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The whole art of Government consists in the art op being honest. Jefferson.
VOL 5.
STROUDSB URG. MONROE COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1844.
No. 32
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From the Ladies' Repository,
Iffy Friend's Family.
" Edv-ard," said I, to my much-loved friend, who
had been my class-male, and only room-mate for
many months, one day as we were about closing
our scene of studious toil, "Edward, give me a
sketch of some of the most important incidents of
rour past life ; and, if desired, I will return the fa- j
vor. We arc now about to separate for distant j
sections of the country, and should the strong bond .
of friendship and Christian affection, which has so j
long and hrmly cemented us together, continue
unbroken, it will be pleasant, in after time, for ,
fjeach, to refer to any interesting events connected !
vith the other." For a few seconds, during which
time Edward's mind probably scanned the whole
history of his past lile, he sat silent and motion
less, with his eyes fast fixed upon our faithful,
though rusty stove, which we had already com-!
j r . . ti
Ciencea removing mini uui upaiuueut. xncu
raising his head, said he, " My own history ap-
Ipears quite unimportant. The incidents of but
inne period of my life ate worth relating, and you
jlhave so frequently heard me refer to them, that I
fam sure the subject must, have become to you an
eld tale. I refer," continued he, " to the period
lofrrr? conversion, and the remarkable conversion
of ny father, mother, and only sister incidents,
the results of which, I trust, will be the union of
cur domestic circle, unbroken, in the paradise of
God."
Such events," 1 replied, " may well assume
?. vast importance. They extend beyond the r.ar-
row bounds of visual objects ; and, indeed, can
fnly be measured by the countless revolving cy-
fles of eternity. True, I have heard you refer to
t ie conversion of yourself and parents, but have
?r.rver heard you give the particulars, the relation
I' . which would fully meet the object of my sug
gestion."
Edward, in compliance with my request, pro-
own language, as near as memory will enable me,)
I My father, you know, was a man of wealth, and
iigh standing in his profession. My sister and
nyself were the only children, and on us, irom
":ifancy, was lavished every thing to gratify us
"fiat immense wealth and boundless parental af
fection could supply. We were, indeed, the idols
of our parents. Great expense was incurred to
qualify us early in life to act well ourparts in the
highest circles of society. Our education, how
ever, was entirely of a light character, calculated
only for show. My father was a bitter opponent
to all experimental religion, and we were conse
quently taught, that to be the best dancer, painter,
pianist, &c, should be the high bounds of our am
bition. Through my sister, who was two years
'-lder than myself, I was introduced much earlier
than 1 otherwise should have been to the gay and
fashionable scenes of youthful vice. When a lit
tle more than sixteen years old I was sent to
school at II., some ten miles from home, my fa
ther having provided me with board in the family
of Mr. M., an acquaintance of his, to whoso charge
He committed me, with the particular injunction,
'hat I must be kept from all religious meetings or
influences. During my stay in this family, which
was near four months, I was frequently got into
difficulty by being charged, by the children of Mr.
I-t with their own mischievous acts, and was as
uften severely reprimanded by him. On stating
wy situation, and wish for a new boarding house,
'o a student by the name of Frederick A., with
w"om I had foimed a pleasant" acquafntanoe, he
formed me that his parent,' who resided in the
Tl'Iage, had a spare room, and would ;take'"one or
'o boarders. I at once engaged the whole room
51 myself, tojrether w :U board, of which'l suon hrr
f'M my parents, as also' ihe reasons for leaving
N Here commended .an:enre new era m
K Jjfe. In the family of Mr, A all was entirely
and Kirano. ri table was approached wuu
invocation, and left with thanksgiving. Each day
began and ended with prayer and praise The
entire family were living Christians, whose altar
fires, like that of holy Israel, never waned. I was
informed that the ringing of a smalL bell would
pive notice of ihe hours of family worship, arid
that I could attend or not as best pleased me.
From respect to the order of the house, the sum
mons of the little bell was always strictly attend
ed to. Observation soon convinced me that this
family had some source of bliss to which I was a
stranger. What was it? Was it their religion ?
Perhaps it was. Observing Palcy's Evidences of
Christianity -in the breakfast room one morning, 1
carried it to my room, supposing I should ascer
tain from its perusal what religion was. In this,
however, I was disappointed though its argument
satisfied me of its truth. An increasing anxiety
to know what religion jvas induced me to get a
Ilible to gralify my curiosity. To this hour I be
lieve I was as ignorant of what Christianity was
as the darkest heathen. Paley had convinced me
of its truth as a system, but upon what it was
based, or what its object, and of what its impor
tance, I was entirely ignorant. J had probably
never iead a verse in the Old or New Testament
in my life. I commenced reading, and the qoin
mandment emphatically came home. I saw what
religion was; that it was based upon the relations
which man sustains to his Maker, and his entire
universe ; that all its commands and requirements,
being based upon these relations, were just and
right ; and in the consequences of obedience and
disobedience I saw, in some measure, its great im
portance. I believe, too, I had tolerably just con
ceptions of man's lost condition as a transgressor,
and his remedy in the death and mediation of the
Saviour. I do not mean to convey the idea that
this amount of light burst upon my moral vision
all at once. On the contrary, it was the result of
investigating the subject for several weeks. Here,
however, I made a complete stand. I saw, that in
order for me to be saved by the atonement, and
become an heir of eternal bliss, an entire new
course of life was requisite that I must wholly
abandon all that 1 had been accustomed to prize.
This I could not consent to I concluded, there
forevto think no more of the subject, and, indeed,
made'every exertion for three weeks to banish it
from the mind. But my efforts were worse than
useless. The more I labored to keep my thoughts
from it, the more complete seemed its influence
over them. Every passing day awakened and
convinced mc more fully of the importance and
value of religion. At this time a vacation of two
weeks spent at home diminished greatly my reli
gious anxiety. On being interrogated on the sub
ject by my father, I told him that the folks ' where
I boarded I believed were religious ; but that I had
a room to myself, and they said nothing to me
about it, (which by the way vas false ;) for as I
was highly pleased with my boarding place. I
wished to give such an account of it as would in
duce him to allow me to continue there to which
he assented. On my return to school, the subject
of my own salvation forced itself upon my mind
more powerfully than before I left. So strong
was its influence, that in three weeks I was en
tirely incapacitated for my studies, and made up
my mind to return home, and get my father to help .
me out of the, trouble.- Having packed my books j an occasion, and asked permission to spend the
arid clothes, with the view of returning home the' evening at class meeting. In return I received,
following day, as I was sitting in my lonely room, j from both parents and sister, nothing but scoffs,
the two following questions forced themselves j sneers, and reproaches. When the evening, how
powerfully upon my mind: What is religion 1 . ever, arrived, I utterly declined being present, and
and what is its price I To the first of which I al-1 did, in fact, go to class meeting. This exaspera
most inadvertently replied, Religion is that upon j ted my father to the highest pitch, and he positive
the rejection or attainment of which is suspended , ly declared, that if I attended another religious
man's eternal interests interests high as heaven, J meeting of any kind he would disinherit me that
deep as hell, and vast as eternity. It is an insti-! his roof should no longer be my shelter. Though
tution of a God of infinite goodness and wisdom,! n)y grief was inexpressible, 1 still felt determined
and must, therefore, be conducive to man's high
est interests in time, as well as eternity. But
what is its price It is the renunciation of sin.
It requires the giving up of myself, and all my J of the next Tuesday my father came to me with a
earthly Interests. But as religion makes provis- j large whalebone horsewhip. 'There,1 said he,
ions for o'ur highest interests, even in time, it of'jSTed,I think that will cure your religion, and
course cannot require the renunciation or giving
up of any thing but what really conflicts with those
interests. The price is certainly reasonable, and
I will have religion. A little reflection, however,
convinced me that I must sacrifice much more
than I had for the moment realized. 1 felt that I
should have to incur the sneers of my sister, and
the scoffs of my associates; but this was trilling
in comparison to the displeasure and violent op
position of my father, who would'doubtless entire
ly disinherit, and turn me from his door pennyless,
if he could nofinduce me to renounce my religion.
On the other hand, I saw that to reject religion
now vas, in all probability, an eternal rejection -one
vbat would involve, beyond hope, the ruin of
Ui.e.soul, I saw, too, that the wealth oi my p-
lenfo, uvo.lljird-J of which I had expected to in
herit jnight soon be scattered by adverse wiruis;
or should I be permitted to possess it, very possi
bly it' would he to mc a curse, rather than a bles-
AJtl to lhiJJi v' ?ou4 ,sSlr(J 050 tnat 3
sinr
should live to mature years to receive, even should
my father be pleased to bestow. Instead of living
to see my parents, to receive from them the oppo
sition I had supposed, the morrow's rising sun
might behold me dead, and damned, or (as hope
for the moment lighted up the dark scene) some
strange influence, like that which had operated on
me, might awaken my parents and sister, and all
of them, instead of opposing, might possibly ac
company me home to heaven. Again, I felt that
I would pay the price ; I would have religion. For
the first lime in my life I fell on my knees, and
asked God to help me make the sacrifice to dis
pel my darkness, and enable me that night so to
repent of my sins, and believe on his Son, as to
be saved. On rising, I felt strengthened to go
forward. I immediately called Mr. A. to my room,
and told him my feelings. After giving me suita
ble instruction, and telling me it was my duty and
privilege to experience saving grace and the evi
dence of it that hour, he proposed to have the
whole family come to my room, and have a fami
ly prayer meeting for me, to which I readily as
sented. The exercises commenced bv singing a
few verses, which was followed with successive !
prayer by all present. While in prayer I believe
I gave up myself, and all my interests, in solemn
covenant to God. I asked the forgiveness of my
sins, and acceptance through the atonement and
mediation of Jesus Christ, which I doubt not was
granted. The winds were hushed, and the tem
pest calmed. J felt a peace' that had in it all the
sweetness of heaven itself. I then too saw the
depth of the pit from which I had been taken
from the total ignorance of having lived more than
sixteen years without so much as reading one
verse in the blessed Bible from the strongest '
irreligious influences which could possibly be '
thrown around me from my own temple of world-
ly ambition from ail this I had been rescued by j
the mercy of God, by means, it seemed to me, of j
special interpositions of Providence, and was now j
placed as a lamb in the very bosom of my Saviour, j
My flowing tears, for hours, could only give ex-j
pressions to the gratitude of my soul. I still saw ;
before me the same opposition that I had before j
contemplated; but, 0, to meet it all, or a hundred
fold more, for my blessed Jesus, who had done so
much for me, I thought would afford me the high
est pleasure. The following morning I wrote to
my parents, informing them of my conversion as
simply and frankly as possible; also detailing mi
nutely all the circumstances which had led to such
a result. 1 expressed my fears that the step which
I had taken would not meet their approbation, and
solicited a candid investigation of the whole sub
ject before passing upon me a final sentence of
condemnation. When my father received the let
ter he was deeply indignant. The following day-
he came with his carriage, and took me and all i
I
my baggage home with him. Ife expressed much j
surprise and sorrow that I had been so foolish, and
told me that I must give it up at once; if I did nor
it would ruin all my prospects for my life that
he could not think of assisting me in a course so j
directly opposed to his wishes. Soon after our
1 It '
return nome a oan was proposed, ior tne purpose
of overcoming my religious, feelings,) and the fol
lowing Tuesday evening appointed for it. I ex-
pressed my unwillingness to be present on such
to serve God, whatever might be the sacrifice.
The class meetings of the village were held on
Tuesday evenings ; accordingly, on the afternoon
keep you from class meeting. Should you con
clude to go to-night, as you did a week since, a
gainst my wishes, you may rely upon having it
worn up on your naked back in the morning' 1 had
here a most severe trial, not in reference to f.Vie
whipping, but as to what extent T ought to obey my
parents in matters of religion. Should 1. obey them
I must disobey God. But coi'.'d I not give up all
my meetings and religious privileges, m obedience
to my parents, and still enjoy religion ? After
much prayer, I concluded my only way was to
claim the enjoyment of all the holps which God
had provided mo. Should I stay from clas3 that
night, ifwoul'j be considered a victory of the whip,
and 1 should be required at once to recommence
my Oid course at the same peril. I came to the
conclusion that it was not my duty to obey my pa
rents, when their requirements . conflicted with
.those of God ; .and so with a heavy, heart 1 ngain
went to class. On my way I determined that 1
jvould not receive the threatened whipping
with
out saying something more in justification of my
course than 1 had yet done. 1 determined too to
say something to my father of his responsibilities
as a parent. But what should I say, a boy seven
teen years old, to one accustomed to sit in judg
ment, and listen to arguments from the finest tal
ents 1 Of myself I could say nothing; but the
promise of wisdom from on high led me to a grove
just without the village, where the whole night
was spent in prayer and preparation for the event.
Thank God, as day dawned light and peace, like
a flood, broke into my soul. 1 was strong as a
giant. I knew not a word that I should say,
though 1 felt a blessed assurance that God would
give me words and wisdom ; and I would as soon
have made my defence before an assembled 'uni
verse as any way. On my arrival at the house I
found my father up, and walking his room. He
had, in fact, fastened the doors, and remained
awake all night, so as to meet me at the door.
Well,' said he, ' this is the fruit of your religion,
is it? Where have you been all night, you diso
bedient rascal' 'I have been up in the grove
praying since class meeting,' said I, very frankly.
Pr
ng, ha! a pretty story that I. I'll see if it
can't be cured after breakfast.' So saying, he left
me, and I did not see him again till at the break
fast table. Breakfast over, taking the whip, he
bade me follow him, and led the way to the stable,
where I was ordered to take off my coat and vest,
preparatory to the whipping. 'Father,' said 1, 'is
it customary for, you to condemn without giving a
chance for defence I Of what have I been guilty,
that I deserve the severe punishment you propose
to inflict?' 'Defence!' said he, 'What defence
can you make for willful disobedience You de
serve to be punished for trampling on my authori
ty, and I will show you that authority shall be
maintained.' 'I expected opposition,' continued
1, 4 when I embraced religion ; but I embraced it
in view of both worlds. I am prepared for any
suffering that may be inflicted in this, but must
save my soul in the other. Nothing can induce
me to forsake it. Is it not possible that in the ex
ercise of a father's authority you have transcended
the proper bounds of parental control ? And have
you, dear father, fulfilled all the duties growing
out of your relation to me as a son? Our duties
grow out of our relations to our Maker and each
other. It is my duty, as, your offspring, to honor
and love you, to study your highest interests, and
obey you in all things when your commands do
not conflict with the requirements of a higher au
thority with those of my Maker: On the other
hand, it is your duty, as a parent, to study my
highest interests. You have been the instrument
of bringing me into being of giving me an exis
tence co-extensive with that of the Deity eternal.
That eternity of existence, after the passage of the
few short years of this life, must be in wo or bliss;
and is it not your duty, dear father, the author of
that eternity of being, to aid me all in your power
to escape the one, and gain the other 1 0, let me
ask you, (said I clasping his hands to my bosom)
has this been the course you" have pursued with
me; rather has not your whole life, and the admin
istration of your government, tended to lead both
myself and dear sister directly to ruinwith wealth
to sink us down to hell? 0, father! father!' Here
my feelings overcame me and I burst into tears.
I recovered myself as soon as possible, aud raised
my eyes to proceed, but observed that the whip
had fillcn from my father's hand, who stood be
fore me rnotiordess and white as a marble block.
I picked up the whip, and placed it in his hand.
No,' said he, 'I shall defer using the whip, but
you must leave my house.' I told him thatl pre
ferred the performance of every duty as a faithful
son, but must abide his decision; at the same time
reminding him that nothing could relieve him of
his high responsibilities as a parent. He dropped
the whip, and left the stable, evidently in great ag-
nation
1 knelt dowp. by the side of it, and thanked
God for his goodness, and prayed that what I had tied, the symbol of the divine presence was mam
said might result in the greatest good both to my- fest. 'Ellen,' said , 'God has blessed your
self and father. In the course of the day but lit
tle was said by u.yself, mother, or sister. They
supposed that I had received .the whipping which
had been threatened; and as I was silent, they did
not feel like broaching that or any other subject.
During the whole forenoon, and also from the din
ner table, my father was absent. Our residence
was in the outskirts of the village, not more than
fifty rods from the grove which I have already re
ferred to, to which 1 again resorted after dinner
for another season of prayer. Soon after entering
it, to my surprise, I discovered my father some
distance from me, walking back and forward, ap
parently in deep study. Seeing that I was not ob
served I withdrew, and repaired to my chamber,
where the afternoon was spent in prayer, that God
would be with my father in the grove; for I was
certain that he was under the awakening influen
ces of the Holy Spirit. At the usual supper hour
he had not returned, and after waiting for him till
dark, my mother, fearing some accident had be
fallen him, (as sucli an absence had never before
occurred,)' requested, me to go and see if 1 could
find him. I proceeded directly to the spot where
1 had seen hin a few hours previous. When t
first came in sight of him he was sitting with his
head leaning against a tree; but on observing me,
he rose up and met me". I extended my hand to
him, saying, 'I am glad to see you, father. Mo
ther feared some evil had happened to you, and
sent me to see if I could find you.' He nnde me
no reply, but taking my hand in his, walked slow- !
ly toward the hou3C. His heaving sighs bespoke
the deep emotions of his soul. Perceiving that lie
had not yet settled the great question of life or
death, I offered up tjiy silent prayers that God
would not leave him in this important hour, upon
the decisions of which were suspended heaven and
hell.
"We had not reached the outer edge of tha
grove, whon my father stopping short, clasped ma
to his bosom, and exclaiming in tears, 'O, Ed
ward ! Edward)! forgive me, O forgive me, my dear
son, 0 forgive me.' He never seemed so precious
to me before.- I clasped my arms around his neck,
and pressed my lips to his cheek, as my only
method of giving expression to my feelings, or a
pledge of the forgiveness he sought. On arriving:
-at the house wo met my mother in the dining-room.
My father, bathed in tears, clasped her to his breast
'Will you go with me?' said he. 'I have deter
mined to have religion, and acccompany our dear
Edward; and will you go with us, daughter?' (ad
dressing himself to my sister, who was jast enter
ing the room ) 'Yes, I am sure you will both
join me; and here is dear Edward, who has for
given me, he will pray for us.' So saying, ho
drew myself and sister, as near into his arms aa
he could, with our mother; and as though he had
obtained the assent of all, immediately fell upon
his knees. '0 Edward,' said he, the big tears still
flowing down his cheeks, 'O Edward, do pray for
a wicked father; pray for us all; God has heard
your prayers, and he will still hear them.' We all
bowed with him, but the doep emotions of my soul
forbade me utterance,and nearly overcame my phys
ical strength. In fact I did not know when com
menced vocal prayer. only know 1 found my
self (how long after I cannot tell) in the arms of
ray father, our voices both mingling in mighty
prayer for his salvation. Our prayers, through the
mediation of our great High Priest, were heard oh
high, and salvation's tide soon rolled o'er his soul.
He sprang upon his feet with shouts of praise for
God's redeeming grace. My thoughts then be
came wholly absorbed in the case of my mother,
the dear mother that bore me, on whose bosom had
been cherished, and who had constantly watched
over me with all the affection of a mother's heart.
My whole soul was drawn out in prayer for her
immediate conversion. The chariot wheels for,
a time, seemed stayed, but our supplications were
incessant. My father, who had again knelt by
her.- side, tried to encourage by conversing with
her, or rather he prayed and talked together; pray
ing a part of a sentence, and talking the balance.
My mother and sister were both weeping in bitter
accents; part of the time praying for themselves,
having taken courage from the speedy deliverance
of my father. Their prayers and groans, and the
prayers, exhortations, and shout3, with which my
father seemed overburdened, together with my
own prayers, all commingling together, produced
what would generally be termed wild confusion.
How long continued in prayer for my mother
do not know, but catching the eye of my weeping
3ister, it occurred to me that I had entirely forgot
ten her that had not even prayed for her at all.
Bitterly reproaching myself, and still upon my
knees, clasped her to my bosom, and bathed her
with tears of sorrow that had been so thought
less. besought God with all my soul for that
dear, that only sister, that he would enable her to
renounce the world and all its allurements, and
cast her naked soul on Jesus for salvation. My
parents also prayed with me; and while we wres-
Ye3,' said she, (as we bathed each other's cheeks
in tears,) ' know love the Saviour.' On risinr:
from our knees, we found, to our surprhe, that
the morning had dawned. The following sabbath,
we all received the the solemn seal of our conse
cration; and for months our bliss seemed complete.
But the destroyer came, and they have been car
ried, one after another, to the silent and lonely
habitation of the dead. Over those countenances-
once so fresh and lovely, have gathered the cold
damps of death, and the unfeeling worm now feed
upon those so fondly loved. But two short
years had passed ere they had all left me; but
they left in joyous hope ihey res: in -.peace
Consumption first poised iis fatal dart at my
lovely sister , and like ihe early rose, nippr-d
hy tho untimoly blast, she soon fell ita wither
ed victim. While the rose faded from hrr
cheek, and her sparkling eye grow dim in
death, joy and hope cheered her soul, and. light
ed up her passage through the dark andrery
' waves of death's cold flood." A few jrtomeni
" o-v - ':