Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-10-05

had been slipped under a crazy door
by some unknown friend. This
was the once haypv Idella Pemberton,
and her worse than orphan Children
Her husband had drank till he vas a
sot-nay, more, a pauper.
His property was gone, his kindness
was gone, aud upon the feeble Idella
and her daughter fell the support of
the family. She was a frail creature,
and the sufferings of the mind, COM
bined with those of the body, were
wasting her away. It was apparent
that without a change she would soon
be beyond the griefs that were prey:
ing upon her bosom. Yet she mur-
INJURED not. Amid the want that pour
ed upon her, and the reproaches of her
husband, she. was accomplishing.
'Oh, mother, what shall we do? Is
there no hope for my dear father 3
said Agnes, laying down the book, and
sobbing as if her heart would break.
Yes, my child, there's hope in God.
He has said, Cali upon Me in the day
Of trouble, and | will deliver YOU
In ,,im have / confded, and in Hin
DO | still hope. He has never forsa-
ken US altogether, nor will He while
We trust in Him.
Dear m~other.how can | bear it?'-'
You are dying every day, and when
You are gone, what viii become of me
and my poor little brother Willie? Oh,
mother, can't we get father to sign the
pledge?
Be calm, my child. The Lord is
good, and should He take me, He will
provide for you and your brother
You must go before Him with your
wants. Take your mothers wants be-
fore Him through Jesus. Christ. Re
member that the promise is, that il
You ask, you shall receive. Cast your
burden on Him and He. will sustain
you
Nv dear mother, let US 90 to Him
noW. Now let US kneel before Him
here. | feel as if He would answer
our prayers. | know He will. Oh
mother, let US try and prove Him
now
And in that lonely hour, while th'
wild wind was moaning piteously with
out, and GOODNESS was pinchiug th,
sufferers within, did that girl and he
mother bow before God, to test Hi
faithfulness. And never did pure
aspirations ascend to Heaven than tn
pleading of that suffering band. New
er did angel-watchers assist by thei
: mysrerious INVESTIGATIONS in a hole
cause. 1t was the agony of a breakin
+, heart as it groaned under the accumu
!, lated wrongs of years. The vision {
the past swept before the wretche
ldella, and her soul seemed to embod
: all Its hopes into one.
She wrestled, struggled, and wept,
; il her heart was crumbling beneath tn
!. intensity of her agony. She praye
: for the reformation of her husband
!, for it to begin then-hat monaen
wherever he might be. Her wore
j, seemed to be the raising of faith fl
: above unbelief-the sundering of i
! fetters-the laying of the torn, bleed
: ing heart before God. 20, Thou RICH
: cous Being? she exclaimed, who ha
:, promised help in need, hear from II
holy habitation the wretched ;nmat
:. of a cold howell. Thou who hast !.
Thy mysterious dispensations Danish,
: ME from the protection of parent
: love, and who hast for Thine own wi
> purposes, left me and my little ones
! struggle on in misfortune and wan
" y, look upon US in our misery, and a
swer our suppllcations. Q, reclaim b
~ around whom my heart still elm,
= even in his degradation, and save b
- from eternal woe. O, righteous Go
- | DO believe--help Thou my unbeli
- Bring him back to the path wher,
:. We once walked happily togeth
. and
ot %, my suffering angel, Idella, y
payer is answered. | have this nis
:. joiued the Sens, and if there is or
~ 1n heaven to aid a poor suffering wol
-. my pledge shall be kept
Amen ~fervently responded
IS ~bewlldered, weeping wife.
" a III n