The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-03-30


Thy footsteps 60,
In their silver sandals dressed.
Queen of beauty canst thou ever
Thus thy lonely task ful6llf
Sister voices, never, never,
Answering thee from bower or hills F?
Soft and slow
Az winters snow,
Fall thy footsteps cold and still.
Silent moon! thy smile Of beauty
Painting hope will oft renew;
Teach me, then, thy holy duty,
Waste and wild to wander through:
Soft and slow,
Still to 60.
Patient, meek, but lonely too.
tHrom the New York Tribune;
A Sailors Story ofhis Conversion.
At one ofthe recent prayer meetings j
this city sailor rose and narrated to tn
congregation the circumstances of his cor
version. He was young man, native {
England, with al intelligent face and a
impressive manner Of speech; and his re
marks were received with great attention :
He said -
lam a stranger here, and such seen
~ this is one that, until very recently, woul
have been altogether new to me- MIN
weeks ago was converted, and since thel
have become in some degree familiar will
prayer-meetings and churchservices, thougl
before that knew very little Of either
have been very wicked man. For one q
young, have gone into almost incredible
dissipation, and have committed almost ev
cry known sin. | can hardly imagine q
person 70 have gone greater round OF
wickedness than l. My father is dead, bu,
my mother is living She is IN old woman
now more than IS years Of age. She is a
devoted Christian, and has always tried ia
bring up her children to be like her, end
some of them have followed her example,
Several ofmy brothers and sisters are ear
nest and sincere Christians, who, have
oftentimes prayed for my salvation. But
could never endure single thought Of relig-
ion. Whenever the subject was mentioned
to me, Immediately rebelled and repealed
it with horrid oath. The thought tn at the
members of the family prayed tor me al
ways made me angry. | was warned a.
gainst my dissipation, but went into it the
more was warned. grew more and more
wicked every day, out ofspite, aud tried
to be great sinner. At last 1 determined
to leave home. WANTED to get away from
the influence ola praying mother. l want
ed to be from all restraints, SO that / might
indulge myself in whatever chose, to my
own satisfaction. My mother implored me
not to go. l told her was going to sea, and
would 60 Her eyes filled with tears, and
she could say nothing more. With whatey
er sins had, | had some love for my moth
er, and gave way before her tears. She
asked me to promise her that would never
go to sea until could first obtain her con-
sent. assented, and remained awhile at
home. A young man who was mysscompan-
ion in dissipation, left England and came to
tn is country, and after he had been here a
short time returned in the same ship. lie
told me that l would enjoy myself grandly
done, and that there was all manner of pleas
ure in New York. | again determined to 90
to sea in company with him.
My mother, seeing that was bent on 20
ing, could not bear the thought that should
leave withouther consent, and SO she gave it
accordingly made preparations to ship at
Liverpool. just before | started, which
was about the first of last December, INV
mother gave me a sealed letter and q small
Bible to put in my trunk, and told me not
70 open the letter until the 2lst of Decem-
Der. That was her birthday, when she
would be IS years old She gave me her
blessing which shrank from receiving and
went off As soon as got clear.of home
felt at Ii berry. l said to myself, Now
here will be no one to pray for me, and ]
'han'tbe annoyed with Bibles and texts -
left home without any sadness, but rather
With kind Of wicked pleasures; and when
got on board the ship, l soon forgot all
lbout mother, and brothers and sisters
After We had set sail, and were we'll on with
he voyage, a storm arose that was very VIC.
emit just about this time was taken ye-
Y sick--not with sea-sickness, but dan
,erous fever lay in my bunk, tossing a.
,out with the ship, as wretched and misera-
lie as man could be. The doctor told me
hat | was at the point of death, and that if |
had any preparation to make for eternity |
had better make it, for had not long to
i've This he repeated also in the cabin
mong the passengers, one Of whom, an
ged man, came to see me. / remember
lis face it was all kindness; but hated
he sight Of him. He came with book in
is hand, and said to me: young man, you
re almost gone; l have come to read to
GU something out Of the Word of God
looked up at him moment, and said in
age: Hand me the book !; and when he
fiered it to me took it and put it to nv
ps, and made . solemn oath that / would
ave nothing to do with God or with relig-
IN. told him that ifhe read to me would
OF listen, and bid him; with an oath, to
ave me alone He then went away, and |
" stark alone, in my bunk
1t seemed to me that was at that mo-
tent more miserable than had ever been
eforc in all my life; | do not refer to my
Odily sickness, but to my distress ofmind
was evening, and there was no light near
e, but all was as dark rs midnight. Sud
emily the thought came over my mind that
was the 2lst of December. and | remem-
cred nv mothers letter. could not rise
I'd get it, for was not able, and nv first
,pulse was to call one Of my mcssmates to ,
It it for mo- But l remembered that it
as between the lids of my Bible. l was
hamed to let any one know that wanted ,
g Bible; and did not want that but my ,
Others letter. ] lay for some time, and !
last determined to call some one One
my messmates came at the call I asked
10 to get lantern and 60 to my trunk and j
t a Bible with letter in it. All said !
, with sneer, Now you re sick, You be. +.
n to be a coward; what do You want with {
at book :? 4 doa't want the book, but the !.
tier in it. Irepl;sd In few minutes he !
ought lantesn opened my trunk, and
nded me the Bible and letter. He then \
I the lantern on my bunk and went: away. =
at up a little in the bed, and opened the !.
aled package The very first words that +
,aught brought tears to my eyes. They =
re my mothers words-'My dear Tom
cad the letter carefully from beginning
end. 1t was a mothers prayerrfor the
INVERSION of her son. had been misera
J before, but these words made me more
etched than ever then began for the Ii
It time to leel remorse for my sinfulness b
d to have a fear and dread Of judgment l.
urned about in my bunk in agony which
annot describe. l had been told that -
aid not hive, and now was afraid to die.
hat could do2 began to pray! This 10
II n L. II. |