Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-04-11
fresi0e
FoRsAKIHa ALL FOR CHRIST.
A SKETCH.


F0RSAKIN6 ALL FOR CHRIST.
A SKETCH.
You are not like yourself, George: have
not been this long while; what s the matter p
Not like myself the young man reused
himself out Of a ~revirie, and turned to the
beautiful girl at his side. She was beautiful,
even queenly ,infher face ndbearing. Costli-
estgarmentshe fell over her graceful form. Or
snowy srms giittered bracelets of the finest
gold. Jewels shone on her fingers, a spark
ling chain depended from her.neck that fash
cd lines of blazing Eghtsfrom her person to
the very chandelier that hung from the CEN
tire Of the luxurious room.
Are you not well, Georgs'p
Oi yes-that is-not quite as well as 7
was, for l need all my wits about me to-
night How beautiful you look this EVENING"
You will be the star of the ballroom
shine but for you,' said Helen Myers,
modestly, as the color came in her face. 4
would not stay long il l felt really i'll /; broth
or Ned will be there, you know, to see me.
Oi how l do love dancing A ballroom
seems like heaven to mel
Heaven thought George Wells, starting
q little: heaven q ball-room-heaven pure
and holy, filled with angels-the bail where
congregate men whom I kaop are rotten
at the core, and know nothing of diviner
thingsl Shall l ever find Helen Thus p
Would that l knew
George Wells was a young and enterpris-
ing man. His father was a merchant: his
trm one Of the Oldest and richest in the city
OF New York. From infancy George had
been accustomed to luxury. The wish grant
ca as soon as expressed it had been his lot
10 know. He grew up addicted but to few
vices indeed, he was considered most strict
Y moral. He was eminently handsome
The brow Of thought, the eye Of depth and
beauty Of expression, the figure of almost
fautless mould, were the characteristics of his
manly exterior. He had also a good heart,
natural nobleness whose expression would
check any growth of meanness T; in fine, he
was as a worldly man, unexceptionable in
character as in appearance.
1t was expected that he would marry Helen
Myers, the lovely young girl of whom l have
before spoken. Already rumor began TO
speak OF wedding gifts, settlements, etc, and
there was no brilliant gathering at which
they were not seen together. But recently.
more than Helen had marked the seriousness
OF his demeanor; the absent eye, the ~listless
smile and wondered whatitmeant. Briefly.
then, the cause.
Some six weeks previous to the interview
In which we present him, George Wells had
gone to visit a sick and dying relative q
good old man and minister Of the Lord Jesus
Christ. The serenity Of that Christian saint
nearing so slowly, yet so surely the darl
valley; the light that broke over his fact
when ne spoke of death thersweet, familiar
way, not wanting in reverence, with which
he addressed the Deity and all this in
man whose appearance denoted that he mus
have had many q struggle with self-mucl
OF overcoming grace-stamped an impression
upon his mind that was destined to be undy
ing. And when he went to the sanctuar,
In company with his cousin, q young mai
OF his own age, only twenty-feur: when b
saw him ascend the pulpit stairs his father,
feet had SO often trod, heard bis voice lifted I,
God with the fervor Of devotion, listened /,
his prayers, and his earnest exposition of tn,
words, 'Ye must be born again. a strugei
commenced in his soul, new, strange, bu
powerfal-a voice sounded through the in
most recesses of his being, a singular drea,
OF the course he was pursuing penetrate
nus conscience. Heifelt there was a life I
I'VE Is var above that whose objects he pun
sued, as the arching sky was above the bro
ken earth. Al the current of his feeling
were changed; and as be saw the aged ma
tall sweetiy asleep in Jesus-he could nc
help the ejaculation, Let my last days b
de returned TO his gay city home. Ia som
respects, altered. The t~honghtless, world
conversation OF his old companions. who's
whole stock of themes seemed exhauste
when they had discussed the merits of Oh
last race, or the mint juleps, OF the snatch i
our saloon or our reg&tta-or club.room
disguised him now. He felt that his min
could soar above these commonplace thing
u 1T but knew the way, and he was CONSTANT
reasoning with himself, constantly speculatin
upon those higher subjects, the realities
sternity.
Thus it was that beautiful Helen Mye,
came to ask him the question. What is Il
matterg
What a6riiiant scene 1T was. that bal
room! OF the faces that indicated perfe,
content-real joy-while they covered achiu
hearts: a mad Ehirl-a feverish triumph
an unholy strife to be greatest-loveliest-
most admired! What passions concealed
What jealousies fostered / and no warn;n
voice to still the tumult, and lead those in
mortal souls to the spring of the pure wat
of life.
Wei, It was over at last, aad George Wei
left with q burdened heart. He had not he,
happy. Far from it. Ask the diamond.m ms
chant IN the desert perishing with thirs
what he values his precious stones at n,
he will throw them at your feet for q .,
of cold water. All these pleasures seem,
worthless to George, while dancing, smilin
talking that one command echoed throu,
the chambers Of his soul, .Ye must be DO
again. and strange to say, in that place
pleasure, be resolved that be would seek /
pearl Of great price; that be would deyc
himself to the cause of ChriEt. The stru
gle was only begun.
I've half mind to be angry with 70,
said Helen, pouting a little, as she threw b,
self into the carriage.
Don't please-Pm troubled enough nov
P I'm about to make a great change
We, In your business ? asked Helen.
Something Of more importance than tn