True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-05-28

God--the God of the Uaiversc, but not
of the Bible "ot "
"fhen,' said Ellen, 'you are an infdel.'
Yes he replied, 4 am an inlidel, and
what do you think of it!
Il think of it with anguish, for it must
seriously affect both you and me- "
In what way 2 he asked. 4 hope
you do not mean that it will affect what
exists between us
yes. William, it will
Then | am to understand that you
wish to break off the engagement
be mo, William, did not, and do not
wish to break il off. But I'll never mar
ry an infdel, however much ] love him
neuer, never.' ...
As she finished this sentence she burst
into fresh flood, and William rose and
lelL TIC TOOIu.
How responsible, how painful, andy yet
how interesting are The duties Of a moth
er! On her teachings, her examples,
and her prayers, depend, in great meas
ure, The destinies of her children; to her
has been intrusled the power of moulding
minds that are immortal. Let her breathe
into that young, inquiring spirit holy
thoughts and heavenly aspirations let
her impIant in that opening mind the
germs of truth, virtue and religion; lei
her prayers like the dews descending on
the green earth, accompany and follow
each effort let her in a word, Train up
her child in the way it should co. and
the great probability is, that when he is
old he will not depart from it, She may
see her much loved son, after all her pray
ers, and tears, and holy admonitions, teal
himself from home, with all its influence:
wander out upon the world, needless
and wicked, without God and without
hope /; but her prayers follow him and the
teachings of childhood are with him, anC
the thought of home, with all its holy as
socialions, will call up, with thrilling eff.
feet, those long-forgotten truths, learned
in infancy from loved mothers lips
and 'the bread cast upon the waters will
be seen after many days
Such were my reflections as | return
ed to my young friend to inform him thai
had written to his mother and 10 ellen.
He had not written TO them, nor heard
from them since he left home, few
days after the conversation with Ellen.
Six months had passed since he lefr
his mother in tears, and Ellen even with.
out even parting word. With full con-
fdence in his professional abilities, he
pushed onward to the far west determin-
ed 10 battle with the world, and struggle
up to eminence and wealth. But his hab.
lis were not to be broken off. WaS!elu
and disslpated, his means failed and no
moving what might have been the mex
step in his downward course of sin; bu
God arrested him in his mad career, and
hrnu ght him down to the door of death
Throughout his sickness | watched
over him with the most intense anxiety
| could not but fear that, like many | have
known, when health returned, his hopes
would vanish, and all his resolutions be
forgotten. Three weeks had passed since
frs, / visited him. 1t was the night oI
our cllulch meeting. The usual invita-
tion being given for persons to present
themselves, who wished 10 unite with
The church, William, still quite feeble
came forward, related his experience tc
the church-aIl of whom were in tears
and was received for baptism. The Sab
bath dawned; clou dless and happy was
tina. morning-never shall il be forgotten
by me. We. walked in procession to
where the ordinance was usually per
formed. We approached the waters
edge. 1t was quiet, beautiful place
The bright sheet of water, with its rip
ping waves, sparkled beneath the morn.
ing sun, while the birds sung joyfully
among the tall trees that threw their long
shadows across that beautiful stream.
The song and prayer ascended to heav-
en-, while tear trembled in every eye
And there in the presence Of assembled
men, and witnessing angels, / baptized
him in the name of the Father, and ofthe
Son, and Of the Holy Ghost.
oh +! ! thought, as we came up out Of
the water, could his dear old mother see
him now, what joy unutterable would fill
her heart. A cry was heard, and a ven
cradle female, rushing towards us and