The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-01-01
The N-aniac's arr,,an.
A CAMP MEETING INCIDENT.

49, - was erwin y CLOCK on SaDOatn morning.
Two sermons had been preached during the
forenoon, and the horn had been blown an
nonncins the third. The people hockod into
tne meeting by thousands, for very popular
divine was to preach at that hour
The eloquent minister arose. All was in
stan'ly hnsiicd, and the stiffness Of midnight
reigned in that vast asscnblage. lie oprnrI
a book and read thcr'lrom, softly swcctly mn
Sical!y, hymn which he requested the co;,gre-
gatlon to sing.
Inc music ola camp-mcctng Who that
has ever heard II has not paused to drink the
rich melody INTO his soul? It comes with
grandeur yet softness and sweetness that can
be heard no where Else. The measured strains
OF a multitude OF voices, united in charming
melody and unbroken by walls, swell in sol
elnn grandeur, and roll d,l,iouSly through
the forests, awakening re.echoing cadences on
every hand, and
ntwis,inS all The Chains that tic
The hidden 'ul OF hlrmony.'
After the hymn had been sung the minister
Offered NJ a brief, eloquent layer. and then
resumed his scat. He had taken the Bible on
ms knee and was searching for his text when
he and the whole congregation were startled
10y the appearance Of the Maniac Smith
The young lunatic, who was known to nearly
all present., assembled the pulpit with folded
arms, bowed head, and slow and steady pace
Facing the immense congregation, he ga2cd
carefully aroGnd, and amid Lrca,klcss silence
spread forth his hands, and in the most thrill
ling manner said:
our music is the music of heaven. The
pretty BIRDS in yonder tree tops arc bearing it
with Their songs TO the lips of angels above
VINO VIII convey II ms sweet incense to the ON
nIpotent throne ofGOd. Joy is thine, O Is
rael' You, possess the living soul, tina. reioi
ces in the glory Of immortality. My soul is
dead ! a cherished child Of pety, 5ccamc
rcclcant to the God who gave me being and
sold my life, my Happiness. my Immortality to
the Prince Of Darkness. Like the Traveller
who has troddcn path before him, but is at
t,actcd TO dangerous places by the gaudv
show of some poisonous flower have wan.
deIcd to MY death My feet were placed IN
the straight and narrow way, were covered
with the sandals Of pety, and the christian
staff was placed in my hands, and vet @ God
wandered 20 my death. The eaudy baull,s
Of vice the SNOWY yet thornr lowcrs Of wick
odneSs drcw me ASIDE. fit the smooth sur.
face, and assembled to mountains Of trouble,
and Yea gained not the object ofmy pursuit
On dashed reckless and indintIent to my
Fate. The wicked one, who sought my GeS-
truction, led inc on, and cursed with rcmorse
followed. I knew was plunging into ruin.
but with soul already accurscd, what cared
|! Voluntarily had sought death and il
came. 1t was one night, and oh a fearful
night it was to nc. Exhausted, doomed aad
accurscd. I was still clanbcring up the noun
tain O! sin. | c.,nc to- cha>,n, deep and
fearful. The lish.nings Of heaven flashed
about me, and the thunder Of OmnilotrnCc
rcatd in my cars. felt myself moving to-.
wards that fearful clasm! Death, eternal
death, starred me in the face, and | screamed
lleously for help. No onccamc to aid me. -
My companions in vice listened not to my cries
and he 10 whom had sold my soul llcricG me
in mockcry was moved on nearer and near.
CT to the prrclricc. Fran,ically grasped each
shrah and rocky prominence whinh lay in my
way hut they crumhed in my hands. |
rcachcA tie edge Of the prccipice! glanced
into the deep abyss of death Oh terror.
terror plead heaven lvl mercy, but great
God it was too ln!c!
My sin covered soul .rcmolcd with tie az.
ony it suffered, and.waS pitccus in its appeals
But the thHndcr told me, Too late, and gra.
! cl"us heavens my own cowaiGly soul told me
Too late ! f,lt myself going over the prcci
picc, clrng with tcnacity to everything
wihin my reach. hut nothing could save me.
shrrk,d! | sroancd. Down to pcgdtion
went my soul =
Here the maniac paused. His vivid por-
traiturc Of his career had startled the whole
congregation, some Of whom shriekci out
riaht as he represented his souls fnghtfuI
descent into l,erdtion. Jlc paused a minu'e
only. Then calm again, he softly said
l;,,;,, l.,
God may sing your praises, for it is as sweet
repent this day, or your souls will 20 after
mine over that deep, dark, fearful abyss into
hell Will you repent, or so with me into
eternal pcrdition 2
The effect Of this was more than terrific
Screams and groans arose from the gay and
giddy in the congregation
y year or two before, this young man was
brought home one evening inScnsbly drunk
Tnc next morning found him the victim Of q
terrible ftver, brought on by his sensual in.
diligence and cXtiavagant course of llc Oh
that fever he was, after many fearful days,
ard much tender care By his relatives. cured
but it left him a raving maniac. So fearful
were his mad efforts, it became necessary 10
keep him in Lunatic Asylum, to keep him,
from penetrating mischief On himself and
others. He remained there until within few
weeks of the camp meeting, when he be-
came sufficiently restored to be returned tc
the custody Of his family. He was still in.
sane, hut was mild and obedient, and under
| those circumstances he was taken with tn,
family to the camp-mccting. the utmost vlgi
lance being exec. cisod over iiiln.
Young men beware OF the cup. the destroy
err Of the soul !--Cincinndti Times.