Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-09-21

to defend them from injury. Thus he Travelled
entirely naked, until his skin was scratched snt
torn by the briars, almost as badly as his clothes
had been: his body was emaciated, and his
strength exhausted by hunger and fatigue Hi:
resolution at last gave way, and his courage
could no longer sustain him. All he had to
strengthen him was few nuts and berries gath.
cred by the way; all that be had to cheer him
was the distant prospect of once more seeing his
native land. In such circumstances he gradual
ly sank into hopeless dependency. He saw nc
prospect before him but that of ending his mis-
erabie life in bowling wilderness, surrounded
by the wild leaves of the forest. Finding at
lost that he could travel no farther he fixed up
on the TOP of the tree where Givins found him, as
the SPOT where his sorrows and his life must
end together. But God, whose providence is o.
yer all his works, had other designs in view.-
While salim s.,peared to be slowly passing out
of the world by lingering, painful death
when he was scarcely able to move his feeble
and emaciated limbs-relief was sent to him by
the benifcent hand of Givins. he is again res
tored to life, and hope once more reyives and
aDimates his sinking heart.
| No doubt Col. Dickerson was sensibly touch
ed by this moving tale of woe and the gener-
Gus feelings of his humanity greatly increased.
infer this from his conduct he furnished Be-
| lin with horse to ride, treated him as COM
panion, and took him to visit the neighbors and
TO see the country. He accompanied the Colo
mel to Staunton, where the court of Augusta
County sat, and where the inhabitants OF the
county were assembled, it being court day. A
mong the rest was the Rev. John Craig, Pres
bytefian minister of the gospel, who resided a
few miles from town. When Selim saw MIR.
Craig, he was struck with his appearance. AT
ter some time he came and spoke to him, and
intimated desire to 60 home with him.
Mr.. Craig welcomed him to his house; and then
or afterwards, asked him why he desired to 60
home with him in particular, being an entire
stranger, whom he had never seen before. Sc
linn gave the following reply:
"When l was in my distress | once fell into q
Sleep and dreamed That | was in my native
country. In my dream I saw the largest assem-
bly, of men that my eyes had ever beheld, COL
lected together in plain, all dressed in uniform,
and drawn up in military order. AT one further
side of the plain, almost at an immense distance,
saw person whom understood to be one OF
great distinction; but by reason OF the distance
he was from me, could not discern what sort
of person he was. only knew him to be 0
person of great eminence. saw every now and
then one or two of this large assembly attempt.
ing to 90 across the plain to this distinguished
personage; but when they had gotten about half
way over, they suddenly dropped into hole IN
the earth and / saw them no more. also i'm
agined that saw an old man standing by NM
self at distance from this large assembly. Sew
era persons applied to him for counsel and ad'
vice. he informed them how they could cross
the plain with safety. Ali who followed his ad-
vice got safely across. AS soon as | saw you, l
recognized you as the venerable man TO- whom
these persons applied for instruction, and by
whose counsel they escaped from the dangers to
which they were exposed. | am convinced,
therefore, that it is the mind Of God that
should apply to you for instruction on the sub
ject of religion. 1t is for this reason that de-
sire to 90 home with you. When was among
the French they endeavorea to persuade me to
embrace the Christian religion. But when l
saw that they made use of images in their wor-
shin. looked on Christianity with adherence,
such worship being, in my opinion, idolatrous." !"
Mr.. Craig cheerfully undertook the agreeable
work. which he seemed called upon to perform
by a remarkable providence He soon found
that Selim understood the Greek language,
which greatly facilitated tie business. lie fur
pished him with a Greek Testament Selim
spent his time cheerfully in reading it; and Mr..
| Craig his leisure hours in explaining to him the
GOSPEL of Jesus Christ. In the space OF few
weeks he obtained what Mr.. Craig esteemed
competent knowledge of the Christian religion.
He went to the place where Mr.. Craig usually
preached, made public profession of Christian
| ity, and was baptized in the name of the adora'
BILE Trinity.
Some time after this, Selim informed Mr.
Craig that he was desirous TO return to his ma
tive country, in order that lie might once more
see his parents and his friends. Mr.. Craig re-
minded him that his friends and conntrymen
being Mahommedans, entertained strong preJu
dces against the Christian religion, and that, as
he now professed to be Christian, he would
probably be unkindly treated by them on that &C.
count. He was now in America, where he coulo
enjoy his religion without disturbance. Selln
thought differently. His father was>a man o.
good estate and he was his heir. he had never
been brought up to labor; and he knew no way
in which he could make living. lie could moi
bear the idea of living life of dependence upol
strangers, and being burden to them. ne was
sensible OF the strong prejudices OF his friend:
against Christianity, yet he could not think, at
ter all the calamities he had undergone, that hl'
fathers prejudces would SO far get the better o
his humanity, as to cause him to treat his sol
cruelty on that account At all events he de
sired to make the experiment. Mr.. Craig sug
gested that the favorable regards of his friends
and good estate, on the one hand, and lie 0
poverty on the other, might prove too strong
temptation, and induce him to renounce the re
ligiou which he now professe1, aud to return II
Mahommedanism. Selim replied, that whateve
It1,o ,inht ha ha rQa0lV1d never
forsake his Savior.
When Mr.. Craig found that he was fully re
solved to 60, he applied to some OF bis nelghbort
and with thsir assistance furnished Selim wit
as much money as they supposed sutilcient u
defray his expenses to England; from whenc
he said that he could easily get passage to Al
y RIGA. He furnished him also With letter TO tn
Hon. Robert Garter, who tEen lived in Williams
bure and was celebrated for his kindness to tn
poor and afflicted requesting him to procure 70
the bearer an agreeable passage in some ship t.
ENGLAND. Mr.. Garter did more than he was re
ouested to do. He furnished Selim PLENTIFUL
with sea stores. Being thus provided for, he Sc
sail for England with the hattering prospect be
fore him. of being once more happy in his owl
country. and in the arms Of his affectionate pa
rents. For many months no more was heard Q
him by his acuuaintances in America.
How long after this do not recollect, perhap
some wears the poor unfortunate Selm returne
AGAIN TO Virginia in state of insanity. He cam
to Williamsburg, and to the house Of his old ben
efactor, Mr. Carter. His constant complaint wa
flat he lad no friend. Where should he find
friend9 The cause of his pitiable condition
could easily be conjectured. His father was no
his friend. Notwithstanding the derangemen
of his mental powers, lie had certain lucid inter
walls in which he so far enjoyed his reason as t
be able to give pretty distinct distinct account % of hi
he had safe and speedy passage to England
and from thence to Africa. On his arrival b
fonnd bis narents still alive 1t was not in hi