The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-02-27

widows heart to sing for JOY" Gentlemen,
he calmly replied-"I do approve of the OBJ
iect with all my heart and will give it ali'the
help in my power, but | can have nothing to
do with gambling IN any Of ITS forms In the
discussion which followed the immortality of
the whole scheme was fully debated, in which
his clear and powerful understanding soon laid
bare the pretexts under which such pernicious
operations are covered up He stood with I'M
Ainching firmncss by his principles and con-
victons.
But the very next day he was met in the
parlor of friend with still more urgent i'm
portunities in behalf of another scheme. cit
is 'G,h Enterprise is Bazadr-many
Of our excellent Christian ladies have it in
hand-there is no harm in it, and surely we
ought to take care of the graves of our soldiers
Surely you will not refuse as. These and
such like pleas were urged-I mourn to say it
by some who ought to have stood around
this dear young man as guardian angels They
knew not what they did, Surely it was not in
.woman's heart willingly to tempt him to his
undoipg; but the ruin came 1t was too much
to Withstand entreatics from the quarter
whence they now approached him. His gen.
erous nature yielded, and what was the conse-
ouence? He informed me that from the hour
when he purchased one of these tickets, against
his conscience, he found the Aoodgate of his
old vices had been lifted He made some
struggle, but was the next day swept Oft by
the current, and the evening found him in the
gamblers saloon, with the demon of strong
drink inAaming his whole system. But | need
not lift the veil from that week of terrible de-
bauch. He was conveyed to his home in a
raging fever, under which it was soon evident
he would sink. No human skill or power
could save him. He was for most of the time
in a delirium but three days before he died it
departed, leaving his frame Tranquil and his
mind singularly calm and clear. He immedi-
ately began to speak Of his approaching end,
and desired TO see me- In few minutes [
was at his bedside with weeping household
around, of whom learned he had been talking
of himself in deeply affecting manner. He
was barely able to reach out his hand and say
in very feeble tone-"I am glad you have
come you put upon me the sacred seal of bap-
tism but what wretched wanderer [ have
been am the chief of sinners-O what a
dreadful fall have had-what disgrace | have
brought upon myself-and reproach upon re-
ligioA and the Church y
/ pointed him to the Lamb of God-and be-
sought him to cast himself down at the foot Of
the Cross and encouraged his desponding
mind to believe that he could be freely par
doned if he was sincerely penitent. 1t may be
enough to say that his heart seemed deeply
humbled, and his soul wrestling with God in
earnest prayer. 1t was not long before peace
came again to his wounded spirit. saw him
often and talked much with him till the very
hour of his departure, and can say for the
comfort of those who sorrow over his end, thai
there is good reason to hope he obtained for
giveness, and is now where temptation vii
never again reach him.
1t was only an hour before his end that he
said to me almost in a whisper-"hat tata
ticket" beseech You warn our dear mother.
and sisters to have nothing more to do will
that work of death and ruin. Surely they
know not what they do.
"And here = said the good bishop, deeply
moved by what he had spoken-"I do earn
! -yurr-to-freed this solemn warming.
Keep yourselves unspotted from the world. y
"Avoid the very appearance OF evil-hov
much more these snares of the evil one, which
many are spreading at the feet of unwary
youth There is too much reason to fear thai
the vices which well nigh proved the eterna
ruin Of this precious young man, are binding
other captures for the sacrifice.
"They weave the winding sheet of many souls,
! And lay them in the urn of everlasting DEATH"
Dear brethren, consider what | say, and thu
Lord give you understanding in all things
That whatsoever things are true, honest, Just
pure, loceh and of good report, if there be an!
virtue and any praise, ye may think on thes'
things.
Here the address was ended, but not my
dream The burial was attended to, and
thought it one of the most affecting sights
ever beheld and the kind warning words of tn,
venerable preacher seemed to make deep i'm
preston upon the whole assembly. But the.
gave rise to some remarkable discussions ant
scenes soon after the funeral was over, which i
would be too long to tell about at present
(To BE CONTINUED.