Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-01-29

could look into MS sTac0, you W0uI0 see
him sleeping quietly and calmly. A little
child upon the knees of his mother, could
hardly sleep more gently. And could he
sleep so if he were indeed q wicked man
Gould his conscience be asleep when he
vas thus deep in the dungeon, and death
coning so near to him? No doubt he
could not no doubt that his sleep could
not hare been what It was, Unless God had
been with him there: for he was a holy
man, one Who did indeed love God, one
who had followed Jesus Christ when he
lived upon tAis earth and whom with eleven
Others Jesus Christ had trusted togovefa
his church. nov that be had assembled into
heaven. lie mad been throRn into that
dungeon, because he lo2ed Jesus Christ,
and believed il him, ard would sveak
about him among people who hated him
AMI so their wicked king laid hold on him
and cast him into this dungeon, and was
about to put hisp to death the very next
dag. He seemed now given over, for no
one else was TO be seen IN that dungeon,
but the poor man IN chains and the fierce
soldiers 10 whom he was bound. Bat
taese was aoother there; there was ore
WHO watched over hia, who kept him
: from ell harn, who gave him that sweet
{ sleep who heard when he pr=Ead, and
ras ever ready to help hi,4, j Christi
was there.
There was in that town smother room,
not a very large one, and yet there were
, many persons in it. It was nov late at
1 night but still they stayed thtre. There
G were some men and some m Whab
S are. they doing They ara praying To
God, calling on tie naa,e IT Jesus Chris,
b begging him 30 saee his servant Peter, and
not to let him, IKE st James, he put to
death By uerod. They prayed very ear
nestly, and DO doubt thsir prayers ver6
heard. Perhaps it is in answer to their
pray ers that the chained prisoner sleeps
: SO peacefully j.; for he looks as if some hap
: Ply vision or dream came to him. as he
:, slept. Perhaps he is dreaming of the time
: whon be was "a boy, and went, with lis
: father upon the lake Of Gonesaret as, a
fisherman.
: Perhaps be dreams Of tue first time lie
- went how pleased he was to go how the
+ bright moon shone aud the little waves
r'ppIod round the boat, as it shot with is
dark shadow through the moon light, and
- left 8 troubled path on the waters where il
Dad passed. Is thas bis fathers fvoice
calling him I See, he starts in his sleep,
of and opens his eFes, he looks like a man
h who hardly knows whether heis well
awake, or still IL a dream. What is that
light arounT lin 7 there was never mooa-
hight IN the dungeon, aud he,is there and
not by the sea OF Galilee. And what is this
. light, brighter and yet softer far than any
n moonlight I 1t il so clear, that be can see
20 every corner of the dungeon, and vet 50
q . mild that it does nc tdazzle his eyes, which
10 has been 50 long in the darkness And
y what Is that voice which says 10 him,
;s ARISE quickly as kind as his fathers in
at his dream, and yes a real sounding voice.
er The soldiers too beside him, why do they
nt sleep on He looks up, and he sees a
is form be knows not. Il it one Of Gods an
a gels the light seems TO beam from him
elthec he must be q holy angel, or all this
is a beautiful dream. But he does as the
rs voice bids him he rises up, and the
ne chains fall of FROM his bands they elank.
en- ed aud run, as they fell upon the ground
he but the soldiers did not stir the hands Of
ch one OF them was upoa the hilt Of his
nd sword IL + moment surely 1t would be
drawn, and Peter slain but 20, the fierce
man sieps on, and Peter bound on biz
sandals, and followed the angel. He pass
liz ed the first gate, for il opened for them
the Keepers lay around it, but no man sir
red, ana it shut agaia. behind them. The7
came 10 he second, 1t, too, is left be-
IL hiad. Sura!y il must be a dream. Blu
- now they stand before the iron gate, III
heavy weight hangs always 8tifly 90 it,
rusty hinges, and many men can only ius-
slowly and scarcely force it open with Z
- great cTeaking noise. It TOO opeBs OF Il.
own accord. and ihey pass through it iutt
the open az! 1t was a very pleasant feel
ing, that fcst breath of the open ummel
night breeze upon Peters forehead, whicl
had grown lamp and cold in the dark aac
" deep dunteor. Surely ii must be NOR,
y than a draain. He looked round for tn,
sIo angel WHO houghs him forth, but b va
- gone. Gene Sas he came, unseen and IN
= known by man, save when God woui'
have him seen. Perhaps lie stood nee
70" bin still, tough he could be seen 90 ion
re ger. Pete. glands doubtful for q moment
Then all tie truth comes surely or b
mind, and be knew that the Lord Ia
anu sent bis aDrel and deliverered him out 9th
~ hands of Terod, and from the expeotatio
of the people of the Jews And he went
> oe that room where the servants Of the Lor
zen were together praying, and they woa'