Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-08-23

congregation to join in beseeching God for
mercy on his stricken soul. An hour Of in
tense excitement ensued Satan conterded
With the angel of God, and disputed his right
TO the prey but in answer to importCnate
prayer, the Lord rebuked his enemy /; the
troubled waters became still the scales of
unbelief fell from the eyes Of the penitent he
beheld his transgressious washed away in the
blood of the cross his heart was filled with
love to his crucifed Redeemer and the accents
of his lips were changed to praise and adora
ton.
1t was an occasion CT great rejoicing /; the
dead was alive again, the lost was found ! 9TH
ers, who had wept at the foot of the cross, al
so testified to the forgiveness of their sins the
Holy Spirit had been graciously poured out
upon the meeting, and all raised their voices
in glad hymn of thanksgiving then, receiv-
ing the solemn benedictions of the pastor, dis
persed to their respective homes happier and
better than they had ever been before.
Bat who was he whose conversion, from the
deepest pollution of vice, it was NY privilege
to witness? ! soon learned his story. 1t was
spread before the world in tie columns of the
public press and | was not the only one
whose feelings were narrowed and whose blood
run cold upon perusing the dark details.
Early upon the day following that all i'm.
portant night when he who had been dead
in trespasSes and sins" was "quckened and
raised up" one Of the principal city magiS-
trates was waited on by man Of serious bear
ing who desired to make deposition before him
of a unexpiated crime committed years before
No eve but the All seeing had witnessed the
deed. he said, and unless he revealed it, the
awful fact would 90 to the grave with him
but not many hours since his heart had been
changed he had been brought from dark
ness to light, and from the power Of Satan
unto God and now the duty of confession
must be performed, and the sin committed in
secret must be atoned for openly. lie then
proceeded with his statement.
His name was Frederick Reese Born Of
respectable parents, his education had been
such as to fit him for . superior standing in
society aud had he left home to enter upon
u professional career, chosen his associates
amongst the good and virtuouS, the crime and
wretchedneSs Of his life would have been un-
known Without any strong propensiles to
evil he Joined in the fashionable f0llies of the
city gay companions led him into temptations
which he had neither the will or the power to
resist, until he became depgayedn morals and
q reckless votarY of uUh0ly pleasures. For
s0ue time his dreleCtion from the path OF wis
dom was not believed by the partial friends of
his youth and one there was who for long
time refused to credit the vague report. Julia
Norman had been sch0Omate in his country
home, and the love OF his boysh heart. \
sistoress orphan with one brother, the little
Girl had not many with whom to share her af.
fections; and the gay, bold lad who called
her his pretty sweetheart, and lavisbed on her
most delicate and unremtting attentions, soon
won from the artlesS maiden every tender
thought which her brother did not absorb
The childish attachment grew with their
growth and even when separated, he to par
sue his college course and she to finish her ed.
ucatiCn Ut popular seminary, it still contn-
ued with iinabated strength Arrived at man
hood Fredrick sought the city to embark in
life, carving with him the understanding that
when success had crowned bis enterprise, he
might claim the gentle Julia for his wife. But,
before his hope was realized, barrier had
sprung up between them rumors Of the loose
course he led paired her who was all purity
and though she long closed her ears to the sad
truth; convincing evidence had at length to be
admitted, her lover was an ung0dlv, diSSipateG
man, and while SO her husband be could not
be- It was in vain he urged every plea that
love and ingenuity could devise, with earnest
entreaties he beSought her TO marry and reclaim
him, the determination was fixed that the re-
form must be effected before she promised him
honor and obedience.
Meanwhile, tho BROTHER of Julia, who had
learned the profession of surveyor had en-
tered the Government employ and was obliged
to leave his home and his sister for far distant
sphere of duty and then it was that she,
suddenly deprived cf both friends, upon whose
protection alone she had calculated, conceived
the idea of gaining q home and kind guardian
ship by entering private family as governcss.
This decisive step excited all the angry oppO
sition of the lover. With talent Of superb
or order, he had prospered in his profession
beyond his compeers, and, despite his eXtrava
gance, he was able to maintain a wife in ease
and opulence. That the woman he loved
should turn her back upon him now, in his
opening fortune, and 60 to eat the bread of
strangers, shook his faith in her love and con-
stancy and though she sOlGmnly declared
her heart unchanged, and pledged herself to
fulfill her early engagement whenever an alter
alton in his course of conduct should justify in
so doing, yet the demons Of Jealousy and dis
trust were aroused within him, and instead of
admitting that the blame lay with himself, he
vented his wrathful feelings in unjust alega-
tions against her who would have sacrificed
her life for his good. And so they parted,
she to carry through the duties of her new
life the burden of hidden grief-he to soothe
his disappointment by deeper plunge in dis
sipation, while he nursed within his proud
heart jealous and revengeful feelings.
a year passed, during which the lovers had
correspondent Julia's gentle pen breathing af-