Year: 1864

The carriage now came around TO the
front gate, and the appearance Of Lulu's
aunt interrupted our further conversation.


The usual words OF aGeu that are spok-
en- upon similar occasions were exchanged
between the visitors and myself, but /
did not put Lulu into her seat until | had
pressed her to my heart, and imprinted
many kiss upon her soft cheek.


| remained standing near the gate and
watched the carriage till it was out of
sight, and then being in meditative
frame of mind, wandered up and down
beneath the shady tree, where but few
moments before had been talking with
my little friend. Lulu's words, thongh
they may seem extremely simple to the
reader, had made deep, lasting Impress
ion on my nind-deep because they had
been, as it were, pangs of repentance
smiting suddenly my cold and unbelev-
ing heart, and lasting, because never for
got them. They had turned the current
of my thoughts into channel which they
had hitherto seldom entered, and as |
continued to walk, silent and alone, not
unlike the moon that just then came from
behind dark, thick cloud and shone
forth with clear, slvery light, the beau
tiful, but to me overwhelming, thought
beamed upon me, that like Lulu l was
"goiug home" and like Lulu's my home
was ''on the other side of the river" not the
broad, lovely Hudson, but the dark " Riv-
er of Death"


D | stood as it were upon this side tread
ing the path of sin, and enjoying the boon
of life and health, yet giving no token of
gratitude to Him who gave them. See
ing as it were Deaths Implying hand
snatching daily, hourly, some bark of my
fellow being from Iifes shore, and launch
ing it forth upon that dark stream leav-
ing it to perish or go over in safety just as
The case might be. And who knew but
l might be the next one the archangel
might choose; and was | prepared for his
coming9 Was my bark provided with
the rudGer of faith, that would guide it
smoothly over the dark waters TO the
+" shining sbore9" Did my brow bear the
impress of q life devoted to His cause and
His kingdom, that would gain me an en-
trance in that " Golden City" of everlast-
ing rest! These thoughts came upon
me with overwhelming force, crushing me
to the earth, just as l have seen a tree
writhe beneath an autumnal wind, and in
my agony l wcpt as strong man can
weep when the pangs of remorse are
piercing him to his very hearts core.


] leaned against the tree, under whose
branches such lively convictions had come
to me and there in the cold moonlight l
continued to shed the penitential tear
Gradually l became moro calm, and sink
ing on my knees | gave vent to my new
ly-aroused feeling in prayer-the first my
lips had articulatod since | lisped my in
fant verse at the knee Of my sainted
mother. Ny petition was brief and inco-
herently murmured, yet as the evening
breeze rustled past Inc, it must have watt
cd it TO tho mercy seat, for | felt the
balm of His precious love healing the
wounds of my sinful heart. For long
time | remained in n kneeling position,
not wishing to break the charm of that
hallowed moment, for | felt that the
Presence of the Invisible was near me,
and that / was being "born again" -
But as the moon was sinking in the west
ern sky, / arose from the high, damp
grass, n wiser if not better man, and
left that consecrated spot with the deter
mnation to lead, henceforth, a different
life.


Years have passed since, yet tears of
Joy will fill my eyes when think of what
became of Lulu's "going home"


AN old bachelor, a country fellow, not