Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-08-16
RATEa OF aDVERTlsINo..

until cruelty undeceived by onel i'm whose
piety and self-denial | had perfect con-
fidence. -,"
But we will proceed with the story. TIL,
young friend who was visiting the minister
witnessed the whole scene, and listened to
the opportunities of the wife, with pale
face, as 1T his future peace depended Oh
the result, until indignation forced him to
seize his hat and leave very abruptly. He
walked rapidly down the street to a house
where young minister, who had lately
come among them as pastor of new
church, boarded with one OF his church.
men. lie Knocked at the door, and asked
for Mr.. Allan, the minister Mr.. Allan
was quiet, rather retiring young man,
extremely modest and not calculated to
become very popular among people who
admired fine social qualities or rhetorical
flourishes in minister.
lie came out and politely asked Mr.
Armistead to walk in. Mr.. A. quickly in
formed him that man had Just left the
village who was anxious to get a minister
to visit and pray with his dying wife. MIR.
Allan asked .s ts.A -
Where is the place, and how far must
Igo?" ...r.u
"Five miles among the lowest class of
persons in the State. Not many persons
are willing TO go to the neighborhood,
though thought ought TO tell you, as the
man seemed 50 anxious"
Not willing to 60 ?" was Mr.. Allans
interruption. "My friend, can YOU thinl,
any place too low for a minister OF the
Gospel OF Christ, or any person TO visit Oh
mission Of mercy Is not one mortal
soul worth saving? Not go? l should
be afraid to refuse to answer so manifest
call of duty. Excuse me for a moment
Whlle make a few necessary preparations
have no horse and must walk, but that
makes no difference, except that may not
be able 20 get there in time.n'
smile lighted up Mr.. Armistead's face,
as he asked, "I ou surely would not walk
five miles to visit an outcast from society,""
-" Certainly, sir, / would walk twice five
miles to save an Immortal soul"
Wait moment, Mr.. Allan / have n
good horse and buggy, and will drive Won
there in a half hour, If you will accent the
aid and society Of an unregenerate man"
MIR. Allan turned back aud grasped his
hand, aS he thanked him and prayed ST.
lently that good might be accomplished by
this visit. '
Our friends reached the hoycl before thc
husband did, and when he goehome, burn
ing with indignation and resentment to-
ward all who called themselves Christians,
lie was surprised to hear the voice of pray
er in the house. He entered and found
Mr.. Allan kneeling by the side Of the bed.
praying :hat the sick woman might have.
an assurance that her sins were pardoned
before she died. Near him knelt Robert
Armistead-One the world called noble and
dellghted to honor, with tears falling over
bis clasped hands. Bitter as were his feel
1ngs When he reachedho the scene mel
ted him to tears and when the minister
arose from his knees, he was sitting upon
the side Of the bed holding hand Of his
dying wife, and weeping bitterly. Several
neighbOrs, as rough as he had ever been.
had gathered in and around the house, and
were paying reverent attention TO all the
minister said. The scene was SO pure and
sacred, methinks the angels We're leaning
from Heaven and looking Oh with delight.
ready to catch the tear Of -penitence, and
the first breath of saving faith, and bea.
them to the throne Of the All-Father, that
the door might be opened TO admit the soul
of the dying woman.
TIE poor wife died, leaving the assu-
rance that her sins were pardoned and the
sting of death removed. The minister was
requested To return on ile Iuorrow ami
read the burial service Of his church. IL.
complied with the request, and spoke
words Of comfort 10 the bereaved friends.
w hen he left he was IeqEested by seyer,.
1tbI
them sometimes. His visit was apprp,.iated.
and opened new wells in the heats of thai,
neglected and hardened class, pIoyIng that
there Is some good in all, and that there
are few, if any, cases Of total depra,ity.
A few weeks later Robert Armistead
united with MIR. AiIans cImrch. Mr.. viii
sOn did his best to induce HIM TO continue
his visits To his house and his attendance
ut his church, but he had been so shocked
by the want Of Christian spirit which he
he slIuddcrcd to think of the
probable consequences Lad Nj. Allan been
of the same spirit. All faith in religion
might have been destroyed, and his bril-
liant mind left prey 10 doubts and skrrti-
cisIn as lOng as lie lived. s
AS 1t was, his influence was eXerted for
good, and a noble and useful Christian he
proved. His genuine piety and unprc-
tending goodness lad their effect. He
preached frequently for those people whom
others Stunned, and Was rewarded Ly
theio rapid Improvement. In year there
was a neat chapel buflt in their
midst, and the passer-by, who for
merly heard oaths and rude jests, now
heard the songs Of Zion, and saw an orderly
and neat community. The husband OF
that dying woman was among the first who
united with the church, and Mr.. Allan had
the pleasure of baptizing him and his two
infant children into the church on the same
day.
What Of Mr.. Wilson, the once popular
preacher? Not many months served TO
prove him his sad mistake. While trying
to steer his course, SO as 10 offend none, he
forgot the prccepts OF his Divine Master,
and had his reward in the very perceptiblc
diminuliOn OF his congregations, and the
n0n-approval Of those whose favor he
coUrted.
Very uncertain are The srhiles and ar-
proval of this world. Those OF whose
friendship We feel most secure, arr. some
times our most formidable foes. Mr..
Armistead's union with church he was
labOring 10 pull down, affected Mr.. VIII
sons popularity more th;tn. anything else
for strange Inconsistency ], .sBrother smith"
was the first To tanunt him with being a
man-pleaser, and complain Of the disaflcc
ton in the church. lnstead Of gaining a
dozen accessons 10 his church hc lost :,
score or more beside tue confidence of his
brethren. Before the year closed he had
become so unpopular that he was glad to
leave for a dista IH field Of labor, where il
is 10 be hOpe,t that lac has found it will
pay 10 do ones duty under all circumstan-
ces regardless tf the probability or even
the certainty Of What the worst persons
can say Of him. s8tf .fH
IL it will pay even iB this world, then
how much more in the world " come.
buckingham &. H., Va.
-
The attention of the public is being at
tracted to the unfortunate citizens of South
Carolina now iuprigpna1 IT Alh.nN Nn,,