The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-03-13
THE sABBATH-sToNE.

" In the rece5ses or the Northumberland
coal-pits," says writer, " a partic coloured
clay, consisting of grey and black layers, is
found, which bears the name of the Sabbath
stone The springs which ooze into the pit
are charged with fine impalpable pipeclay,
which they deposit in the pools of water of
the deserted workings, and which is pale
grey color, approaching to white. When the
miners are at work, however, light black
dust, struck by their tools from the coal, and
carried by currents of air into the recesses
of the mine, is deposited along with it; and,
in consequence, each days work is marked
by thin black layer in the mass while
each night, during which there is cessation
of labor, is represented by a pale layer,
which exhibits the natural colour of the clay.
And when cross section of the substance
thus deposited comes to be made, every week
of regular employment is found to be repre-
sented by group of six black streaks, close
ly lined off on pale ground, and each Sab
bath by a broad, pale streak interposed be-
tween each group; exactly such space, in
short, as clerk, in keeping tally, would leave
between his fagots Of strokes.
"In this curious record, holiday takes
its place among the workiug-days like a Sec
ond Sabbath. How comes this week to
have two Sabbaths?' ? inquired gentleman,
to whom specimen was shown at one of the
pits.
"The blank Friday, replied the fore
man, 'was the day of the races"
"And what said the visitor, 'means this
large empty space, full fortnight and more
in BREADTH
"Ohl that space, rejoined the foreman,
shows the time of the strike for wages; the
men stood out for three weeks, and then gave
in.
SIN fne, the Sabbath stone of the Nor.
cumberland coal-mines is sort of geological
register of the work done in them-a sort of
natural tally, in which the sedimentary agent
keeps the chalk, and which tells when the
miners labor and when they rest, and wheth-
er they keep their Sabbaths intact or en-
croach upon them. One would scarcely ex.
pect to find, of transactions so humble, re-
cord in the heart of a stone; but it may
serve to show, however curious that narra-
tive might be, could we but read it Alright,
what lies couched in the parti-colOured lay
ers of the earthly crust"
So in the bosom of the earth is recorded
the history of men. We little think of it:
we tread our daily path, do our daily work,
kneel in prayer to God, stretch out hand
of help to the perishing; or else indulge in
violence or loathsome sin and the light re-
fected from our eornS photographs on the
earth's face, and on the everlasting noun
tains, every attitude and gesture of our bo-
dies, and every expression Of our counte-
nance. The air, stirred into waves by the
words we utter, and by the sounds of our
footsteps, imprints them all on the rocks and
stones around US. Yes even if we choose
the dark night as hiding place for our
deeds, and keep our mouths shut in silence,
and walk with mufiled tread, the undulations
o. our breathing are prOpagated by the air
around US. Nay, the very pulsatiOns of our
heart are numbered, their strength is meas
ured by the subtle ether that penetrates
every part of our bodies, as we'll as fills
space and an accurate record is thus kept
somewhere of our every feeling and thought.
And that record is legible to the all-seeing
Eye. 1t will be one day legible to our own
consciences.
Let US, then, live as in Gods sight, look.
ing to His grace through Christ for pardon
of our countless sins, and for preservation
from iniquity.