Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-08-27

sThesHon. Jno. NJ. Clayton, of Delaware,
had two sons, his only children, James and
Charles. They both died as they entered man
hood. The father has recently followed them
to the spirit land. Charles was talented and
His father lavished upon him the
wealth of his affections. He sent him to Paris
and Rome to perfecthis education. Soon after
his return home, consumption, that destroyer
of SO many youthful prospects, settled upon
him. The best medical aid was called in re-
QUESTION. He was under the care Of DR.. Cou-
per. Death approached slowly, but with
steady pace. l learned that no minister of the
Gospel had been to see him. / was not perso-
nally acquainted with him or his father, but |
was well acquainted with James. Impressed
with the conviction that | ought to visit him,
and present to his mind the subject Of religion, |
determined to make the attempt. Discour- !
aging thoughts arose in my mind. How did | |
know that visit to the young man would be
acceptable from stranger The father also |
might be displeased at the intrusion of stran
ger upon the privacy of his son. I could get
no one to introduce me. knew that Mr.. Clay |
ton would receive mo politely as visitor but
feared that my object would be displeasng
and my message rejected or disregarded.
With many fears, walked from beighbor's
house, and arrived at the home of Mr.. Clay
ton just before his dinner hour. l rang the
bell, supposing that servant would come to
the door, and hoping that James might be at
home, who would inform me of the probability
of an interview with his brother But, TO my
surprise, Mr.. Clayton came to the door him
self. introduced myself to him as best /
could, but did not inform him that was a min
lister. The period of my visit was soon after
General Taylor's election, and apoltical friend
OF Mr.. Clayton was on visit at his house.
Contrary to my expectation, invited me into
the parlor, and introduced me to his friend.
Strange feelings came over me at that hour.
| What to do or what to say, or how explain the
| the object of my visit, l knew not. MIR. Clay
ton was scanning me, and probably thinking
was some politician seeking Office. He asked
what was the news. told him knew of none.
This seemed to confuse him he took up his
newspapers, and threw them down. The con-
versatiOn between himself and his friend ceased.
His eye scanned me more closely, and it SEEM
ed that he could not make up his mind con-
corning me. My position was exceedingly un-
pleasant. The perspiration was 6 .thering in
drops upon my brow. Just at that critical
moment. his son James came into the room,
greeted me kindly, and invited me to his apart
ment. told him my business. He remarked
that the servant had taken his brother Charles
to ride, and would soon be back that Charles
did not converse much, as it hurt him to talk.
| The brother soon returned when I was intro
duced to him, and politely received. Dinner
was ready, but had dined at the old fashioned
hour OF twelve O'Clock. begged to be left alone
and the young men retired to their dining-room
| While there suppose James informed his bro
Their who was, and what was the nature of my
visit. was planning how should approach
Charles upon the subject of religion; and
whlle thus absorbed i'll thought, l felt an arm
afectionately laid about me. turned, and it
was Charles Clayton, who addressed me thus /:
"Sir, cannot bear to see you alone cannot
eat unless you come and sit with us at the
| table, told him that, for his qualification
would do as he wished. Soon after | was
seated at table, he started the subject of Ro-
manlsu. lie said that he had seen it at head
quarters at Rome and that the cardinals were
proud and hanghty; and that he dsliked the
whole system. He added that, in his doctrinul
views, no was Methodist from conviction.
This remark placed me at ease, and | felt at
liberty to speak freely.
After dinner, he invited me to his private
chamber. He took up Bible, and SAID that
klnd lady friend had presented it to him. He
then requt sted me to select some chapters
suitable to his condition. l did SO, and among
others, the eighth chapter of Romans. lie
pulled my chair up to bis, and | saw, from the
tremulous tear in hrs eye, that this motherless
ana slsterless young man wanted to unburthen
| a sln-Oleedlng heart to some one that could tell
MIN what he must do to be saved. / encour-
| aged him to relate his experience. He told me
that his heavenly Father had convinced him of
| the vanity OF all earthly honors and pleasures;
l
ueslre Whatever to get we'll; that he feared. if
he should recover, that, such were the worldly
ASSOCIATIONS surrounding him, his present inn
presslons might be ehacGd and that he would
rather die than that this should be the case.
told nun mat God, Tor Christ's sake, had par
! doned his sins, and that he was a son OF God
that he must not trust in any thing bnt tht
merits OF Christ thit he must look to the Sa
. viour with child like faith. eyes, said he
y ''this is Just what want" And the teaIs grsh
u ed from his eve.
! l asked it should sing and pray with him
: "lf you please" wasthe promptreply. sang
'tOther knowledge disdain
e e IT'S all but vanity;
Christ the Lamb OF God, was slain:
He tasted death for me.
, Me to save from endless woe
The sin. atoning victim died,
) Only Jesus will know,
And Jesus crucihed."
We knelt in prayer, and l committed the
young man to God and the word OF his grace.
Before leaving, went into the parlor to bid
Mr.. clayton good.by. He had ascerained that
my visit was agreeable to Charles, and | never
saw father more delighted. He insisted that
l should come often, and ordered his carriage
to be brought that his servant might take me
home. declined, stating that was not ac-
| cnstomed to riding in such carriages, that |
mad walked there and could walk back to the
| friends house where was staging. Charles
| insisted on walking short distance with me,
expressing his gratitude for my visit, and en-
| treating me to see him as often as could. He
pressed my hand for the last time. A short
time afterwards he left for Havana, and died
among strangers soon after his arrival in that
| city.
There was hopo in his death. l related the
incidents OF my visit to the late Rev. James
omlth, my presiding elder, and he thought that
l ought to publish them in the newspapers. /
| tlONphf I hat ,isrI,f ta
an unworthy motive to me MS the cause OF my
visit.
The elder Mr.. Clayton is now gone to another
world, aud feel at liberty to give the facts of
the case.
DaVld Mskim was executed for the murder Of
Nsrcross, at twenty minutes before one O'Clock on
frdAy last; lilo died protesting his innocence in
speech two hours in length The prisoner slept du-
lngH greater portion of Thuralay night. In the
morning be opened vain in his wrist but time.
| ~ discovered He then ate hearty breakfast. In
ant OF passion he destroyed the manuscript speech
ne intended making on the scuftId At eight O'Clock
ne commenced devotional services which were
| unued until he was brought out of the jail. Rev
Mcssrs Junkin and Mclean, and the officers
panied him to the scafpli. On the EcaffOld be spoke
Tor an hour and seven minutes, protesting his limo
cence to the last. His closing words were: 81 leave
| my poor mother wife aud child to the of Hcay-
en- and then turning to the Sheriff directed him to
| go ahead as soon as he pleascl'' lie spoke very
loud and distinct, and classed many of the witness
es On tho trial liars; but he urgave them all and
believed he was going to Heaven and to Jesus. Tho
drop fell at thiry-fyo minutes past Twelve O'Clock,
the unfortunate man dying without A. struggle
Returne1.-It gives us much pleasure, says
the Journal, to note the return Of our amiabe
young friend and fellow citizen, Col. George
Pepper Norris, from three weeks rusticating
trip in northern New York. The Colonel is
highly gratifed with his visit, and describes
the country as being in the hig est degree