Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-12-13
THE GOOD OLD HYMNS.


Did you ever know any person who was
brought up on the good old Zion-hymns,
whom they ever failed to move TO the lounda-
lions when heard? The feet moving on un-
holy errands, linger on their way past the
church door, as the melody floats out upon
the air. That man-who has wasted life,
and energy, and talent, which might have
blessed mankind, to reap only the whirl-
wind-he is back again with his little head
upon his mothers lap, while she sings the
same hymn, which will never grow old,
about ''the beautiful river" His eyes moist
en- as he thinks how panied she would be,
were she living, TO know him now. The
hymn ceases, and the low benedicuon fol-
lows, and MS the worshippers emerge, he
recollects himself, aud with an impatient
pshawl passes on. What, he moved at a
conventicle hymn2 He, who for years has
never crossed the threshold of church,
He, who believes mother in prayer nor
priests, Bible nor Sundays? lie, who has
"ouigrown all that9" Ali but he hasn't.
lie canr outgrow it. 1t is there. 1t ~sH
come, whether he desire it or no. Come,
in spite OF all his efforts to laugh or reason
it tAway. Come, though he live in open de-
rison and mockery OF that religion whose
divine precepts he cannot efface from his
mind. Come, as ii did TO John Randolph,
who, after years Of atheism, and worldli-
NESS and ambition, left on record, "that the
only men he ever knew we'll and approach
ed closely, whom he did not discover to be
unhappy, were sincere believers of the
Gospel, who conlormed their lives, as iar
ss the nature of man can permit, to its pre-
cepts." "Ofen," he says, "the religious
teachings of his childhood were banished
wholly by business or pleasure; but after q
while they came more frequently, and stait
longer, until at last they were his frs
thoughts on waking, and his last before go
ing to sleep" Said he, 81 could not banisl
them ii would"
Now and then lik e 10 go into church,
said young man apologetically 10 com
panion who was derlding the idea. "Priest
craft priestcrattw exclaimed his companion
"Tell me, what possible good can 1t do your
We'll" said the young man, "somehow
when hear those hymns 1t IS like hearin
the pleading voice of my mother as l lei
home to become the graceless fellow l al
now. cannot tell you how much the
move me, or how they make me wish wer
better. If ever do become better, ii wi
be because l cannot separate them from a
that seems, IN my better moments, wort
smbodying in the name 'home.'" Waite
Scott said 10 his son-in-law, when he wi
on his dealh.bed, BE good man, Loci
hart-be good man; nothing else will giN
you any comfort when you come to lie here.
Itwere easy 10 multiply instances, whel
carth's gifted and greatest have borne sim
lar testimony, after having tested all th
tue world had to offer, as an equivalent f
that peace which passeth all understan,
ing"
Parents sometimes say, with tears, "m
boy has forgotten all my teachings" "
don't knolo that You can't sag that till Il
grave closes over Inn. Said good moth
knew, who kept on singing those hymn
and whose faith never fallered through loi
years, when her only son disgraccd 4
family by intemperance, "John will cor
''6ht " huu n.y. ht Wuots Auu uu1 All
day, when he was brought home, hclpei
the mere wreck and libel of manhood, s
smilingly repeated TO all cavaliers "Jol
will come right. knOaO it. Every da,
ask God to give him back to himself ant
kaOp he will do it,"
And John did come right Oat of Il
horrible pit of degradation hc emerg
clothed and in his right mind" He is nj
In good business standing, owns the hot
lie lives in, is the comfort and pride of
patient wife who, with his mother, wait
womanlike, Christ.lihe, all those wea
years for his return. / myself have sc
him in church, when the Sacramental wi
was passed to him, bow his head reveren
and humbly over the cup without raising
TO his lips.
Never despair of a child who siraYs aw
nom those hymns. Somewhere betwt
The cradle and the tomb be sure those hyn
will nnd him out FANNY FERN