Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-06

DuI, mTS. NOIWOOd, Calile over par
ticularly to see you about sending your
children to our Sunday School. 1t is re-
opened on Sabbath, ard / think you and
Mr.. Norwood should aid our little flock in
this benevolent institution"
"Oh Mollie, my children are confined
all the week, going to the dance, and to
school, and want them to have Sunday,
to spend in their own way"
"But you know the Sabbath is holy
day and should not be given to romp and
play, but to instruction in divine things"
81 don't believe in having children stuck
up all day on Sunday reading aboat death,
and dying. andssuchs solemn things. It's
enough to make them s9Fiousali their lives" /"
"But serious and unwelcome as these
things are to the natural heart, to the re-
newed, regenerated soul, they are glorious
truths; for divine love has prepared rest,
a place for all who will love and serve Him.
And your children, whom you now so
much love, must soon pass away forever ;
and do you not think it important they
should be taught of this love and mercy
that will rob "death of its sting, the grave
of its victory" and gain them home in
Heaven? know you do, and hope you
will send them to our Sunday School,"
The Sabbath morning came, bright and
clear; and the church bell rang out upon
the stiffness of the air-announcing to all
the holy Sabbath-the day of rest-lifting
our thoughts from earth to Heaven, and
calling on all to leave the world and its
cares, and come up to the house of God, to
offer up the sacrifice of broken, contrite
heart, and burn the incense of love and of
praise But only few needed the CALL
None of the Norwoods were there. We
sat still and expectant long after the hour
for opening the exercises, hoping our num-
Der might be increased-but all in vain
and Sabbath after Sabbath the bell rung
out inlouder and more earnest peals to come
to the temple of the Lord and be taught in
His ways. But still they were deaf to the
call; and still the Norwoods went on in
their giddy round of gayety and of fashion
drinking deep Of the cup of pleasure
yet not being satisfied; pursuing happiness
yet not finding her; for,
''The blossoms blushed bright but worn
was below,
The moonlight shone fair-there was bligh
in its beam,
Sweet whispered the breeze-but it whisper
y, ed of woe,
And bitterness flowed in the soft-fowin,
stream"
And like all pleasure-seekers, they hac
to fall back on disappointed hope, and de
feated joy; for happiness would not fol-
her wings and nestle in the bosom witt
carnal desire and unholy appetite. Thei
tempers were soured; they grew sullen an
morose; looked upon the rocks and tree
! as bitter enemies; upon all mankind g
o misanthropes, and themselves the mo:
q miserable creatures Still no kind fnge
q pointed to them the true source of happ
q ness. and told them that life yielded ther
d pleasure only in proportion as we wei
: independent of its uncertain riches, del
d sive joys, and had treasures laid up
/ Heaven"
l. 'There are mansions exempted from sin al
l. from woe,
It But thay stand in region by mortals Intro
70 There are rivers ofjoy-they roll not belo
n There is rest-but it dwells in the presen
:" of God"