Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-07-13

cry day the circle of his thoughts mar
rowed itself; every day his heart stopped
lower and lower in alteration before the
miser's god. Others saw the change
spoke of it, and regretted it. But as he
grew richer and richer, and the worship
ers of ricl es bent to him in fattery, he i'm
agined himself to be growing better
'ToQ many eggs in one basket he repeat
ed to himself as he sat musing in his lux
urious easy chair; never for once thinking
OF the struggling young merchant, with
out bank credits, more than two thirds of
whose profits on sale of FIVE hundred dol.
lars he had clipped off of six months
note that day; note as good as any he
had bought during the past week
Too many eggs in one basket No-no.
| am too shrewd for thatr Drowsily was
this murmured, as he laid his head among
the cushions. His next consciousness was
in another world He dreamed that he
had passed through the dark portal of eter
nifty, and that to him the judgement from
the Book ut his Lie had come "a Judge
ment that was to reveal his true state, and
Tx his everlasting hahitation with those who
loved the neighho a. themselves; or with
those who loved and cared only for them
selves. He did not find himself in the
presence of an august, Divine Judge, but
in a chamber, with translucent walls and
ceiling, where were gathered small as
semblage of people, to the centre OF which
he Was led by one who seemed to possess a
singular power over him. Here, seated,
and a little elevated above the rest, we're
two beings-one with a countenance of
heavenly beauty. and the other with face
the cruel expression of which caused
shuider to 90 thrilling TO his heart A
book lay open before them, and he knew
it to be Book of his Life, wherein were
written every purpose of his heart, with
every act and deed. The money lender
had come to judgment
With a hopeful countenance the angel
began turning tha leaves of the book, up
on which both her ewes, and that of the
demon, were fixed with an earnest gaze
The period OF childhood showed fair and
hopeful record. The tender. merciful. low
ing impressions made upon the heart of her
child 10y a wise and good mother, who
looked forward to meeting with her son
in heaven, were everywhere visible. The
budding soil gave "a fair promise for the
fruit and flower.
Early manho0d's record was also full of
encouragement There was an eager look
ing forward into life, and an earnest will
towards success But, united with this.
wara UnnarouS purpoSo tnu,r1 q, Lor, ,,,@
great humanitary schemes to be wrought
out for the worlds good, when the money
power to work should come within his
grasp. The light and hope beamed in the
angels face, as page after page Of the book
was tnrned while the demon sat dark and
ccowling.
The middle period showed less fairly, as
to the ends Of ife-and it was into these
that the angel and the demon looked most
narrowly. The act was never Judged of
as it stood alone-it was by the motive
that its quality was determined
a gentle sadness began to shadow the
angels beautiful countenance, while dimly
seen in the demons face was the light OF
triumph. Many acts of benevolence; many
words of good counsel to others; mary dec
larations Of noble, generous. unseIfsh pur-
poses were written down; but they were
seen as deeds with selfish ends as their
prompters. and words that were only from
the teeth outward More and more,
as wealth rolled into the merchants cof
fers, and he gained higher and higher
place in the good opinions of men, did he
bury his thoughts in selfish purposes, and
put forth his strength for himself alone, as
if he were the chiefest thing in Gods Gre
alton. His name was on subscription pa
pers, for charitable uses, to a large amount;
but, when the angel and the demon went
behind the record, what did they find
a generous desire to benefit the suffering
or help the weak ? Alas no They saw,
instead, an extorted benevolence, in most
instances. done for the eyes of men,
and succeeded by self complacent gratu
latlon, IN the loss of so much of his dearly
loved gains, that charity covers a multi
tude of sins y
Sadder and sadder grows the angels
face; brighter and brighter, with an evil
triumph, the face of the demon.
At last came the closing years of life,
when the useful merchant sunk down into
the eager mouey lender. Previous to this,
CLEANS OF better purposes would throw
hopeful warmth over page, and liz hten
the saddening angels face But the record
now had in it little of variation. and no
passage of light Desire moved on in an
even current, and thought had free course
under the pressure of desire There was
the one desire to get money. and the one
thought about the surest means. The |
face of man-the form of man-the |
step of man-but quickened his avari
cious impulses He was great tumor,