The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1867-03-16


and sheltered cave in the rock, unmoved by the
wind, unhurt by the tempest, and securely
waiting for the calm after the storm, lay young
boy, his arms lovingly entwined round one of
the lambs of his fathers flock.
I did not awaken him from his sleep, but I
entered also into the cleft, and in moment
found tranquility and calm. And then I
watched the fierce storm MS it ragged up the
mountain side, and saw the clouds gathering
like tho black banners of an invading army,
and heard the trumpet blast of the wind sound
ing defiance through tho valleys, as the rain
and the hail beat down with angry fury upon
all the country round until, after long time,
the winds seemed weary Of their strife, and the
clouds dispersed i'll large black masses, rs if
only waiting for summons to rally again for
summons to rally again for war; and clear
sunset rays found their way to comfort the
tcar-straincd earth; and left the shelter of
the rock on the hillside to pursue my home
ward path, and reached the end Of my way
safely ere the night finally set in.
have ten thought of that cleft i'll the
rock since. l will tell you, dear children who
minded of it.
"Ah, sir" said weeping mother once, as
her child lay dangerously i'll upstairs, sit
would indeed bca sore and bitter grief if she
were taken Why sir, my Mary showed me
the way to heaven. She it was, who would
come from school with Il text or hymn OH her
lips, and who would speak Of Him, who is will
70 t1,o Al
words, sir-to the uttcrmost all who come to
Him. l remember, sir, one day when every
thing seemed wrong, when father was down
with the fever, and hadn't got no work, and
the cupboard was empty, and 1 fairly gave up,
and sat down behind the door, and threw my
apron up over my face and cried just like
baby; and then heard our Mary outside i'll
the little bit ofgarden, just singing
''Thcrc is rest for the weary,
Rest for the weary,
And rest for YOU"
And then in she comes, and she says, Mother
she says, that's all true And she looks up
right in my face, and there was smiles and tears
both together OH hers, and she says, Mother.
lie calls out, Come unto me all yc that arc
weary and heavy laden, and I will give you
rest ;'"and then she comes to my arms. and
talks of Him, and never felt anything like it
before, sir; but somehow | couldn't help be-
licving about it all then. and things have
always been better since. and trouble lighter"
Then I thought of tho child whose footsteps
had led s.mc to the shelter in the rock; and
knew why little Mary looked at the storm and
feared nothing
was in barracks-town once, and it was
Sunday evening. There was drunkenness in
the streets, and profanity and swearing a
lad in the uniform Of his regiment made his
way quietly along the road towards the church
His companions Knocked and laughed at him.
''Not had enough preaching in regulation
hours" they said; '.hc's turning saint by
and-hy he'll turn parson.' The boy-for lie
was but boy-did not notice their taunts, but
heard him say to one or two young compan-
ions who stood near, 'Comc in along with me,
it's better than being outside. It'll do you
good, as it does me-" Two refused; but one.
after some hesitation, went in with him.
And thought Of the footsteps which had
led me to the cleft in the rock, and knew
why the young soldier Of Christ feared neither
ridiculc nor rcrroach for he was safe i'll Il
pavilion of refuge from the strife of tongues
met little girl many years ago whom
only noticed as being Of Il more timd and re-
firing disposition than any of her companion.
One day unexpectedly discovered her with
two or three younger children around her. She
was talking to them in soft and revcrcnt tones,
and her story was Of One who has said, "Snffcr
the little children to come unto me-" I heard
the young teacher say, "Wouldnt yom like to
come to Jesus, too! Shall tell you how to
find Him z" And as turned away, fearful of
disturbing that. little company, I thought of
the footsteps which had led nc to the shelter
in the cleft of the rock
Dear children, who read these pages yours
may be very little footprints. but they arc not
too small to be showing the path to the Rock
in a weary land-cvcn to the Lord j cs,,s Christ
Have you ever read that text, ~ n,un shuN bc
as an hiliny.l,htcc .tivm tie minl, ond co,r,4
from Me tempra; as the Mn,1om Of
great r0ch IN rcuyy htntl?" That describes