Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-07-10
JULY 10, 1868.

gave US song.
Now, Chester. give US "brcak down. '
The orchestra pla, ed "break- down. 4" and
Chester danced i; with precision and vigor
his mother looking on with delight.
Now, Chester. give us prayer"
And the child rccited, first the Lords
Prayer. and then others in succession. mix
ed with which were such ribaldry and pro.
family on the fathers part IS Gu, us to the
the heart. And here it was that we got a
glimpse Of the pre-eminent wickcdness of,he
man-wickcdncss TO him unknown. and all
the worse because Of his unconsciousness oil
it; wickedncss which Is leading him to train
up that idolized boy in a way and in an at.
mosphere which will yc. make him an oh.
jec; of loaihing even in his own heart
For that dance house child there seems
20 be no spiritual hope. The sacred and
the profane are so intermingied in the child.
ish understanding. that he will never be
able 10 tell which is sacred and which is pro-
fame, and his nature being dogged and
combatiSe, he will grow up into the highest
possible type OF wickedness. if he grows up
at all. OF the thousand painful cases
wherewith we have met in this city that ei
little Chester Allen gives US about the keen
est pang.
After the infant phenomenon bad been
sent back to bed. his father asked our par
y II we wouldn't mix in." and have a
dance with the girls.
1T I'll do you good" said he. ito tip il a
little on the light fantis,ic. Besides. like
to do the fair thing by distinguished visi.
tors. I'm fond of literary people. and es-
Pecially Of clergymen. i've three brothers
myself who adorn the sacred calling; and
gri, and grace run through our family. ike
'be Tigris and the Jordan through the Holy
Land. Go in, gentlemen; the girls shan't
hurt you. I'll watch over you like a hen
over her chickens, and you shall leave my
premises as virtuous as-you came a! Ha.
ha Come. what shall it he ?''
On being assured that VIC would not tin
il on the light fantastic, he asked us IL ice
Chat IS. our party would not favor the
girls with song. whereupon Mr.. Arnold
suggested that We should all sing together,
aud asked the girls what they would like
best. Several OF them Immediately re-.
sponded in favor OF There is Rest for the
Weary"
''Do you know hat?r one OF the clergy.
men asked.
Yes answered at least half dozen
OF the girls.
where did you learn it ?" asked anoth.
er of the clergy men.
AT Sabbath school, was the reply.
We all looked at one another. Here
was revelation. These girls had been
brought up To attend Sabbath school, Per.
haPs they were the daughters OF Christian
parents! But We had not time to pursue
this painful speculation. for The girls began
TO sing
In the Christian. home In Glory
There Is land of rest;
And my savior's gone before me,
To fulnl my soul's request
CHORUS: There 4. rest for the weary,
There IL rest for you
On the other side Of Jordan,
In the sweet held. Of Rden
Where the Tree Of Life is blooming,
There - rest for you.
And oh, With what fervor and patho, they
song-especiallY the choIus-shich. at .he
end OF each verse. they sang three times
over; some Of them. at last, weeping a.
they sang. What girIi.h memories those
sweet simple strains evoked! Memories.
perhaps. Of once happy homes, and affec-
iionate Sabbath school teachers. aud be.
loved companions. so swcetly contrasting
with their dance-house condition. And 50.
these souLwcary creatures lingering fondly
upon. and repeated over aud over again the
lines.
on the other side of Jordan
10 the sweet field. of Eden.
where the Tree Of Lie !. blooming
There l. rest for you
Since that occasion We have repe ally Wis.
tied the abode OF the Wick eldest Man in
New York, for the purpose Of studying
him up and Of trying 10 bit upon some
means Of inducing him to abandon his
course OF lite, and OF saving his boy. For
IN truth. We not only feel an interest in. bot
also rather like bin, wicked ~ be j.. And
50 does nearly everybody whom We have
taken TO see him and we have taken scores
--mosi Of them elergymen.
Bot all our efforts to get any vital bold
uDOD him have beeu IN vai, Ho - .I....
cordial always ready to let the girls have
spiritual sing;" will even permit little
eSortai'cn to them. in bi. dsDsing saloon I;
aud j. free with his Observer and Iodepen.
dent. Bot be keeps on his way with un.
yielding periioacity.