The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-31
the tender pinions of the song. BE went on


Shll will remember thec.n
BY the light of the moon, he saw a tear steal
from under the long lashes, and course slowly
down her cheek. He continued his song:
Mine is eternal love,
higher than the heights above
Deeper than the depths beneath,
True and faithful, strong as death
Thou shalt see my glory soon,
When the work of faith is done;
Partner of my throne shalt be,
Say, poor sinner lovst thou me"
y, love of Christ which no sin can weary.
which no lapse of time can change; from
winch tribulation, persecution, and distress,
cannot Observation-Disclosures all-glorifying,
changing even death and despair to the gate
OF heaven! Thou hast one more triumph here
IN the wilderness, in the slave coff1e, and Thou
CONTEST to bind up the brokenhearted.
AS the song ceased, she opened her eyes.
Mother used to sing thatl" she said.
Z" And can you believe in it, daughter?"
Yes," she said, see Him now! He loves
me Let me got"
There followed few moments of those
struggings and shiverings which are the birth
pangs of another life, and Emily Law at rest
Father Dickson, knesling by her side, poured
out the fulness of his heart in an earnest
prayer. Rising, he went up to the trader, and,
taking his hand, said to him
My friend, this may be the turning point
with your soul for eternity. 1t has pleased the
Lord to show you the evil of your ways; and
now my advice to you is, break off your sins
at once, and do works meet for repentance.
lake Oh the shackles of these poor creatures,
and tell them they are at liberty to CO."
Why, bless your soul, sir, this yer lots
worth ten thousand dollars |" said the trader,
who was not prepared for so close a practical
application.
Do not be too sure, friend, that the trader
is peculiar in this. The very same argument,
though less frankly stated, holds in the bonds
OF Satan many extremely wellbred, refined,
respectable men, who would gladly save their
souls, if they could afford the luxury.
My friend" said father Dickson, using the
words of a very close and uncompromising
preacher of old, "what shall it profit a man if
ne should gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul?"
81 know that" said the trader, doubtfulIy;
but it's very hard case, this. I'll think
about it, though. But there's father Bonnie
wants to buy Nance. 1t would be pity to
disappoint him. But I'll think it over"
Father Dickson returned to the camp-ground
between one and two o'clock at night, and, put
ting away his horse, took his way to the ministers
tent. Here he found father Bonnie standing out
In the moonlight. he had been asleep within the
tent; but it is to be confessed that the interior
OF a crowded tent on camp-ground is anything
but favorable to repose. He therefore came
out into the fresh air, and was there when father
Dickson came back to enter the tent.
"Well, brother, where have you been solate?"
said father Bonnie.
have been looking for few sheep in the
wilderness, whom everybody neglects," said
father Dickson. And then, in tone tremulous
from agitation, he related to him the scene he
had just witnessed.
"Do you see he said, brother, what iniuui-
ties you are countenancing? Now, here, right
next to Our QUEEN, camp, 2 slaye,cofie eneamped
letters through our land, shaming us in the
sight OF every Christian nation What horrible,
abominable iniquities are these poor traders
tempted to commit! What perfect bells are
the great trading-houses, where men, women,
and children, are made merchandise Of and
where no light of the Gospel ever enters And,
when this poor trader is convicted of sin, and
wants to enter into the kingdom, you stand
there to apologize for his sins Brother Bon.
ME, much fear you are the stumbling block
over which souls will stumble into hell. I don't
think you believe your argument from the Old
Testament, yourself. You must see that it has
no kind of relation to such kind of Slavery as
we have in this country. There's an awful
Scripture which saith: He feedeth on ashes
3 deceived heart hath turned him aside, so thathe
cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not
lie in my right hand ~"
The earnestness with which father Dickson
spoke, combined with the reverence commonly
entertained for his pety, gave great force to his
words. The reader will not therefore wonder
10 hear that father Bonnie, impulsive and easily
vo1 L. Al
moved by the exhortation. Nor will he be sur
Drised to learn that, two weeks after, father
Bonnie drove brisk bargain with the same
raider for three new hands.
The trader had discovered that the Judgment |
lay was not coming yet while; and father |
Bonnie satisfied himself that Noah, when he |
lwoke from his wine, said, "Gursed be Canaan" |
We have one scene more to draw, before we |
lisnsiss the auditors of the camp meeting.
At late hour, the Gordon carriage was wind
ng its way under the silent, checkered, wood
and path. Harry, who came slowly on horse
behind, felt a hand laid on his bride. With q
uddsn start, he stopped.
80, bred, is it you? How dared you--how
ould you be so imprudent? How dared you
ome here, when you knov you risk your life2"
Life said the other, "what is life 2" he
hat loveth his life shall lose it. Besides,
he Lord said unto me, Go! The Lord is with
ne as a mighty and terrible one Harry, did
ou mark those men? Hunters of men, their
lands red with the blood of the poor, all seeking
INTO the Lord, Ministers who buy and sell us!
s this people prepared for the Eords I left
man dead in the swamps, whom their dogs
ave torn His wife is widow-his children,
rphans They eat and wipe their mouth, and
az, What have done p The temple of the
lord, the temple of the Lord, are we !"
know it, said Harry, gloomiiy.
Sand you join yourself unto them"
"Don't speak to me any more about that !
7on't betray you, but won't consent to have
Hood shed. My mistress is my sister,"
80, yes, to be surel They read Scripture,
ont they? Cast out the children of the bond
7omanl That's Scripture for theml"
nred," said Harry, Il love her better than
love myself Twill fight for her to the last,
mt never against her, nor hers
"And you will serve Tom Gordon ?" said
bred.
"Neverl" said Harry.
bred stood still moment. Through an
pening among the branches, the moonbeams
dreamed down on his wild, dark figure. Harry
emarked his eye fixed before him on vacancy,
he pupil swelling out in CLASSY fulness. with a
xed, somnambulic stare. After moment he
poke, in hollow, altered voice, like that of a
leep-walker:
Then shall the silver cord be loosed. and
he golden bowl be broken. Yes, cover up the
rave-cover it upl Now, hurry | come to me,
! be viii tske thy wife for preyl"
bred, what do you mean " said Harry.
What's the matter" He shook him by the
nouides.
bred rubbed his eyes, and stared ON Harry.
u must 60 back" he said, "to my den.
Foxes have holes, the birds of the air have
ests,' and in the habitation of dragons the