The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-02-17
"IHE POWER OF WOMAN"

l knew my situation, and dreaded that my
wife should discover it. exertcd myscl
to conceal it. | affected to be witty, affe,
tionate, and social, but it was a total Ca
ure. felt the fatal poison momentarily
increasing. l saw the nquring eye of my
wife fixed upon me with a look of unuttc,
able grief. 1t WAS only with her aid that
| was able to reach my pillow.
All restraint was soon swept away, and |
came home night after night in state mos,
revolving to the feelings Of delicate, atic1
tionate wife. In vain my able companion
wept and cxpostulated. l was too much
entangled and corrupted to break away
either from my vices, or associates. They
neither feared God nor regarded man. l
was led captive by their devices.
became, will not say an infiJel, for I
was too ignorant of the theory Of scepti
cism to be one. l became a mocker.-
Fools make a mock at sin," and such a
fool was I. l knew just enough of the Bi
BILE to make it my jestbook. I saw that
this part of my conduct was extremely
painful to my pious wife, and tried to re-
strain myself from trifling with the Bible
in her presence; but loved to raise loud
laughter among my boisterous companions
and the indulgence served so to strengthen
the pernicious habit, that I was often de-
IN fl,n Nc 81,
guagc.
1t was not till become father that her
touching appeals on this subject reached
my conscience.
Must this child" she would say with
tears, he trained up under these banefu
intiueIces? Must he be taught by psren.
tai example to dispise and redicule the
Scriptures with his lisping tongue before he
is able to read their contents, or realize
their heavenly origin 2"
Our son had now become an interesting
little pratller, initiating whatever he heard
or saw. | perceived with diAboiical
pleasure that the first effort of his infant
tongue was t" initiate my profane language,
the recollection: Of which now sends a thrill
OF grief and horror through my bosom.-
l." r"" 'iri his sorrowing mother endeavor
20 ''''"a:'acl the influence of my most
wicked example. continued to swear,
and he to initiate my profanity, uncon.
scious of its terpitude.
On Il certain occasion returned from one
OF my gambling excursions. and found my
wife and child absent. On inquiry, l ascer
talued that she had gone to her accustom-
ed place OF retirement in grove some
distance from the house. knew ,l,a. she
had gone there for devotion. | had been
accustomed to see her retire thither at the
evening twilight, and though thought her
piety unnecessary, had no objection to it
as source Of enjoyment 10 her, but that
she should take her child with her, excited
my surprise. I felt curiosity to follow
her. l did so, and took a position unseen
10y ller, but where had full view of her
attitude and features. She was kneelino
before rock, on which lay her Bible he.
fore her. One hand was placed on its
open pages; the other held the hand of
her fair boy, who was kneeing beside his
eyes intently fixed on her face. She was
pale and care worn. Her eyes were closed,
but the tears were chasing each other down
her cheeks, as she poured forth her burden
cd soul in prayer-first for her husband,
that he mi ght be reclaimed and saved
but especially did she plead with God that
her son, whom she unrcservedly dedicated
to him, nigh be saved from those sins wich
were taught him by his fathers example,
Save him." she cried with agony, "save
him from taking thy great and holy name
III vain; and give his anxious mother wis
dom, fortitude and grace, effectualIy to
correct and break up the habit of profane-
ness"
crert silently from my hiding-place,
and returned home with conscience bar.
rowed up by the keenest selfreproacl,es.
knew that her feelings were not the fitfiul
ebulition Of passion Or excitement. 1 had
;ong been convinced that ler conduct was
regulated by firm and virtuous principles,
and that the Bible, which 1 SO lightly es-
teemed, was the rule of her life. On her
return to the house she was solemn, but
tho law of kindness still ruled her tongue.
She did not reproach me; but from that
day she firmly and faithfully corrected
our little son for the uso of profaue Ian.
guage. even in my presence, and when per
haps he had just caught it from my lips.
She succeeded in conquering the habit in
her child; and when she had cured him, 1
resolved to abandon forever the use of Ian
guage which had cost her so much pain.
did abandon it from that time. Iwas now
efectually reclaimed from this vice. Rut