The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-20
NEW SERIES-NO. 5S2.

The minister looked, if not with stern.
yetwlth an upbraiding countenance, on the
young man, who had not recovered his
speech, and said, civilian! for three
years past your shadow has not darkened
the door of the house of God. They who
fear not the thunder may still tremble at
the still small voice. Now is the hour for
repentance-that your fathers spirit may
carry up to Heaven tidings of oontrite
soul saved from the company of sinners!"
The young man with much effort ad-
vanced to the bedside, and at last found
voice to say, "Father-I am not without
the affections of nature-and hurried
home soon as I heard the minister had
been seen riding towards our house. /
hope that you will yet recover-and If I
ever have made you unhappy I ask your
forgiveness-for though may not think
as you do on matters of religion, have q
human heart. Father I may have been
unkind, but am not cruel ask your
forgiveness"
"Come nearer to me, William; kneel
down by my bedside, and let my hand find
the head of my beloved son-for blind
ness is coming fast upon me. Thou vert
my first born, and thou art my only living
son. All thy brothers and sisters are lying
in the church yard beside her whose sweet
face thine own, William, did once so
much resemble. Long vert thou the Joy,
the pride Of my soul-ay, too much the
pride, for there was not in all the parish
such man, such a son, as my own WILL
lam. If thy heart has since been changed
God may inspire it again with right
thoughts. Gould l die for thy sake,
could l purchase thy salvation. with the
outpouring of thy fathers blood-but this
the Son of God has done for thee, who
hast denied him! have sorely wept for
thee-ay, William, when there was, none
near me-even as David wept for Absalom
for thee, my son, my son!1
A long, deep groan was the only reply,
but the whole body Of the knseling man
was oonvulsed and it was easy to sec his
sufferings, his oontrition, his remorse, and
bis despair. The pastor said, with o sterner
voice and susterer oountenance than were
natural to him, Know you whose hand.
is now lying on your rebellious headf But
what signifies the word father to him who.
has denied God, the Father of us aN2.''
"Ohi press him not 90 hard" said the !.
weeping wife, coming forward from dark
corner Of the room, where she had tried
TO conceal herself in grief, fear and sliAne; :
"spara oh! spare my husband-ha has
ever been kind to me 5" and with that she
knelt down beside him, with her leng, soft
white arms mournfully and affectionatsly
laid across bis neck. "Go thou, likewise,
my sweet little Jamie" 4" said the elder,
Ego even out of my bosom, and kneel
down beside thy father and thy mother, 20
that l may bless You all at once, and with
one yearning prayer The child did as
that solemn voice commanded, and knelt
down somewhat timidly By his fathers
side; nor did that unhappy man decline
enoiroling with bis arm the child too mnoh
neglected, but still dear to him as bis own
blood, in spite of the desdening and de-
basing influence of in6delky. s
"Put the Word of God into ths hands,
ofmy son, and let him read aloud to his
dying father the 25th, 26th and 27th YER
ses Of the eleventh chapter Of the Gospel
according 70 st. John. The pastor went
up to the kneelers, and, with voice
of pity, coincidence, and pardon, said,
"There was a time when none, William,
could read the Scriptures better than
couldn't thou-can It be that the son Of
my friend hath forgotten the lessons Of
youth; he had not forgotten then-there
was no need for the repentanti sinner to
left his eyes from the bedside. The a.
cred stream Of the Gospel had won a
channel in bis heart, and the waters were
again flowing. With q choked voice ha
said, "Jesus said unto her, I am the resur.
rection and the life: BE that believeth in
me, though he were dead, yet shall he
live: and whosever liveth, and believeth
in me, shall never die. Believiest thou
this7 She said unto him, Yea, Lord, I
believe that thou art the Christ, the Son
OF God, which should come into the
world"
That Is not an unbeliever 3 voice, nsaid
the dying man triumphantly; "nor, VIII
liam, hast thou an unbeliever's heart. Say
that thou belieyest in what thou hast now
read, and thy father will die happy" 81
do believe, and as thou forgivest me, so
may / be forgiven by my Father who is In
heaven"
The elder seemed like a man suddenly
inspired with new life. His faded eyes
pale cheeks glowed-his pal-
sled hands seemed to wax strong and bis
voice was clear as that of manhood in its
prime. "Into thy hands, o God. COM
NIT my spirit" And so saying, he gently
sunk back on bis pillow; and / thought /
heard sigh. There was then q long
deep silence, and the father, and mother,
and child, rose from their knees. The
eyes OF all were turned towards the white
placid face of the figure now stretched in
everlasting rest; and without lamentations,
save the silent lamentations of the re-
signed soul, We stood around the death
bed of the elder.