The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1858-03-25
ing all his Christmas bills yet. II my
girls look shabby, we pay our debts" Y

"Ah! there's Tom Scott" nodded a
young man to his friend in the opposite
gallery, she is growing quite religious
and respectable / declare. He has been
at church two Sundays running: how
much longer will the devout Git last?' y
These were shocking and striking ex-
amples of irreverence; there were happily
not many such, the involuntary wander
ings of thought were more common.
was much interested in young coup
lie near me, whose attention for consid-
cradle portion ollhe service had been re-
markable. From the dress Of the young
man I judged him to be a clergyman:
the lady wore deep mourning. They
were evidently betrothed; they read out
Of one book. Gradually he forgot The
awful presence in which he stood, his
eyes wandered from the Bible to her gen
tie face, and fixing there, called of his
thoughts from heaven.
"iIow good she is" he began to say;
show attentive TO her prayers, as to all
other duties! How happy l am to have
won her love!" 'a'f
BY this time the countenance Of the
young girl wore an expression which
showed that she felt the earnesincss Of his
gaze; her eyelids tremblcd--her attention
wavered, and though she looked at the
book some moments longer, she too be-
gan to murmur Of earthly things, and |
heard her say, ooh, how he loves me;
even here he cannot forget that | am be-
side him." It was minutes before either
of them returned in spirit to their dcvo-
tons. .......
AS the. service proceeded, the atteu-
ton Of lhe congregation Jagged; more and
more the hubbub of worldly talk increas.
ed. One man composed a letter helm
tended to send, and even altered whole
passages and elegant periods, without one
check or recollection Of the holy place
where we stood. Another repeated a
long dialogue which had passed between
himself and a friend the night before, and
considered how Lo n4ight have spoken
more to the purpose. Some young girls
rehcarsed scenes with their lovers; some
recalled the incidents of their last ball.
Careful house wives planned schemes Of
economy, gave warning to their servants,
arranged the turning of a gown, or de-
cided the most becoming trimming for
her bonnet. ~
To me, conscious Of the recording an
gels presence, all this solemn mockery o.
worship was frightful. 7 would have
given worlds to raise this congregation
to sense Of what they were doing; and,
to my comfort, saw for the involuntary
offender gentle warning was provided.
A frown from the angel, or the wa
wing of his impatient wings, as if about to
quit place so desecrated, recalled the
wandering thoughts Of many soul un.
conscious whence came the breath that re-
viyed the dying flame of their devotions.
Then self blame, tears Of penitence, and
bitter remorse, of which those kneeling
nearest knew nothing, wrung the heart
shocked at its carelessness and ingrat-
itude, wondering at and adorlng the for
bearance Of the Almighty, while more
concentrated thought and | trust, more
feryent prayer, succeeded the momentary
forgetfulness.o
In spite of all these helps, however, the
amount Of real devotion was small, and
when | looked at the angels tablets, |
was shocked 10 see how little he had
written. 0
Out of three hundred Christians thought
I, assembled after week Of mercies, to
praise and bless the Giver of all good, are
these the sum Of all they offer?
"Look to thyself,' said the angel,
reading my inmost thoughts. "such as
these are, thou hast been. Darest thou
after what has been revealed to thee, act
such part again.? Oh, could thy NOR
tai ears listen to the songs of rejoicing an
gels. before the throne Of the Al
mighty, thou wouldst indeed wonder at
the condescending mercy which stoops to
accept those few, faint, wandering notes
Of prayer and praise. Yet the sinless
annals vail their facns before him in