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

t Of death reignsd around. Withsa dssiI
sigh that had four or i've responses tt
leader at length withdrew his hands. fais
led his head. and took up a hymnsbook
r rtfrom which he selected a hymn and Feat
lit over aloud. Then repeating the fTs
two lines of the frst9yerse, he raised {
tune in which all joined and sang then
over Two more lines were read. and the
singing ngresumed, and thus the whole hymn
was sting, two linesat a time. AfteTthe
last two Ines were repeated. all kneIl
down, and the leader prayed a4l5Gg, loud
and ferventprayer
Then the eading eommeneed. The
frst sister wassasked to relate heFexpe.
rience for the week, which was Done, and
theileader gave her such advice, encour-
agement, consolation or admohition as he
deemed most useful. The next and the
next were called upon, and suitable i1s
lstrqctions impaired 10 each.S Occasional
ly averse of some appropriate hymn was
sung. The whole scene was deeply i'm.
pressive, andcalculated to inspire the most
solemn thought.
At length young sister Shaw was asks
ed to tell what had been her exercises for
the week. In a low, timid, but clear
voice, Ellen made her statement. She
complained OF short comings, of the ten
dency of her heart to lead her away from
spiritual things, of her want of faith-yetI
expressed an earnest desire to be conform.
ed in all things, by the renewing OF her
mind, to the pure precepts Of the Gospel
On taking her seat deep silence oil
some moments followed. Then her lead
er said, in q severe voice
"Sister Ellen Shaw, you complain Of
coldness and want of faith. You have
complained thus ever since you Joined
my class. And no wonder. Heretofore
l have not spoken. to you as freely as
should have done. But, by the help Of
God, l will now do my duty. You will
never be any thing but dropping, way
side professor until you come out and re-
nOunce the world and its lying vanities;
until you make whole sacrifice; Until ev.
cry foolish and vain desire be laid upon
the altar. Do you think this will be ad-
mitted into the Kingdom of HEAVEN -
AS he said this lie stopped down and took
a long, beautiful ringlet Of hair in his fin
gers, and held it up.) ''No, child. all
this must fall before you pass through the
narrow gate. These ribbons and flow
ers''-and he touched roughly her bon
net-"will not go with you beyond the
grave. Death will pale the Colors of this
gay dress. Ah, sister Shaw, il you wish
to be Christian, you must give up all
these; you must give up. the world; you
must let the curls, and ribbons, and flow
crs 60. 1t is vain effort, child; you can
not serve two masters.
This and much more was said in a cruz
ell way. Poor Ellen burst into tears and
wept bitterly. In the innocence Of her
pure, young heart, she feared that all this
might be true, and her distress was more
poignant. On returning home her moth
er saw that she was disturbed and asked
the reason. Ellen related, with over
flowing eyes, what her leader had said
'.Do not let it make you feel so bad.
dear" Mrs. Shaw said, tenderly. l"IfI
you do net set your heart on your dress,
there is no harm in it,"
"But Mr.. Graveman said it is conform
ing to the world, and he, you know, is
such a good man."
Yes, know he is very pious man;
but, for all that, he may be mistaken in
some things. God looks at the heart, Ell
len. and if that is right. all that flows from
it is right to Him. A mere sahctinoni.
Gus exterior is nothing, ii the hear' is not
true in its love. If you curl your hair
with an evilintention. or wear a ribbon or
a flower 70 do harm. then it is sin; but. il
los, ,bag ;s k-i,r nd
tifuI, the precious gifts Of Heaven, you
adorn your person modcslly, be sure that
there is in it no harm. think Woman
should adoru herself, not in gaudy. Aauut
ing cOlorS TO attract admiration, but taste
fully, that she may throw around herself
every thing to make her lovely, and thus
increase her power Of influencing all for
good. A woman. Ellen, is born 10 lie
loved and to love; let every thing in her
mind and person be lovely, and she will
bring blessing to all"
But Ellen's spiritual instructor had
taught her different lesson. How could
she decide? She had great confidence in
her mother, because she knew her well,
and loved her only as a child can love
consistent, wise and good mother; but MI.
Gravemau, whose Piety and knowledge Of
The doctrines which led the way to hea
ven she had never heard questioned. had
said that it was sin to adorn the person.
When Mr.. Shaw came home that even
ing he asked for Ellen.
"She has been in her room since she
came home from her class-meeiing this
afternoon, in great distress OF mind"
How SO ?" Mr.. Shaw's broWs con>
tracted.
"Mr. Graveman has been talking very
harshlyto her. think
"He has What did he say 2"
"He rebuked her before the whole class
r L.. HOwpPy