New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-03-10
THE RELIGIOUS REVIVAL.
A SAILORS STORY OF HIS CONVERSION.


ceiyed with great attention He sad:
"Isms stranger here, and such scene a. this Is
one that until very recently, would have been Alto
0.ther new 10 ne. Nine weeks ago was converted,
and since then h,ve become in some degrees familiar
with prayermeetings and church-services, though
before that knew very little OF either. | have been
a very wicked man. For one so young, have gone
INTO almost incredible dissipation and have committed
almost every known sin. | can hardly imagine per-
on 10 have gone grester round of wickedness than l.
am the youngest of q large family of children. MY
father il dead, Blu. my mother is living. She IS an
old woman, now more than IS years OF age. SIZE
j. a devoted Christian, and has always tired TO
bring M her children to be ike her, and
some of them have followed her example. Several OF
nv brothers and sisters are earnest and sincere Chr-
tans, who, with her. have oftentmes at home prayed
for nv salvation. But could never endure single
thought of religion. Whenever the subject was men
toned to me- Immediately repealed it, and repelled 1t
often with horrid OATH The thought that the MEN,
ters of the family prayed for me always made nue.
sryry was warned against my dissipation, but went
more into il the more was warned. l grew more and
more wicked every day. out Of spite, and tr'ee 10
be great sinner At last determined TO leave home.
wanted TO get away from the influence of praying
mother / wanted 10 be free from all restraints, 80
that might indulge myself in whatever chose, to
my own satisfaction. My mother mploled me not
to 20. / told her l was going to sea, and could
go. Her eyes filed with tears, and she could say
nothing more. With whatever sins had, had some
love for my mother and gave way before her tears.
She asked ne to promise her that would never so to
sea unit; could 6rst obtain her consent. assented,
and remained awhile at home. A young man, who
was my companion in dissipation, left England and
came to this country, and after he had been here
short time returned in the same ship. lie told me that
could enjoy myself grandly if would 60 away from
home he bad done, and that there was all manner OF
pleasure in New-York again determined to go to
sea in company with him. My mother, seeing that
was bent on going, could not bear thehought that
should leave without her consent and she gave it.
accordingly ie preparations ship at Liverpool Just
before started, which was about the frst of last De-
cernber my mother gave sealed letter and small
Bible TO pu IN my trunk and told not to open the
eer until the Git Of December That was her BIRTH
day, when she would be - years old. She gave me
her blessing, which sbrank from receiving, aud
went off, As socn as got clear of home felt at hb-
erty. raid to myself Now there will be no one to
pray FOR me- and shant be annoyed with Bibles
and texts | left home without any sadness, but
rather with kind Of wicked pleasure and when got
on board ship, | soon forgot all about mother and
brothers and sisters. After we had set sail and
well on with the VOYAGE, storm arose that was
very violent. Just about this time | was taken
very sick NOT with sea-sckness but a dan-
gerous fever. I lay in my bunk, tossing about with
the ship as wretched and miserable man couldbo.
The doctor told me that was at the point Of death
and that had any preparation to make for eternity
had better make it, for had not long to live. This
L. Iaf.n -, .h..
one of whom an aged man, csme to me. lremem-
Der his face was al kindness; but hated the oight
of him. He came with book in his hand, and sad 20
me Young man, you are u!most gone Ihaye cone 10
read to you something out Of the Word Of God
looked up q, him moment, and said in rage: Had
me the book ard when he offered i, 10 me took It
and put il to my lipe, and msde solemn oath
that | would have nothing TO do with God
or with religion. | told him that il he read %
me would not listen, and bid hiIn with oath. 10
leave NE alone He then went away, and lay stark
slope in my bunk. II -eemed to that was at that
moment more miserable than had ever been before
all my life; DO not refer to my bodily sickness, but
10 my distress Of mind II evening, snd there
70 light near me, but all was as dark as midnight,
Suddenly the thought came over my mind that il was
the DIST Of December, and remembered nv mothers
letter. could not rise and get it, for was no, abe
and my fret impulse to cal one of nv messna,es
to get il for me- But | remembered that il WAS BE-.
tween the lids Of ny Bible was ashamed TO let an
one know that wanted the Bible: and did nor want
that, but my mothers letter. lay for come
time, and at last determined 20 call some
one. One of my messma;es came at the cal.
ssked him to &c. lantern, and TO 90 TO my trunk
and get Bible with letter in it. All, said he, with
a .neer Now Won re sick Won be0n IN be A coward.
what do YOU want with that book p | don't want
that book, but the letter in it,, | replied. Ia few
minutes be brought lantern, opened NY trunk, and
handed NE the Bible and letter He then left the
lantern 90 my bunk and wen, away. II sat Up little
in the bed, and opened the sealed package. The very
first words that l caught brought tears TO my eye
They were my mothers words Ny dear Ton. I
read the letter carefully from beginning TO end 1t was
mothers prayer for the conversion Of her son. had
been miserable before, but those words made me more
wretched than ever then began for the first tine 70
feel remone for my sinfulness. and to have fear
and dread Of Judgment. turned about 10 my bunk in
agony which cannot describe had been told that
could not live, and Low was afraid TO die. What
could DO! began TO pray This wa what mad
always had horror Of before but | was forced 20
to il at last. prayed to God TO le: me get well
again, and made solemn promise 10 Him, on my led
that il he would only raise NE UP would reform nv
HE. The burden OF my sins almost crushed me. Eyen
il bad not been sick, it seemed a. if should have
died Of these. continued TO pray, and when il
was expected that ] would die was still alive
and ! kept alive, and instead of growing
worse | grew better. The Doctor told he then
tia. lad had 4 narrow esc,pe, and that | hal
been lying a, deaths door, As ~. better, | 90: