Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-09-26


Year after year it steals till all is fed,
And to the mercies of moment leaves
The vast concerns of an immortal scene.
1t was pretty picture that Charles Ed
Carton held up to mys tiew; lady with
finely wrought features, dark hair and eyes,
and high, thoughtful brow.
A likeness of your wife I? asked.
Yes he replied sadly, and very cor
rect one It was sent to some friends abroad
soon after it was taken: as l reserved no copy
for myself they kindly returned it to me on
hearing of Ellen's death. have but just re-
ceiged it; a glance at those features has ex-
hunned feelings buried had hoped forever
/ gazed long at the fair face mirrored
there, and Edgarton sat with his head bowed
upon the table. He had never spoken of
his wife's beauty, and was surprised into an
exclamation, and he replied, She was so
amiable that I seldom thought of her good
looks
Was she member of the church ? | ask
ed. as l placed the miniature in his hand.
was startled at the emotion the question
produced, and cried, Pardon me, my friend,
nor trouble yourself to answer query
which has so disturbed you. She has such a
thoughtful, devoted countenance that felt
sure she was christian
And so she was, if ever there was one;
| am glad you questioned me. for Hong to speak
of her-of myself replied Edgarton.
You will find me an attentive listener |
said, drawing my chair closer to his side,
and gazing upon the miniature he held open
before him; so draw aside the veil of the
| past would know if your life has, hereto
fore been what it is now? Have you al
ways been friend to the friendless, com
forter to the afflicted helper to the needy?
All, no. said he, with long drawn sigh.
l was worldly minded, and vain to an un
limited degree in my youth, and | lived as
tens of thousands of others do STILL only fol
the present Nearly two years after my
marriage, through the instrumentality of tht
good DIR. S., whose church we were then at
tending, both Ellen and myself were awaken
ed to our lost condition as sinners We re
manned in darkness and doubt for season
| but after 5nany prayers in our behalf b,
friends, agsd onr own yltpplications to tn
Throne of Grace, though ior time alternate
ly perplcxed by fears and animated by hopes
we were at last made happy in the assaranc
Of Saviours love; God graciously smle
upon US, and as his children we seemed t
have stepped into new life, another exk
tence.
MY wife expressed desire to unite wit
the church Immediately, and my kind paste
and other friends spoke to me on the subject
but told them | saw no necessity for hurry
ing the matter; not that doubted my cor
version, or feared to acknowledge my belle
in the Saviour. [ daily spoke in his nam
to my unconverted friends, urging them {
give up the world and turn to Him VIII
alone has the power to save the lost felt
desire to glorlfy His name publicly, but
was not quite ready to unite with the church
'One morning as / was about leavin
home for my place of business, my wife sal
to me, Charles, Deacon Edwards called hel
yesterday.
We'll, Nellie, and what Of it p asked
" He said some things to me which cam,
forget They have wrung like knell in IN
ears ever since his departure
And what did he say that so disturbt
your
50 He spoke of our uniting with the churc
said there was danger undreamed of in lor
delays, and if We waited for more conver
ent season he feared we would never find ou
selves within the pale of the church. N
own feeble heart re-echoes his words de
Charles, let US hesitate no longer
Il shall never forget her look, sir, neoe
as she ceased speaking and raised her tearf
eyes to my face.
replied, well, Nellie, as you seem
anxious about it, | will try and see the pa
tor this week there are some articles of t
creed that l am not prepared to respond
without farther information on the subie,
| have repeatedly told deacon Edwards til
as we had fully made up our minds to un
| with the church, did not see the necessi
of hurrying.' / was turning away, but S
detained me.
"Dear Charles she said, six mont
have already passed since we received t
blessed assurance that our sins were forg
en-; how different the world looked to
when we first experienced d change of bea
yet it was not the world, but ourselves
inner man, that God through Christ Jesus b
changed, and purified, and blessed. w
what unspeakable Joy did We welcome |
dawning of religion in our souls; how
the light of a Saviour's forgiving love il
mine our heretofore darkened life @
: that, dear Charles, is a never-to-be-forgot
era in our lives.
Then we missed not an opportunity,
daily, nightly, at churches and in priv
dwellings, did we gather with the like-min,
, brethren, to pour out the fullness of our hes
to God, to glorify his holy name for
great things He had done for US, and to pl
ior MS parooning mercles to our brcth
yet in sin.
"Oh. Charles, do we enjoy religion nov
: We did then? Do our thoughts tend hea,
4 ward, and do you feel in your heart that
!, holy Spirit is as often with you as former
: Alas fear"
# We need something to keep US from
n vering, from wandering from the fold,
b what is that something? All, Charles, i
|, the strong arm of the church. We need
d watchfnl care of the brethren; we neec
y their prayers to keep US in the narrow |
s that leads to life eternal Goodbye
d evening. bat let me again echo deacon
a. wards words in your ear before you g
Of There is danger undreamed of il delays
'e went to my Office as usual, yet Q
re through that busy day did her parting "
IS ecur to me. / resolved to call and
a. ith DE-, S. that evening, but ere the s