South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-06-18

Cuurcu WOulu Improve.
Il presume he is conscientious. and
thinks he is doing his highest duty"
Undoubtedly. But if he would only
( preach against greed, envy. malice, and
all NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. backbit-
ing, lying tongues and the follies Of
youth. we might be benefited
! St. Clair did not remain until the per-
I Torrance was concluded. He stole out
with very much the feeling and fate of
an ordinary listener. Daily he had been
growing into state of disquietude, and
his thoughts dwelt upon the beautiful
soprano who would defy his advice and
precepts, and dance when she chose so
to do.
One day both his pen and brain re-
fused the bidding Of his will, and he
went out to pay his customary visits to
the poor. The little dirty ill-smelling
places required all his grace to endure,
especially rs he was out of sorts with
himself and the world. Nothing but
long breezy ramble over the frosty hills
would extract the bad odors from his
nostrils and take the fever and excite
ment from out his blood.
Returning from his long walk at the
close Of the day, just before him upon
the brow of a hill that overlooked the
village, he saw outlined against the sky
I the tall 1.-the form of the woman whom
of all others he was trying to forget
She turned rs he drew near, with the
exquisite color of health tnting her
cheeks and sparkling in her eyes Az
ter the first words of greeting, she said
'.fve had glorious climb. Mr.. ST.
Clair, to get most glorious view" And
she pointed down the valley, within
whose heart was locked frozen stream
and away off, over undulating hills, ever
green-crowned, and patched with snow.
through which brown rocks thrust them
selves, the setting sun famed through
the gateways of the clouds, tinting the
sky with summer glory and warmth,
flooding the barren and dreary landscape,
and streaming down as benediction
from the tops ofthe highest hills.
1T is indeed glorious, and worth the
effort, and / am glad to be permitted to
share it with you, Miss Harrison" he
replied.
She drew breath of positive enjoy
ment as they watched the rapidly chang.
ing scene, which, like some beautiful
dream, vanished almost as soon as it
was born, leaving nothing but a faint
golden light upon the western sky to tell
of the glory that had been.
go my mind" said ST. Clair, that
changeful sky is typical of pleasures that
are rs fieeting, and leave behind only
gloom and disappointment even as
Dead Sea fruit, beautiful to look upon,
but turning to ashes upon the lips
"And to me-" responded Bella, sit
speaks OF the coming summer and resur-
rection Of nature"
True. 1t is indeed the symbol not
nature. but of life everlasting. Miss
Bella. am delighted to meet you here
surrounded by nothing conventional,
but only God and his wonderful works.
| wish to speak to you as your pastor
and friend about the frivolity and sin of
vain amusements-of dancing, and of
/ your influence and accountability, and |
hope that shall be forgiven if L speak
plainly
Certainly, Mr.. st. Clair. But doyou
/ not think you have already exhausted
the subject in the pulpit? / am sure you
cannot complain OF my being inatten-
/ tive there
She was almost offended, and in the
! quick coming breath and the increased
! color it expressed ITSELF though her
I tones were submissive enough. st.
Clair bit his lip as he glanced down up
on the splendid creature by his side. so
vigorous and buoyant of nature, and
with the grand Inheritance of perfect
I health. lie noticed the firm set of the
red lips over the white even teeth, and
the expression of defiance flashing out
of the wonderfully expressive eyes,
! Then he clearad his throat, opened his
/ mouth, and said something very wide Of
the mark. And Bella, with the magma.
nimity of her nature, brought him back
! at once to the subject in question.
/ 81 know, Mr.. St. Clair. | may be
wrong, and perhaps TO me the simple
| pleasure Of dancing may not be antaao.
nistic to Christian life. Yet I grant
/ 1t IS vanity, 90 indeed must be all youth
| ful pleasures. But our natures are
/ childlike and frivolous. We have not
as yet taken upthe burden and the cross
Of life. There is time enough TO settle
\ down But since the magnetism Of
youth draws us together, why complain
/ because we select the most innocent Of
/ pastimcs?"
Docs it appearinnocent TO you. Miss
/ Bella-can you not see that il leads 20
excitement and dissipation? Are not
young men led to drink rs n stimulant
to their taxed energy, and are not the
. constitutions IF youuu loIfoa octo,, 90
/ riously injured by the excuses ola heat.
ed room? And are not regulations leo.
pardized by the promiscuous informing.
ling of society,"
These social meetings lead 20 late
hours, ! grant, and there ought TO bo
many reforms. Dancing should be con,
fined to ones particular set. and il our
teachers would only set themselves TO
regulating these things by advocating
more modcration-in short, ifthev would