Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-11

lOr Jenkins, Every eye was now Nuiheui
and every ear was attentive. "You were at
Shreveport on the day that made the ad-
dress to the congregation of childrcn2"
al was there" replied the major.
"You remember, then, the account which |
gave tho children Of the patriarch Abraham
how that when the Lord told Abraham
that he was about TO destroy Sodom, because
the cry Of Sodom was great, and because their
sin was very grievous, Abraham stood up be.
fore the Lord and interceded for Sodom, and
said that he calculated there we're fifty good
men there and IL there were not altogether
fifty, he thought there surely must be forty
FIVE or, at any rate, forty ] called upon
the children to notice particularly what de-
lightful view is here given Of the character Of
Abraham what an exalted man he must have
been how noble and elevated in principle;
how high-mindcd and lofty the frame of that
spirit by which he was animated. Abraham
knew that the great mass Of these men ofSo-
dom we're wicked, and sinners before the Lord
exceedingly He must have known this; for
he lived near them, and must necessarily have
had transactions with them, more or less, for
number Of years He could not but have
known that the multitude there was verS de-
lprayed, and far gone IN wlckedness But
Abraham was one of those men of superior
mould, who rejoice not in iniquity.' He
neither sought nor wished to know all that
was improper, and all that was censurable, in
the conduct Of those around him. He would
throw the broad, generous mantle Of his char
ity over the imporiections and faults of others
and hope for the best. lie would hope that
there was an under-current in society, better
than what appeared on the surface that there
were many others, who as deeply as himself,
regretted the degeneracy Of the times aud he
drew near before the Lord, in behalf of Sodom
and said, Peradventure there be fifty right
eous found there, within the city, wilt thou
not spare all the place for the sake of the fit-
ty righteous that are thereinf
Venerable patriarch through the long Wis
Ia of four thousand years, We love to look
back and dwell upon thy character. 1t is an
instructive and beautiful example in the an
nails Of dark and fallen world and benev-
olent God has spread the record on the pages
of his sacred book, and has determined that IT
shall stand there till the end of time, for the
elifcatiun, the wonder and the imitation Of
the sons of men 1t reminds US Of that sweet
paragraph in the history of Israel where, az
ter toiling over the burning sands, exposed to
the hot winds of the desert, and the scorching
rays of torrid sun, parched with thirst, wea-
~ and exhausted they at length came to E-
! lin. where there were twelve wells of water,
and throescoro and ten palm-trees; and they
encamped there by the waters (Ex. XIV. 20
1t must be confessed, however, that in our
world there are characters widely different
A. Al l,F,s IA
iniquity. every imagination of the thoughts OF
whose heart is only evil continually persons
whose sapreme delight is to rake and root
among tAe sewers and filth Of a city like Sod
ON. Had the doom of this city been an-
nounced to one of these, he would have ex-
claimed eagerly, Ha burn up Sodom with
tempest Of fire and birthstone I'm glad of
it. They richly deserve it. That's just
what I've been looking for I've been watch
ing these people of Sodom. know them all
There isn't am honest man, nor yirtuous
woman, in all the city. The merchants are
all roruish, the mechanics are all cheats, the
professional men are all false and abandoned,
4 f'm glad to hear that they are about 70 gd'
their deserts at last Such would have been
the sentiments and exclamations Of a low, de-
prayei dirty spirit Not so Abraham. lie
was far from pretending that all excellence
in the whole country was summed up in his
individual person. He would hope that even
in Sodom there were fifty righteous; and II
not fifty why, certainly forty-fye' or at any
rate. forty.
3" | mentioned to the children what an ex-
cellent member of community Abraham must
have been-what pleasant and valuable
neighbor and told them how l should love
to live beside such a man, exchange visits
with him, and have his intimacy aud his
friendship. And illustrated the whole sub
jcct to the children in this way
SO You may send dove over beautiful
landscape, where there are rich waving mead
ows, and extended fields of ripening grain ;
lovely flowers unfolding on the margin Of the
bright, lively stream, that is ripping bub-
bling, and murmurng along; iiocks and
herds feeding, thriving, and growing; lambs
frsking, skipping, and playing; and where
there are all those things that are charming
: in beautiful landscape. Now, the dove, ITS
taste is so refined and delicate, will be delight
ed with the beauties that are here in these
cultivated and fruitful fields. Every thing
| here is in perfect harmony with ITS prevailing
1 desires, and its capacities for the highest en-
ioyment; and the genius of the dove revels
and mxuriates amidst the congenial scenes by
which il is surrounded. 1t will east Its eye
over the broad meadow, undulatng IN the
, breeze, and experience delightful emotions
/ 1t will gaze on the rich grain field, and be ex'
tremely happy in the prospect OF such aoun'
dance for the wants Of man and beast. II
/. will hover over the newly-opened flower anc