The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-03-23

do III my heart, bless Cokesbury. It has
never put on any college airs, but holds on
its way of usefulness, rs a school. Tbouoh
twenty-five years have gone by since I
obeyed the call Of its bell to morning and
evening prayers, love it still. No one
reads the published reports and every thing
about it, even to the calls for meetings of
the Board Of Trustees, with more interest
than do. 1t is in the care Of a noble Con.
ference, and long may it live. If | were
rich, would cnlow it.
Changing about for the next few years,
among strangers and at new schools, "dry
and thirsty places where no water was"
often did the holy M'Pherson's sermon
come TO mind. My Cokesbury friends, on
hnIing out my past-oflice in tho new
eoantry, remembered TO write 60 me, but
without thoughtful concert, for by Que
mail | received three letters, and the postage
broke me flat. (What times those we're
twenty 1--WE cents for every lctterD
Wv '">'" """, wiz iu'tlcd SokcSOurS
the year after did, whom no distance nor
lapse Of time dimmeL in my grateful mem.
ory. In the course Of years, we lost sight
Of each otter entirely. After long vii lie
1t vaguely reached mo that lie had been
unfortunate in business, aud rested under
cloud, and, soured with misfortune, had
gone to some place unknown. Often
said within myself, q" If this soul is ever
saved and shines, it ought to BE- in his crown
who noticed me in the prayer mcc.ins.-
Where is he, and how fares it with him q
One morning in 1856, rs was crossing
Gravicr steeet, New Orleans, a voice called,
MR., can we engage your services
Tor funeral this afternoon Mr.. G.. died
last night" "Mr. c." replied, "wlat
was his full name 2" He told it 10 me-
"Where did ho die?" Pointing to large
granite front store, corner Magazine and
Gravier streets, lie answered, "1'hcre, in
his room OH the third floor. will step up
there willi'you, if you wisl, to see" asked
to go alone. The tidy creole nursc-her
mission done--was adjusting the furniture,
and folding up clothes. A coffin resi- ed on
two chairs,in the middle of the cheerless
room. uncovered the face, and there lay
my dear friend, Is. f. c.! Strange
conjunction ! Like two voyagers OIL life's
tempestuous sea, whom the waves had long
parted, here we were again Nv thoughts
and feelings. as I gazed upor the dead face,
and reviewed the past, were such as | can
have but once. uncovered the hands.
folded hy strangers on his breast, am.
took hold Of the one that, in the Cokes-
bury prayer-meeting, WAS laid on my head
as he told me to pray, and placed chair
for Inc to knccl down upon. 1t was 20 cold
and stiff.
Madame -, the Iaudis,ly, o.st Of re.
spec for her boarder, whose alhialle ma
ture always gained on those about him,
offered her rarlor for the funeral services.
The store WAS closed, and the employ cr,
and clerks attended. Few, formal; and def
erential was the company-just such as
can be found only in great commercial
city, anc OH such al occesion. Nv friend
had even won upon "the leading man of
tue firm" from whom I learned that lie
had been there for a COOL while; was re-
t;fI"g, not making new acqnaintances, sci
dom going to church, and was not aware
that he belonged to any Church, Protestant
or Catholic; rather thought he was
Protestant" very moral man, very up.
right, and n gentleman" The company
wera surprised at the emotion of the
preacher, untiIIhes departed from The ritual
so far us to let them know that the dead
wss no stranger to him. The preacher
was The chief mourner. The last Lcnedic-
tons were pronounced at the tomb, anl.
thus again was fulfilled the saying that is
writter,ss Thelast shall be first, and the
frs. last!n =
TIE BArfIE OF LIrz.-The battle Of
life, in by far the greater number of case.s4
must necessarily be fousht'np hill; and to
hin its~ittout "a struggle were perhgps TO
win it without honor. Ifstbere we're nc.
difficulties, there would be no success; if
there were nothing TO struggle for, there
would be nothing to be achieved. Diff.
sulties may intimidate the weak, but they
act foLly as stimulus TO ,nen Of pluck and
All experience Of life, indeed,
'erves to prove that tile impediments thrown
n the way Of human advancement may
or the most part bo overcome by STEADY, !
Iood conduct, homes. Zeal, activity, perse-
'ereuce, and, above all, by a determined
esolutiori to surmount difficulties, and stand
4, inf IIsy r.