Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-02-26
''The Sins of My Youth"
BY A PASTOR.

Thirty years ago, on one,of the large
hereditary estates of Virginia, lived q
gentleman of thirty or thirty-five wears
of age, the heir of great wealth, cultiyat.
ed, intellectual and genial, with rare
charm of person and manner, and that
singular fascination which only few
men possess, and which makes them so
dangerous in their relations to the other
sex. It was the boast of this young man
that no woman could escape his tolls.
More than one household of the hum
| bier but respectable class in the COM
munity had been brought to shame and
grief through his insidious approaches.
Among his boon companions, and over
the wine in his bachelors hail, he boast
ed OF the homes he had polluted and the
lives he had wrecked. -
Time rolled on, wearied of his bache-
lor life, he sought and obtained the hand
OF one in every way fitted to promote his
happiness, and for years the current of
his life flowed on without ripple
Prosperity crowned lis labors as hus-
bandman, and his fields yielded increas-
ing wealth. His home was gladdened
by the presence ola beautiful daughter.
the only child, the object of the tenderest
solicitude and most unwearying care
As she developed into womanhood, COM
blning with, rare beauty of form and
features still rarer graces and gentleness
and amiability, all the idolatory of a
father's heart was fixed upon her. His
eye never wearied of resting upon her
graceful form. His ear found nothing
50 sweet as her musical voice. All his
life merged in the life of his beautiful
daughter. He seemed to think onlv of
her live on Iyy fn1. how 10
pose beyond her Improvement and her
happiness. f -.
A few years more. 1t is the hour of
twilight in a distant city. A single door
of one of its splendid churches half open. s.
ed. There are no lights within. Along
the dim aisle the minister is sadly pacing,
He is waiting bridal party. And oh.
such marriage as he is to solelnnize -
The father has traced to this city the
seducer ofhis beautiful and accomplish
ed daughter Between the sad alterna-
tives OF open exposure and private mar
riage, the latter has been chosen. A
carriage with curtains closely drawn
drives to the door of the church in the
twilight. Noiselessly four persons
emerge and enter two by two. In front
IS young man with look of shame |
upon his face, and sby his side a young
woman of queenly form, but in black |
and closely veiled. Behind them walks.
with bowed head and quivering form,
man OF fifty-five or sixty years of age.
and upon his arm lady tsn years Young.
er, closely veiled. The other two stand |
before the minister as the solemn cere-
mony of marriage proceeds AS thel
minister pauses for moment ere the |
benediction is pronounced, the awful |
stiffness is broken only by the sobs from |
the pew where two silent witnesses are |
seated. Then the words of blessing are
spoken. The two who in this awful
stiffness have been made one, take their
course slowly and with apparent reluc-
tance down the aisle, and disappear in
the darkness. The other two remain
seated as If despair had riveted them to
the fatal spot. Across the memory of 1
the broken hearted father arise the
visions Of the homes he has plunged in |
to similar sorrow. He shakes like an
aspen, as he recalls the spirit with which
he has exulted over similar wreck and
traces the hands of retribution, by which
his idolized daughter has fallen almost
without a struggle into the power of the
betrayer. AS the minister approaches /
for the purpose of speaking souas word /
OF comfort, 20 Goo, have deserved it |
all. Theu makest me possess the sins
of my youth.'"
How many of US are made in one way
and another to ''possess the iniquities Of
our youth?" How many young man |
is now, by reckless and ungodly life,
sowing the seed OF a wretched and re-
morseful old age. How mournful that
prayer of the Psalmist, Remember not
the sins ofmy youth. ."- Christian Week.
I,f j