South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-09-08

/ m nearer my home to-day
Than ever have been before
Nearer my Fathers house,
Where the many mansions be
Nearer the great white throne,
Near the crystal sea
Nearer the bound of life,
Where we lay our burdens down,
Nearer leaving the cross,
Nearer gaining the crown
But the waves of the silent sea
Roll dark before my sight,
That brightly tho other side
Break shore of light
O, if my mortal feet
Have almost gained the brink,
IL ii he am nearer home
Even to day than think,
Father, perfect my trust,
Let my spirit feel in death
That her feet are firmly set
On the Rock OF a living faith
\ gentleman in China, intrustcd with
packages for young man from his friends
in the United States, learned that he would
probably be found in certain gambling
house. lie went thitber, but not seeing
the young man, sat down and waited in the
hope that he might come in The place
was bedlam of noises, men getting angry
over their cards, and frequently coming to
blows. Near him sat two men--one young.
the other 40 years of age. They were bet
ting and drinking in terrible way, the OIL
der giving utterancc continually to the foul
est profanity. Two games had been finish
ed, the young man losing each time. The
third game, with fresh bottles of brandy,
had just begun, and the young man sat la
lily back it his chair while the oldest shut
He'd hls cards The mau was n long time
dealing the cards, and the young man, look
ing cartlcssIy about the room, began TO
hum a tune. He went on, till at length he
began to sing the hymn of PLwbe Cary a
bove quoted. The words, says the writer
of the story, repeated in such vile place,
at first made me shu3dor 4 Sabbath
school hymn in gambling don But
while the young man sang the elder stop
ped dealing the cards, stared at the singer
a moment, and, throwing the cards on the
floor, exclaimed "ITarry where did YOU
learn that tune ?" "Whal tune ?" "Why
th,at one you yc been singing" The Young
man said he did not know what he bad
been singing, when the eldest repeated the
words, with tears III his eyes, and the young
man said that he had learned them in a
sunday school ia America Come" said
the elder, getting up "c1mc, Harry here's
what ] won from you 60 and use it for
some good purpose rs for me, as God
secs nc, | have played my last game, and
drank my last bottle / have mi,led you,
Harry, and am sorry. Give mo your hand
my boy. and say that, for old Americas
,pkr, II no other, you viii quit this infer
nsl business The gentleman who tells
the story originally published in ,ho B,s-
,ou DrjIy NcVs) saw these two men leave
.lc gambling house together, aud walk a.
way arm in arm and he remarks: It
must be a source Of great joy to Miss Cary
TO know that her ines, which have comfort.
I'd So many Christian hearts, have been the
means Of awakening ia the breasts Of two
tempted aud crring men on the other side
OF ilc globe a resolution to lead a better
I'- was a source Of great joy to Miss
Cary, as VIC happen to know Before US
,as q private ter from her to an aged
'ricud, in this city, with the printed story
ne,osej aud containing this comment ~
] iuciyso The hymn and the story for you,
u9t because am vain Of the notice, but
because | Thought you would feel peculiar
interest in thcm when you know tho hymn
was written Is years ago lIs52) in your
house. | composed il in the little back
third story bed room, on Sunday morning,
after coming from church and it makes
me very happy 20 .hiuk that any word
could saw has donea little rood iu the world