Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-08

ularity. Before that time this lovely pill
grim of hymn had wandered over the
world, pausing at many thresholds, filling
with sweetly solemn thoughts how many
Christian hearts II had been printed on
Sabbath.school cards, embodied in books OF
sacred song, pasted into scrap-books, read
with fearful eyes by patient invalids in twi.
light sick chambers, and by brave, yet ten.
der souls at their heyday, on whose wistful
eyes faint visions of their immortal home
must sometimes dawn, even amid the dim
ness of this cIouded world.
Within the last year of her life, Pho5c
heard Of an incident connected with this
hymn, which made her happier while she
lived.
" A gentleman in China, intrusted with
packages for young man from his friendi
IN the United States, learned that he would
probably be found in certain gambling
house. He went thither, but not seeing
the young man, sat down and waited, in the
hope that he might come in. The plac'
was bedlam of noises, men getting angry
over their cards, and frequently coming tC
blows Near him sat two men-one young
the other forty years Of age. They were
betting and drinking in terrible way, the
older one giving utterance continually Il
the foulest profanity. Two games hat
been finished, the young man losing eact
time The third game, with fresh bottles
Of brandy, had just begun, and the young
man sat lazily back in his chair while the
oldest shuffled his cards The man was
long time dealing the cards, and the young
man, looking carelessly about the room, be
gan to hum tune. he went on, till a
length he began to sing the hymn Of Pheb,
Cary, above quoted. The words" says III,
writer of the story, " repeated in such
vile place, at first made me shudder. 4
Sabbath-school hymn in a gambling den
But while the young man sang, the eide
stopped dealing the cards, stared at th'
singer moment, and, throwing the card
on the floor, exclaimed
90 Harry, where did you learn that tune :
"' What tune ?
Why, that one you've been singing.
"The young man said he did not know
what he had been singing, when the eide
repeated the words, with tears in his eyes
and the young man said be had learne
them in a Sunday-schoo in America.
80 Come, said the elder, getting up
come, Harry here's what won frou
you 90 and use it for some good purpose
As for me, as God sees me, have playe'
my last game, and drank my last bottle.
have misled you, Harry, aud | am sorry
Give me your hand, my boy, aud say that
for old Americas sake, if for no other, yo
will quit this Internal business.
The gentleman who tells the story (orig
inally published in " The Boston Dali.
News W saw these two men leave the gam
bling.house together, and walk away arm
in arm and he remarks, " 1t must be
source Of great JOY to Miss Cary to kno
that her lines, which have comforted S
many Christian hearts, have been the meau
of awakening in the breast Of two temple,
and erring men on the other side Of tn
globe, a resolution to lead better lifc."
1t scas great JOY to the writer. |
a private letter to an aged friend in Ne
York, with the story inclosed, she added :
al inclose the hymn and the story f
you, not because | am vain Of the motto
but because | thought you would feel p
ouliar interest in them when you know ii
hymn was written eighteen years ago (ls5.
in your house. composed it in the Ii
tie back third story bedroom, one Sunda
morning, after coming from church, al
it makes me very happy to think that al
word | could say has done little good
the world"
After the death of Phoebe, the folowin
letter was received at the New Yor
Tribune office.
SEQUEL TO THE GAMBLERS STORY.
To the Editor of the Tribune:
SIR:-Haying noticed in the columns
the Tribune" biographical sketch
Phoebe Cary, which contained an incidel
from my letters from China, think thi
the sequel to the story of 1.-The Gamblers
may interest her many friends.
The old man spoken of in the anecdo
has returned to California, and has becon
a hard-ioorking Christian man, viii
" Harry" has renounced gambling and a
its attendant vices. The incident havir
gone the rounds of the press, the old una
, saw it, and finding its credit" wrote
me about it. Thus Phoebe Cary's poer
One Sweetly Solemn Thought" etc, hi
saved from ruin at least two who seldom {
never entered house of worship.
Yours, RUSSELL ii. CoNwRLL.
Traveller Office, Boston, August o, 1871.