The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-16
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,
THURSDAY, OCT'R 16, 1852
LESSONS BY THE WAY.

side Of one from whom death had taken the
hest Of husbands. In the prime Of his me-
in the midst of his usefulness, honOred and
loved for superior INTEL gence, for accom-
pHshed education, for a gentle nature, re
fined courtesy, and elevated growing Piety
he left US for better world 1t filled
the hearts of many with grief oUart with one
so dear; how much more the heart OF her who
was "the desire of his eyes !" There Is al
ways something Of peculiar aacredness'
something deeply touching in the aspect OF
one upon whose head the storm OF this
worlds heaviest desolation has just broken.
We may perhaps think Of it the more from
remembering, as if it had reen but ye8ter-
day, how it was in our childhood, when
such a calamity from the Almighty widow
ed our own mother.
1t is COMMONLY the best way, when first
meeting with bereayed frienGs, to open the
subject at once. Their hearts, while proba-
bly, dead to other things, are tenderly
alive to this. They nre-fe and it Is . re-
lief 10 let them overflow. They desire and
exuec. you to mention the matter, ana are
disappointed if it is passed by. Who has
not sometimes known the aasuoging power
of even little sympathy? Happy is the
man who can look back upon life, and say
as truthfully IS did he who first uttered the
words, Il caused the widows heart to sing
for ioy!" For once at least that happiness
was ours. As again aud again We gave her
water from the great and ever blessed
fountain, she said at last with many tears
of gratitude-"I am so glad you have
talked to me in this way; it does me SO
much good"
Having begun the journey of this day
with a purpose to keep, BY Gods help, an
open ear to its instructions, here was les
son worth receiving. What Christian is
not conscience-stiicken upon the review Of
many way-side opportunities of doing good,
which he has utterly neglected. Who of
US has not the most urgent csuse to pray
over his offences in the omission OF duty,
Lord lay not these sins to my charger
Bat as the cars we're vhirliOg along, and
We we're in the midst of the conversation
referred to, our sfil cted friend pointed
through the window to a little cottage and
said, i think have received more good
from that house, than perhaps from any
other in the world" glance was enough
to see that it was the abode Of absolute
poverty. An irquiring look, seemingly to
ask some farther explanation, drew out
simply the statement, that it was the home
of two aged women in very dependent cir
cumstances. but" she added, they are
almost as good as they can be-" Nothing
more vas asked, feaung it might tresPass
urs-. t.....- i-D.,,,l4 -r,2sha- aas,
eear than exhi5i. its visits of mercy to the
dwellings of want. But who could be 50
dull to the passing incident, as not to trea-
sure up some of those useful reflections we
may always gather from
The shor. and simple annals Of the poor"
/. Ho,g otiea Ire overlook Objects Of great
est intyea.-In passing over country we
look after its splendid mansions, and the
families and fortunes Of their owners. The
humble cottage hardly receives transient
thought. We should not have noticed the
one referred to, had not the finger Of our
friend pointed it out, and her remark awak-
ened interest. But how often does the high
and lofty Oae thatinbabiteth eternity, who
dwelleth in the high and holy place, dwell
also With the contrite and humble spirits
found in the abOdes Of poverty
When house is thus tenanted, faith be-
holds this inscription written on the walls
.. The Lord iires here" Let US learn to es-
innate things as God sees them, and in the
light Of eternity. How soon will acciden-
tai distinctions pass away, and personal dis
tiuc,ions-ctaructer alone avail any thing.
Death will strip the poor of his rags, the
rich of his purple, and bring them both
) naked to the earth from whence they
came"
,. TIE po,cer Of holy example, ercn IN
porertl Perhaps wA should say It's power
is the greater because of poverty. Ger
tainly many Of the lives which have most
powerfully impressed others were among
the poor, and we feel the charm Of the ar
-ative would be half gone, had they been
rich. The Daiyynaa's Daughter is a case
10 point. The story is told with almost
natebless simplicity and beauty, butts true
power Is in the life Of EE=a5e,i Wai5rjdge, |
not in the pen Of Legh Richmond. And
What marvellous power that story has be-
come in the kingdom of God upon earth:
Before its author died he knew personally
Of about three hundred conversions 10 God /
through its fundamentally. About twenty
years ago. when Dr. Humphrey, of Amherst
College, visited the Isle of Wight, he sought |
he graveyard where this humble Christian
was buried. Many of the rich and great