The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1880-04-08

solved the problems of this difficult
lesson. I must tell you, dear Horace
that l feel deeply anxious for you.
Unless you make the welfare of your
soul the first object in life, what shall
all else profit you, though you gain the
highest pinnacle of earthly fame? 1
would not tax your forbearance, but
my heart is full of tenderest love for
you, and affection bids me warn you of
the awful danger of forgetting your
God.
Horace loved his mother. He could
not but love her, so unselfsh was she
in her perfect devotion to her children.
He felt that he had grieved her, as
well as sinned in his careless service of
his Maker, and as he now threw his
arms afectiOnately around her and
tried to kiss away her tears, he thought
that he earnestly promised to act diff
ferently for the future. "He would
begin again his accustomed reading of
the scriptures" but was it to please his
mother, or did he repent really of past
sinfulness, and ask God for strength
for future faithfulness! He scarcely
asked himself these questions. HUI
man nature is trails weak. Alas!
if We trust to our own resolves, and
look not to the One that is higher than
we. ga reed shaken by the wind"-
truly is it typical of man when he leans
not on the Rock of his strength. Would
that in our earliest hours we learned to
trust only that arm which would fain
encircle us through all life's journey,
shielding from danger, guiding midst
perplexities, and Strengthening in ev-
cry hour of need. So would we pass
safely the many quicksands which lay
in the way through earth, and reach
heaven by surer, less thorny path.
From his earliest years, Horace had
manifested such fondness for things of
a sacred character-such sensitiveness
to anything like irreverence for God
or his laws; indeed, had given so many
evidences of simple, chiIdlike faith in
Christ, that his parents could not but
believe that he was child of Him who
has said, ''Of such is the kingdom of
heaven" His mother had devoted
herself to mis- instruction until he was
about twelve years of age.
At that time Mr.. Hunter, as we'll as
she, deemed it advisable to send him
to Male Academy in the city of very
high standing. The principal was a
man of undoubted piety, as well as fine
intellectual attainments, and his school
was patrOnized by the most intelligent
and refined portion of the community.
With many prayers, and warnings
against the peculiar temptations that
beset the school boy, his mother saw
him enter on the first year. of his aca-
demic life.
For some months there was but little
apparent change in him, even to her
watchful, loving eye. On entering his
second term, however; he was classed
with Ernest Gray, boy few months
his senior, who had been a student in
the school for several years, and had
already won quite reputation as a
youth Of unusual brightness and intel
Iigence. There was a warm friendship
existing between the two boys, notwIth-
standing their being regarded as rivals
in the school.
But Horace was very ambitious, and
as his lessons increased in difficulty,
his anxiety lest he should fail in
them caused him almost unconsciously
to shorten his morning devotions that
he might have more time for study,
until finally his pocket Testament, the
gift of his mother long years ago. lay
neglected on his table; and of late, he
had strangely forgotten to offer up his
morning prayer.
How easily are the feet of the young
turned aside from the right way? How
| quickly do the cares or pleasures of
earth choke the good seed sown, and
render the soil unfruitful.
1t was not strange that Mrs Hunter
felt anxious and distressed. She
knew her boy would go into the strug-
gle of life without divine armor, and
would fall an easy victim to tempta-
ton. Nor could he claim the blessing
of God on his efforts when he had
ceased to follow the sacred injunction,
Remember now thy Creator in the
days of thy youth" She could only
pray for him-this was still her blessed
privilege, and earnestly did she seek
the mercy seat and present her petition
for her child's salvation. On the
breast of loving Saviour she could
cast every care, and in doing so, find
relief for her burdened soul. Often
did she exclaim,
any God, is any hour So sweet;
From blush of morn to evening star,
AS that which calls me to Thy feet
The hour Of prayer?