Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-12-01

Aud the next instant he was conducted to the
| footstool Of the image.
| The chief Priest ordered him to kneel be-
fore it,"
!" cannot knccl except to my God," he
said looking upward
| But still the Priest had for once, amoment
OF mcrciful relentng "Wilt thou obey our
/ dictates in all things" he said
| And again the youth replied: 81 cannot
! obey and honor any but God. cannot make
the dictates of the world my standard"
| Then there was an awful outcry around the
| image Some cried "To the furnace with
| him"
But others replied, " We arc not permitted
now the furnace; we can only exccrate him,
and DO despite unto him, but We will .ct our
mark upon him."
Now the press had been so great about this
youth that had lost sight of Him for short
spacc of time
But when again behcld him his eyes were
cast up to Heaven, while lie cluspcd to his
heart the illuminated manuscript which | had
before observed
! Aud saw written thereon, "Thc friend
ship of the world il enmity against Cod"
''lf ye were of the world, the world would
love his own. but because | have chosen Won
out of the world, therefore the world hatcth
you"
Then | saw that they cndeavored to set
mark upon him, but the mark of God was up.
on his forehead, and that it was not permitted
them to touch. Yet they succeeded in be-
spattcring his white garments.
And when he turned to 20 on his way it
was only by the heavenly expression of his
countcnance, by the fervor with which he
cIasped his book, by his constant upward look
and by the straight and even course which
he took, that | could still distinguish him
amid the multitude which still continued to
throng him
And now l saw that some human feeling
overcamc him. His eyes, though still fixed
henvcnward, were din,mcd with tears. lie
oi1rtvu no UouieE lOW"tu D".,u,,g
bore SO small n proportion to the height Of the
image, thut had not before perceived it
But when ! now looked attcntivcly toward it,
| saw by small stecple. which WAS attached
that it was church, aud within it were n few
who proposed to be worshippcrs Of the true
God. These were mostly clothed in mourning
garments.
and when the prayers were over, lie addressed
himself to two individuals who stood Mt the
altar in pricstly garments.
there he hunlbly made his petition.
" You are sworn" he said, I" to comfort
those who mourn; you know mine innocence,
for We have often taken sweet counsel togcth-
er. Now l am prosecuted, comfort me, pray
you"
But he to whom he spoke, though he wore
the vcstsmcnts Of Priest, answered harshly
to the mourning and prosecuted youth 81
- ba f>r cb
bestow comfort upon you I should set against
me all the world who have declared against
you"
An elderly person, who swept by, in mourn
ing garments, caught the boys appealing
glance But sho gathered up her skirts, lest
they should be contaminated by the contact,
and thus replied "Niy sails are carefully
set to go with the wiud. Whence the world
leads, l must follow, therefore como not to
me-"
Then the boy (for he was but YOUTH wept,
and l saw that h. said within his heort,
"Thcre is no hope that the other, who is a
stranger, will care for me, for there are my
own pastor. and my own friend, with whom l
have been wont to take sweet counsel.
But the other Priest approached him. He
wiped away his tears, and raised him up
"My mission" he said, I" is to comfort all
who mourn; tell me your grief, for am
| Christ's servant"
Aud the boy, weeping, poured forth his
complaint. have been imprudent, he said
have sometimes erred, for oh am but hu
man. I have been careless concerning the
world, but, oh Father, it is because have
been careful to serve God only. | have, in.
dccd looked only to Him. [ know that lie
shall deliver me, but oh Father am but
| human.
| I" His strength shall be sufficient for thee
my son, Himself shall comfort thee; fear not, y
said the Priest, and he took the book from
the hands Of the child, and read to him many
words of holiness and comfort And he walked