Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-10-22
999 1855


other children" The children too come
up with their messages Papa said
he didn't want me to study this. =
" Mamma said that was too long a les
son for me, and if Ididn't know it, you
mus mt keep me in She praysf for grace
to do her duty. Finally she does whip
John, and his father is offended. Some
one else thinks she is too indulgent.-
Her heart sickens, and she begins to
conclude she has mistaken her calling.
But thensshe hears of another speaking
approvingly, new life springs up within
her, and 5si1e redouUres ner dfiigrnrvt
to give general satisfaction.
Pleasure trips and parties are plan
ned by the young people around, but
she tolls on. She has no brother to
take her, and many of the young gen
tlemen around think it beneath their
dignity to act the part of a brother to-
wards plain "school marm." Her
patrons too, seem to forget to say,
:" Here is seat in my carriage, let the
children rest little, and come 60 with
US it will do you good. Her rest is
at night on pillow, all bedewed with
with tears, as she instead of sleeping,
wrestles in prayer for some wayward
pupil. But, this is rest indeed, of which
the giddy and the gay know nothing.
Here she obtains strength for the COM
ing day, and goes forward to battle with
perverse human nature. She probably
thinks proper to make some new ar
rangement in the school room, or to en-
force some old regulation; but as she
proceeds she espies across the room
some of her largest girls exchanging
significant glances, or making mouths
at her. She is ready to exclaim, %
how shall [ ever teach while those who
ought to aid me by good example, are
so heartless as to array themselves "a
gainst me !'' q will lecture them,
but no, that will only make them the
more obstinate. I can only pray for
them. Father, forgive them, they know
not what they do
She then tries to go on with her du-
ties as though nothing had pierced her
already lacerated heart. But
now a seat is vacant. A familiar face
is wanting. The absent one is sick
The faithful teacher wends her way to
the sick chamber. The physician thinks
the case a critical one. A dear pupil
lis on the -cdnf6s of the grave apd
tally unprepared. Her parents, tod
are strangers to Christ. Here is hea
Wy cross, but our heroine shrinks not
3 She opens the Bible, and reads the plar
of salvation, and points the dying CIR
to the cross, and bowling with those pre-
/ sent she supplicates rich throne O.
grace.
Similar visits are made, the dying
one is enabled to trust in Jesus, ant
quits the shores of time exultingly. TIL
humble instrumentality of the teache
e has been blessed in the salvation of tn
e pupil. tits enough. She grudges no
/. the sleepless hours she has spent i
1t prayer for her charge. She returns t
) her labors strong in faith, believing tina
# all her bread shall yet be gathered
= though it be after many days.
> And thus as year after year she toll
3, on, the rose fades from her cheek. He
,e friends entreat her to desist; but, "no
= let me alone, l love it; I must work i
rt my Masters vineyard" she replies
e and work she will. But tn
:; time draws near when it shall be sal
Y, unto her, " 1t is enough, come up higl
n er." She calls her friends around he
a "You think strange of me" she say
ID I" for spending my life thus. 1t is tru
ly l have worn my life away, and recei
N ed but little pecuniary compensatlo
40 and less praise of men. But my Ii
We has been far more happy than you in
n. agine. [ have not unfrequently hs
as parents whisper grateful words in n
IL ear, such as My daughter has been
rs much more obedient to me since she h
h. been under your care. You have sa
e, ed my son from ruin. God bless yo
", efforts. The world has not understot
i'll me, but open yonder trunk and re;
ne those letters from my pupils: they u
ed derstand me, and hundreds of them W
en- cluster around me in glory. Then VIII
IS, care | for what the world thinks of me
Is, Farewell, vain world Farewe
ST. friends! Welcome death! Precio
ly Saviour
es Margurita, Rockingham CO., n. G