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


was cleared of customers, found 1t too late,
so I closed nv office and walked home
ssThough the subject of the morning was
often on nv mind. | was glad my wife did
not revert to it again; had the whole week
before me, and the matter should be attend
ed to; but on the next day Nellie went on
visit to her fathers family in the country,
and did not return until late Saturday night
so had not her sweet face to remind me
of my promise, and an increase OF business
and cares attendant-in short, for worldly
matters put aside this great and solemn
duty for the present.
Il met my wife at the landing of the boat
and after the first salutation, she whispered
Tomorrow is communion, dear Charles, and
/ am so glad that we are to be lockers on no
longer, but are to partcipatein in thatsacred SER
vice.
Ashamed of myself. replied have
not really had moment to spare, Nellie.
this evening. 6aasle 6saaasle EanBd to the parsonage
30, Charles, Charles, she replied SIX
months ago worldly affairs would not have
kept you from serving God
'Ah, my friend, | see her again as she
stood then like an angel in the moonlight De-
fore me, warning me of my danger; and the
sweet, sad tones of her voice have not ceased
to vibrate on my ear.
my procrastination shall not cause you to
be again spectator at the communion table;
believe me, dear Nellie, am ashamed OF my
negligence.
9 But might we not call at the parsonage
on our way home !? she asked; 1T may not
| be yet too late to see the pastor.
Il looked at my watch, and by the moon
light saw it was past ten, and said not 10
night, Nellie, it is too late
Too late, she murmured, with sigh, and
said no more till we arrived home On the
next day we listened to sermon, which seemed
written expressly for my benefit, so applica-
BILE was it to my case The text was found
in James, 18th chap. 18th and 18th verses
Go to now ye that say, to-day or tomorrow
we will 60 into such city and continue
there a year, and buy and sell and get gam
Whereas We know not what will be on the
morrow | felt myself humbled and abash-
ed as listened with bowed head to the dis
course.
When the sermon was ended, [ arose with
an agony Of feeling cannot bear to recall,
and as | wslked home l felt as though my
own negligence was about to bring some
great and terrible affliction upon me. Nellie
was cheerful as usual that evening, and l
tried, but in vain. to shake off the depression
that weighed down my spirits. Noticing the
effort made to sustain my part in the con-
, versation, she paused for time, then select
ing book, she sat down by my side and
read to me until bed time.
After a sleepless night l arose and dlrec
: ted my steps to the parsonage; had a long
. but satisfactory conference with the pastor
J, and entered my own and Ellen's name fol
= candidates for churchmembership, only re
GREETING that had not done so before.
then sought my office with light heart, ant
. despite business, closed it an hour earlier thar
:, usual, and hurried home to communicate t
. my wife the happy result of my conferenc
with DIR. S. But found her i'll !; thoug
! she tried to assure me it was nothing, va
:, alarmed at her flushed cheeks and quick
a ening pulse, and summoned aphysician, VIII
- assured me there was no cause for alarm. =
y " did not leave her for three days; on tn
fourth she seemed much improved, and play
y fully told me she would hold me prisoher n
~ longer: l might go to my business. wen
!. yet became so dissatisfied with myself fo
- leaving her, that | was on the point of n
!, turning, when servant with the word tia
ef they thought her dying.
% II fastened home, and when arrived sh
70 was not dying, but dead! Through m
- procrastination she never sat at Christ's t
= BILE on earth, but trust she enjoys hol,
T happy communion with Christ in heaven
h May neither you, sir, nor any other huma
~ being, feel the agony, the remorse / exper
Il enced as looked upon the face of the dea'
- and heard again her soft, sweet voice, as
echoed these words again and again in m
ear, There is danger undreamed of in delays