The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-06-12

| glowing cheek, laid lovingly against the
wrinkied face of age, and its dimpled hands
wandering amid the thin gray locks The
little flock of Woodsile were gathered n
round their minister to lay the corner stone
of the first church that arose in that humble
village. Hitherto their meeting had been
held at the parsonage, OF in the room of
some willing member. They had changed
about from place to place, for the people of
w oodside We're poor they had never heard
OF churches with glowing crimson cushions
and pillars covered with gliding, where the
light comes soft and suhlued through richly
stained windows, and sermons, never meant
for the poor, fall somhingly on the hearts of
those who can afford TO pay for them.-
They were plain and stern people perhaps
minging with their religion too much of
puritanical har<hness-- little disposed! to
| seek enjoyment in the humble events of their
quiet life, Or the glorious teachings of the
wood and stream. the sunsets golden halo,
or the pale, still beauty of even. But theirs
was the right path, though they stoppc, no,
to Gull the flowers that bloomed beside it.
Long sef.denial, and frequent addings to
their little hoard, had increased it so that
now they were able to erect house of wor.
ship. With glad hearts they clustered a.
round their pastor, who had borne with them
through many weary seasons, even as a
father bears with his chihlrcn-who had toll
cd unwearied through the numerous hard
ships that attended their first ctf,rts. No
murmur or word of complaint had passed
his lips; ever ready to soothe and comfort
others. while scarcely a soothing or eucoura-
ging word fell upon his own ear. There is
something ineNpressibIy solemn in the lay
ing OF cornerstone; to reflect that while
the yet unfinished edifce resounds with the
steps of breathing life, and the voices of an
other generation, we shall he sleeping that
sleep which knows no waking save in an
other world that wir~ii froi;s is crumhng
| foundations are raised tho names of those
ded stone, the hands that traced will he
moudcring in the dust.
The minister spoke of these things, and n
solemn awe crept into the hearts o! his hear
ers. Ave may indeed" said he, "frst Law
the hand TO this good wo;k, but we know
not the end. We cannot gaze forward into
the shadowy future, and read what is there
inscribed. Many" he continne,l. with fal.
tcrng voice, "many may have passed from
this earthly life, when the frs, anthem OF
praise shall swell upward from the temple
we are now erecting" Here every eye was
turned on old Mary Elton, who had long
passed the allotted age of man; and as she
heard the words she bowed her trembling
head : and cast those aged ewes on the
foundation OF that building which she never
expected to behold. With sad,lcucd hearts
the little congregation passed slowly TO their
homes, and the family circle WAS q quiet
and solemn one, as they unused on the trem-
bling voice OF their pastor and called 10
mind the paleness OF his brow. and the
sharpcned teautures-sharpened 10y toll and
| care. ,,-.
lie too mnse,, hut it was Of the pas;.-
Slowly and distinct y lose up those many
images; they were shadows that hung about
his path and darkened ever his couded way.
They showed him n hoy with clustering
locks and happy, careless face, whose laugh
burst forth in clear, ringing tones, as IN am
bilious father told him of future greatness
and countless honors-of talents that would
shine splendidly forth upon the great world,
and wealth that should all be his Then
they showed him youth VINO set out upon
journey to pursue II delu>ive phantom, and
10! ! in the leceitful chase he found price
less pearl which he placed within his
bosom. But there were those whose eyes
were blinded; who, instead Of precious
stone, saw only common pebble, and they
laughed and jeered at him for treasuring the
worthless thing. Then he held it up to the
light, and it was pure and fautless, and he
flung it not aside. Then came the father
he too saw it with blinded eyes. and com.
manded the wayward youth to give up to
his foolish pebble. and pursue the glorious
journey. But voice was in his pearl and
it whispered: "rhou shalt give up father
and mother for HiY sake :" and he was a
wanderer from his fathers house.