Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-06-02

TrhoTsi. but one noo,.

A few days before the death of Sir,
Walter Scott, there was n lueid isterval ol
that distressing malady which bad for some
time afflicted him, and to remove wbict, he
had traveI-d 10 vain to London, to Italy,
and to Malta. II He was again in his own
home In one OF these calm moments Of
reason, 'gentie as an infant" says his bi.
ogrspher, when the distressing alterations
of his mind had for time ceased, he de.
sired to be drawn into his library and
placed by the window, that he might look
down upon the Tweed. To his son.in.law
be expressed o wish that he should read to
him, From what book shall readi said
be. Scott replied, there is but one. II as
choose, said his biogrspher, John XIV.
He listened with mild devotion, and said,
when was done, Well this is great com.
fort; have followed you distinctly, and 1
feel as i'll we're myself again. a.
......,o s.., Life Of Scott. vi; 688' q
I comment on the dying testimony Of
this eminent man in favor of the Bible
On the death bed '1here is bat one book
that can meet the case. Not his own beau
tiful poems, or his own enchanting works
of fiction were his comforsers there. He
had come atoa point where fiction gave
way to reality; AMI We can conceive of
scarcely any scene OF higher sublimity than
was thus eginced, when a mind that had
charmed so many minds, the most popular
writer OF bis age, If not any age. in the sol
emu hour when life was about 10 close, give
this voluntary tribute to the solitary emi
nence Of the Bible above all other books.
Would that his ing declaration could be
imprinted on the title page Of oil bis works,
that wherever they shall be read bis sol.
efnn testimonymight 60 with them, that
time is coming when but one book will be
adapted to guide their steps and TO CON-
fort their hearts. .-'i'' ''"o sin "lI" s..
May / suggest to the readers Of nov els
aud romances that the time is coming when
one nttet another these books will be laid
aside; when the romance OF life will be ex
changed for the sober reality Of death; and
when the most gorgeous aud splendid illu.
sions of the world will give blaze to the
Of that everlasting scene
which opens beyond The grave Then you
will not need fiction but truth, not gor.
geous descriptions, not enchanting nara
tive, not the wizard illusions OF the master
MUD that can play upon the feelings and
entrance the heart. but the word-the
eternal Word Of G,d, who cAunor lie,
and the sweet consultations of tha3 one book,
whose beauties. after all, as much transcend
the highest creations Of geuus as its truths
are more valuable than fiction. We may
live amidst gorgeous scenes, amidst splen
did Illusions, amidst chaugeless clouds,
amidst vapors that float on the air aud
then vanish; but when we die we shall wish
to plant our feet, not on evauesceut vapors
and changing though brilliant clouds. but
on the eternal rock, q position which shall
be firm when the rains descend, and the
foods cone, and The winds blow. And in
refereuce to that dark valley which ap-
pears SO chilly and dismal to man, along
which no Que has returned to be our con-
ductor and guide. whatever may be said Of
the Bible in regard to the past history of
the race, or our own history in particula.
or the various inquiries which have come
before the human mind, it is indubiIahy
then to be the only certain lamp unto our
feet, aud light to our path. -1 ,.5-.