South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-03-02

From the New York obse-vcr.

CSt -SssAiiltf stitt VIC VIII lain ssOOu1
e BY the freight that viii be pleasant.
sometimes like TO imagine things that
seem quite impossible: we never were
SO poor as we are this winter"
"Yes, mother, it is true: we no longer
have any eggs to carry to market ber-
ries are gone long ago: the cow gives
no milk {; we are eating up our little store
of food very fast; need pair of boots
to go through the snow and bring wood
to keep us warm. / have thought ofall
these things over and over, yet 1 am ex.
pecting Christmas present. How pleas
ant it Was when father was alive we
had abundance OF everything good.
One Christmas he brought me pair of
skates, an overcoat and cap. and string
OF bells. Whea he came home with q
bundle, was 50 eager to see the inside
of it that could hardly wait to unite
the string.
81 am thinking Of better way, moth.
cr;' and the luminous eyes of the boy
gazed dreamily into the glowing fire,
and over his face gathered slowly the
rapt expression Of enthusiast or saint.
ut is only a little while ago that learn.
ed it. l was at the Fort, one Sunday,
and went in. with other people, to hear
n gray.haired minister preach. lie had
been through the war, mother, and suf.
fered more privation than you or have
ever dreamed Of. While he was gone,
the Indians killed his wife and children
and burned his house and barn. His
face was cruelly scarrcd,-one long
sword cut ran down the whole of his
! right cheek, dividing it with dreadful
seam. You have seen sometimes how,
ut the close of winter day of storm
the sun shines bright; so did his face.
| 1t had been beaten by storm and tenn.
pest; but, at last, the peace and rest of
sunset were on it. Gods beautiful
image was there. He told us about the
kingdom Of heaven; it must be q lovely
country, from what the old man said
Our Fathers kingdom he called it,-yes,
ours. that is what he said. Why did you
never tell me of it, mother? 10 told
us of the letter way "Do not be too
much troubled to lay up treasure on
earth; ask and We shall receive. Be
gentle, patient, grateful. forgiving, and
good. Know we not. little children, that
it is your Fathers good pleasure to give
you the kingdom?" | thought that
meant me, fox he went on TO say: There
arc treasures in the heavens that open
for the asking; the key that unlocks
them Is prayer" / said TO myself
after this, I'm bound to pray for the
things l need lie said other things
must accompany prayer: that man must
work earnestly. His text was, Il reck
on reckon" Do you know any such
text. mother? / have looked through
the Bible, but cannot find it yet know
it began with those words its meaning
was something like this: II reckon
that the sufferings OF this present time
are ofno account; for such long time
of happiness is coming by.and.by." 1t
is so strange You never told me any OF
these things; boy with such n Father
as that can never feel poor, you know ;
that would be impossible. We wept
when we heard the preacher, his words
were so cheering and kind. After meet.
ing, he spoke TO me and asked my name.
Charlie SNOW / answered "Remem.
Der the Lord, Charlie; lie sure to have
him for your friend" / said | wanted
to. but did not know how. Read your
Bible, pray for wisdom; Gods Spirit
will enlightcn you be industrious and
obcdlcnt;" these were his instructions
to me. | am trying every day to do'as
the preacher told me. You say / am
n better boy thsn I was - more patient
and Industrious. These lessons have
made mo so. The better way" dear
mother, is TO do all we can, praying, and
trusting in the Lord.
But have not yet told you for what
I am praying. Candy and cakes like.
Of course,-what boy does not?-hut |
don't feel free to pray for them I am
going to be aman TO take care of you !;
and must put away childish things
l have been asking for books | knew
you could not buy them. l think
shall get them, too, mother"
81 am sure | hope So since I have
heard your storg. I almost think YOU
will. But you said one thing that made
me unhappy for q moment, Charlie
/ You asked why [ never told YOU any of
these things. Did I not teach Won to
repeat the Lords Prayer? and that be.
/ gins with Our Father who art in beay-
/ en-" Did ! not teach you TO read in the
Bible, and give you twenty-five cents
Tor learning the Catechsm?''
"Ycs. You did forgive me. mother
uuI ~ AT secmcu so new and as III |
never had heard it before"
81 heard so much religious talk in nv
childhood. and | thought the talk did
not harmonic with the behavior. that
l was rather set against 81 from Tie
time can remember. We used to com.
inence our Sunday ON Saturday evening.
and going TO church and Sunday school
and learning the Catcchism came as
natural to our family as 10 breathe
3 fresh air but when | married vour Fl.
Their, and all turned against nc. from the
Deacon down 20 The youngest. turned
against my religion. sec now that il
was wrong. / ought not 20 Judge the
Ail'Merciiul. or think he could have any
pleasure IN The harshness Of my own
fathers conduct TO me. will do bet.
ter, Charlie ! will forgive and forget.
md LOT 10