappiness and
home. Ireach again 4nyalsiyely for
the shrines of the husehold idols
that once were, now rine no more"
The old manseemedooking away
through fancy upon sole bright Wis
ion. his lips apart, and Us finger ex-
tended. / involuntaril turned in
the direction where it las pointed,
dreading to see some shaS invoked
BY its magic movement.
Il once had a mother. With. her
old heart crushed with sokows, she
tvonf dn,yr ~, fha srrova 1,.an haJ I