Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-24

] guagti mas denounced zoe against those
who call evil good, and put light for dark
ness every eye was fixed upon him" and
now ! hope Ralph is penitent he feels he
can never be happy again until he is for
given. Eben, il you forgive your brother
for this great wrong, come and tell him So"
That dear brother flew toward me, weeping
and broken-hearted as | sat, and clasping
my hand in his exclaimed, From my heart
forgive you, Ralph" while the great tears
glistened In his eyes. He would have fallen
on my neck, but my father motioned him
iaway. "Nowi we most carry this matter
before Cod said my father, solemnly and
the family knelt in prayer. lie placed his hand
upon my head as he clearly and distinctly
/ laid open my gnilt to the God of Heaven
/ then humbly did he pray for my forgiveness.
/ How earnestly did he plead for my soul
/ How hc besought that | might be cleansed
| by the blood of Christ, and dedicate myself
| TO the service Of my heavenly Master. Then
/ how did he plead for us all, that we might
so live upon earth a. to become a reunited
/ family around the Eternal Throne. That
/ agonizing, earnest prayer will follow me
/ down to latest life. Did | not then realize
/ that sin must be no light thing, albeit com
mitted in darkness and alone, which could
bring such terror and wretchedness to my
| self, could tear with grief a parents heart,
and which required the blood Of Jesus Christ
TO wash away2 | had known the peace Of
of well-doing had | not reaped the bitter
/ fruit of wrong-doing My father saw this,
and said, as we rose Let this matter never
be alluded to or mentioned henceforth."
Then little Alice came to me, and unpiu.
ming the blue kerchef at her side, she low
ingly clasped one hand about my neck, for /
had resumed my seat, and with the other ten
dery wiped my face. Dear Ralphy love
| you very dearly and Fanny does, too, she
Gays she loves YOU better than she does
George, if he is her brother Precious lit
tie comforter How dear was your tender
and child-like sympathy, in that hour of hu-
initiation and repentance.
Often, in later years, have | enyisd the
| blessed gift of a sister. Ministering spirits,
sweet sisters are, in the household band,
| lowering with their quiet and glad affection
round the pathway Of their brothers, strength
ening their better principles and drawing
/ them into the hallowed paths Of domestic en-
| ioyments. Our sweet Alice died in early
| spring-time, when the blossoms hung upon
the trees, and the grass was springing in the
way-side. 4 beautiful flower she was now
/ blooming in the Paradise of God.
Through the winter Alice was fading
| With what earnest and faithful affection did
my mother watch over her With what fond
and unshrinking fidelity did my father in
struct her in the way of salvation, and gently
lead her to trust in Jesus. Her brothers
never spoke of her departure, for they never
could realize what they often read in that
tender and trembling apprehensions of par
entail love, that she was fast fading for the
tomb. On her last day, she lay all uncon-
scious of the anxious and sorrowing group
around her. As the shadows of evening
gathered on, she opened once more upon us
her clear, blue eyes, parting glance of deep
and earnest love, then she warbled forth i'll
clearest aud sweetest strains the lines of a
little hymn, which she oft repeated in health
expressive of strong desire to depart and
bo at peace in heaven. This seemed not
only the language OF the lip, but the feeling
Of the heart.
The next morning, they told US she was
dead. Alice dead" repeated again and
again 10 myself, as if to be assured Of the
deep and mysterious meaning which the
word bore. After an almost untasted break
fast, our father asked us TO go with him and
see Alice. We arose aud followed him. A
deep fer, a strange shrinking came over me.
just within the door of the entry, timidly
stood little Fanny, in her blue cape bonnet,
come TO inquire for the health of her beloved
playmate. went aud took her had. AL
ice is dead" whispered, and I've 10 sis
ter now" The mournful truth thus ex-
pressed in my own words, quite overcame
me. Fanny clasped my hand, aud, looking
me tendcrly in the face, impaired 10 me
the sweetest consolation she could offer
"I'll he your sister, Ralphy"- "Come, -
said |, drawing her along; aud together we
went to the chamber Of death. As fathsr
uncovered the white cloth which was flung
over our sister, trembled violently for
knew not what strange aud terrible change
death might have wrought but there lay the
little cherished one, as beautiful as ever, even
in that eternal sleep, A curl Of light hair
rested on the marble forehead the tinge upon
the cheek had not yet quite faded away and
death had borrowed the sweet and innocent
smile which she ever wore in life, TO garnish
her for the grave "This is all that is left
OF Alice" said our father, with deep emo
ton, breaking the terrible stiffness of the
scene " the soul which sparkled in the eye,
that spoke with the voice, that reioiced in
her smile, that moved in her little hands,
and slipped in her little feet, is gone All
we loved and valued is gone This is
death. Her body remains for the grave.
Her parents could go with her down to the
end OF life and then she must leave them to
60 alone into the eternal world, TO appear
before her Maker; and yet we hope not
alone" and faith illumined our fathers face
as be spoke not aiOns-she loved the Lord
Jesus, and lie met her and presented her tC
the Father rs lamb Of His fold Happy
if our souls shall follow hers TO the Greal
Shepherd My children, remember yot
must die, like Alice, Like her, secure tn,
friendship of your Savior that you may mol
go into eternity bearing alone the burden oi
your sins"
This was my first interview with death
1t was solemn aud impressive, but not re
voting. 1t linked in my mind, more pow
crfully than mere words could have done
the great reality of death, and connected cid
that reality, the solemn conviction that, a
those Ia whom trusted here, those whom
loved most must leave me at the hour o
death, how diligently ought | TO seek tin
friendship and favor of One who has styleC
Himself the friend of sinners, 10 meet an,
welcome me in the unseen world How per
petually did this thought occur TO me fo
weeks, months and years, even ia the gayes
and gladdest hours OF my boyhood and il
served TO stimulate inquiry, when other mo
tiyes urged the claims of God upon con
science whose decisions wera already rem
dered clear aud intelligent by the impartial
teachings of parental fidelity
More than twenty years have passed since
left my fathers house, and the green
grass is now growing over the graves of my
parents but their pure and holy influence is
still strong and dcathess upon my soul like
an omnipresent spirit has it ever tracked my
steps through the changeful scenes of a
checkered life In foreign lands, and in my
own, amid perils, temptations and dangers,
though the earthly voice was hushed in
death, their solemn warnings and affection
ate oounsels still sound in my ear. Though
the eye is closed IN eternal sleep, its deep,
earnest look of approval or reproach is ever
upon me. Often, on the EXTREMIST verge OF
temptation, have wellnigh yielded, when
my parents rose upon my memory in THEN
God-like purity and holy rectitude. | shrank
from sin, and was strong again. When
flushed with health, with senses fascinated
by most alluring pleasures, surrounded by
companions full Of gay excitement, amid
music and dancing, with the sparkling cup
and the ready jest, did | turn my steps
towards those whose feet 20 down TO death; !"
! but the voice of my father as he spake 10 us