Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-03-23
From the watchman and Reflector
THE WORD TN SEASON.

L
Thank God I" said the widow Blake, as {
| friend communicated the information that hel
boy. youth of sixteen, and an only son, hat
obtained situation in the bank. Tears flow
ed from her grateful eyes, nor were they check
ed by the joyful exclamation of Wallace Blak,
who came bounding into the room few no
ments after.
o. mother such splendid place; and five
| dollars a week -
For ten weary years the mother had been
toiling for her boy-yes, from the day the little
child of five years was held over the coffin lid
| to look in on the cod pale face, the loving
eyes never to smile on him again, the gentle
lips sealed forever. She had sewed far into
the weary midnight, that she might keep him
at school. She had many good chances to
make him shop-boy but she wisely said, /
will not buy bis intellect with my ease, and
kept him in the beautiful halls of learning till
the day he was sixteen. Meanwhile friend
had been applying for situation for the wild
ow's son and had at last succeeded.
" 1t isn't so much on my account, care "
the boy said, on that happy day. more than
sun-lighted to him, but | do want to see You
rest, mother. | want to see that face lose its
old, careworn look, and grow young and cher
ry again"
His mother smiled.
Young, it can never grow, Wallace; but
if thaukfuIness to God that He has so blessed
my efforts can make it more cheerful, it has al
ready changed
" Five dollars week seems like a little for
tune, MOTHER he said thoughtfully.
" Yes, to us who have been so straitened it
seems large sum. We shall need no longer
to pinch and save so painfully. Besides, it
may be but the beginning of greater things
Should You give satisfaction to your employ
ers, Mr.. " says they will in time en-
large your salary, and it only lays with you in
preserving your integrity, to make the situa-
ton lifelong"
80, never fear for me-" the boys eyes
shone as he spoke, pheasant eyes they were,
with dash of merriment in them,) ." but WI at
I'll preserve my integrity. Pride a,one would
enable Inc to do that. l am too proud of my
fathers good name to do any unworthy deed
:" Ah, pride is a poor safeguard, my child
it troubles me to hear you talk so. Only the
love of Jesus Christ, only the principle emana-
ting from that love, will enable you to pre-
serve pure your spiritual garments. Wallace.
] shall pray for you from henceforth as l never
prayed before. You will be in the midst Of
new temptations, and fear, my boy, that you
have not yet given your heart to Christ, where
only it is safe from the spoi!er."
Mother, hope you don't doubt my homes
ty,' said Wallace, his face growing flushed.
Heaven forbid, my child l have never
IL VI
sion. But home is narrow sphere. where
only lovi; angels seem to gather. Over the
threshold of the Christian family the dark
spirits are fearful TO enter. Out there my SOL
is brazcn world, among men of varioas and
low habits. in the midst Of confusion, hurry
and turmoil, beset by the pleasures wealth of
fers, by the alluring front that vice puts on
o there, the struggle will come, and if your
soul is not safe in the fold of the Great s1iep-
herd who knows how the ravening wolves oi
sin may watch for and beset it "
Mother you draw u dark picture sa, d the
boy almost shuttlerng.
/ love you so well, Was ce, | would not
let you go unwarncd O, my boy. seek first
the kingdom of God and Christ's Righteousness
and them | shall have but little fear for you.'
So his mother left the room, and the yonth sat
there alone. For a time he mnSed on her
adomination, then came other and more ambi-
tious thoughts and feelings, aspirations and
longings, more of the world than of heaven
To be rich, and in some manner great, had al
ways been his iervent desire. He loved his
mother, and was anxious to free her from care,
to place her in a home of his own earning, to
be to her all that a son could be. He knew
she longed to see him decided Christian, but
with many another, he put off her earnest
pleadings with There's time enough yet
A few months saw great change in the
widow Blake's household. A luxuriant arm
chair had somehow found its way into her lit
tie parlor-a carpet of bright colors usurped
the faded remnant Of better days--new books
were occasionally brought home, and many pa
pers laid upon the little table by the side of
which the widow sat with her knitting. Wal
lace generally sat the evenings at home reading
to his mother or giving descriptions of his fel-
low-cerks.
Augustus Hartley is a fine fellow he said
one night, and very rich his father is. l
wonder why he takes to me so. I'm sure
can't begin to dress as be does. ] tell you he
lives in great style, and they say his father
paid something handsome to get him into the
bank"
"What are his principles?" asked Mrs.
Blake.
40, don't know Wallace colored a lit
tie" very good, l dare say he's rich, you
know, and perhaps lives little faster than
some young men, but l assure you" he added,
seeing his mothers countenance change, g
never heard an oath on his lips and his man.
ners are those Of true gentleman. What ]
mean by being fast is, that he drives a good
deal, and goes to the theater and dances-but
then, to be sure, he is nothing to me, only one
can't help liking him, he's SO generous. The
very beggars know him he never turns a
poor creature away"
+" If he goes to the theater," said the widow,
graveIy, think he is no fit associate for my
son..
Well, mother, there's no danger of any
great intimacy. He is rich, and l am poor, so
there's barrier between us but must treat
him civilly, you know"
"Of course don't object to that said his
mother: and there the matter dropped.
In spite of the barrier, however, Wallace
| Blake gradually became intimate with Angus
tus Hartley. 1t was pleasant to accompany
| him in a leisure hour on a drive--it became
| gradually delightful to listen to his stories of
gay life, the destinations of places only known
to him heretofore by name, and it was not
| long ere these things engrossed his thoughts,
to the exclusion of his mothers counsel One
summer there came pressing invitation to
Mrs. Blake to spend some months with sis
ter and as her health really required change,
she decided to 60 Her fond eyes had seen no
difference in her son, save that he grew in stat
ure and manlipess and perhaps, to her partial