The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1856-04-03

uTgeu tue pieuges ms wife put In her. pro
foundly earnest, almost frantic plea. She
felt this, indeed, TO be the hour Of destiny.
"Do you think / can keep it r said, at
length, the miserable man, once so promising.
now SO fallen. ais il possible for me to be
savedp
1t is said with confidence and hope !;
you can keep it, ] know. you can. In the
name ofhumanity and religion, try it dear
John, and God will help you." At last he
consented. We knelt down on the earth
there, was no chair, no table in the house.
| took out the pledge, which / always carry
in my pocket, placed it on the stool where
Mary had been sitting, and banded him my
pencil. He wrote his name, thank God
Notwithstanding his condition, it was beau
tifully written, as afterwards observed, for
he was an excellent scholar. We Gid not
iise till | had relieved my overburdened
heart in prayer, and / prayed with all my
struggling soul, and his despairing wife join.
ed ne in the solemn invocation, that the
Father Of mercies would receive the return
ing prodigal TO his arms, and that he might
never 90 astraY again. it was now quite
time for me to 60 and resume my journey !;
but | could not leave the town before called
upon the class leader, left him some money
for the family, and. enjoined upon him to
look after them, and throw around John the
seed ofall good Influences, to prevent his suf.
fering relapse. Whatever further charges
he should incur on their account. pay as
soon as informed of them. -rs,
Another decade rolled by, during which
no tiding came to me at the East from this
interesting couple. At length I was called
again to visit those Western regions, and to
pass near the residence of this unfortunate
brother, On reaching the town, my disap-
pointment was extreme to learn that he had
removed to distant country. / anticipa-
ted misfortune /; but rs the place designated
was not far from my intended route, / re-
solved to 90 and see him. When entered
the town Off,, where John was said to
live, made enquiry for his dwelling, and
was told it was the second house on the left
hand side of the road. Being now so near,
hastened onward eagerly, and presently a
nice frame building painted white appeared.
| could not help putting up prayer that
my dear friend might be so happy as to oc-
cupy any house half as respectable as this.
Expectation now became painfully intense.
What in mercy was sent to see A scene
like that or worse, which ten years before
left such awful traces on the memory, never
to be obliterated 7 could not tell. At a
sudden turn in the road, thought discern
ed another white house in the distance
among the trees yes, it is so, with green
blinds; and as went nearer, gravelled walks
were seen, a handsome paling, and ornamen-
tai trees and shrubbery. Surely there is
some mistake in the direction, this can't be
Johns home yet it is the second on the
Ileft. 4 ay 8e,ai gaGsi1a %.
Fastening my beast to hook, I went to
the door and knocked. A girl, just on the
verge Of womanhood, opened il.
Does Mr.. McL---d live here T asked
with trembling.
! lie does, sir T. ---,--4-.--ssa-.EL-.....L----
is he or his wife at homei'
Mother is within, but father is in the
field. Please walk in, SIR
My eye glanced through the open parloi
door. A fine carpet covered the floor. There
were handsome chairs and other furniture
but saw no more, for Mrs. Mod by
this time was informed of a gentleman's ar.
rival and lost no time in making her appear.
ance Good God ! was all remember To
have heard from her, as she rushed for ward
on seeing me, and clasped me- by the neck
She almost tainted and shed a food Of tears
and my own condition was not much more
composed. Recovering little, she inform.
ed me that her husband was at home,
but out upon the farm. Too impatient to
wait, hurried away TO see him. He mot me
as he was coming home. AS soon as he knew
who 1t was, he ran forward and grasped me
in his arms, saying as he strained me to his
bosom A24s tE
!, Thank God thank God you are my
savior under heaven. This is all your work,
looking around. %, am rejoiced to see
that you are here TO see it.
! When We had returned to'the house, the
ten year's history Of struggle, repentance and
reformation was recounted. Prosperity was
the consequence. The dwelling was his,
the farm and all. His wife was happy. The
beautiful young girl, almost . young lady
how, was the dirty child that was crawling
on the ground on my first visit. There were
three more children now. And to crown
the whole, he said; - .a@e
after had perssvered year in abatin-
encs according 10 that blessed pledge, taken
on that awful day, on the stool In the log
hut, which rises to me sometimes with spec
trail borror-after keeping IL sacredly year,
committed myself to the church Of which
my wife, who has been an angel helping me.