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hair hanging in a dishevelled state about
her shoulders. On one side was a dark
haired boy of six years; on the other side
a girl one year younger, with light blue
eyes. The Bible —an old and venerable
volume—lay open upon the mother’s knee.
And now the pale-faced tory flung himself
upon his knees and confessed that he had
butchered her husband on the night of Pa
oli, and begged his life at her hands.
“ Spare me for the sake of my wife and
child! ”
He had expected this pitiful moan would
touch the widow’s heart, but not one re
lenting gleam softened her face.
“The Lord shall judge between us,” she
said in a cold, icy tone, that froze the mur
derer’s heart. “ Look, the Bible is in my
lap. I will close the Volume, and place this
child’s fingers at random upon a line, and
by that you shall live or die.”
This was a strange proposal, made in
good faith, of a wild and dark superstition
of olden times. For a moment the tory,
pale as ashes, was wrapt in deep thought;
then in a faint voice he signified his consent.
Raising her dark eyes to heaven, the
mother prayfed to the Great Father to di
rect the finger of her son. She closed the
Book—she handed it to the boy, whose
eheek reddened with loathing as he gazed
upon his father’s murderer. He took the
Bible and opened its holy pages at random,
and placed his fingers upon a verse.
There was a silence. The continental
soldier, who had sworn to avenge his bro
ther’s death, stood with dilating eyes and
parted lips. The culprit, kneeling upon
the floor, with his face like discolored clay,
felt his heart leap to his throat.
Then in a clear, bold voice, the widow
read this line from the Old Testament:
4 That man shall surely die.’
Look ! The brother springs forward to
plunge the knife into the murderer’s heart.
But the tory, pinioned as he is, clings to
the widow’s knees ; he begs that one more
trial may be made by the little girl, that
child of five years old, with golden hair
and laughing eyes.
The widow consents. There is an awful
pause. With a smile in her eye, and with
out knowing what she was doing, the little
girl opened the Bible as it lay on her mo
ther’s knee; she turned her face away, and
placed her fingers upon a line.
The awful silence grows deeper, -The
deep-drawn breath of the brother, and the
broken gasp of the murderer, alone disturb
the stillness; the widow and dark-haired
boy were breathless. The little girl, as
she caught a feeling of awe from those
around her, stood silent, her face turned
aside, nnd her tiny fingers resting on the
line of life or death.
At length, gathering courage, the widow
bent her eyes upon the page, and read :
‘Love your enemies.’
Oh ! Book of terrible majesty and child
like love, of sublimity that crushes the heart
with rapture ! it never shone more strong
ly than there in that lonely cot of Wissahi
con, when it saved the murderer’s life.
Now, look how wonderful are the ways
of Heaverr. That very night, as the widow
sat by her fireside—sat there with a crush
ed heart and hot eyelids, thinking of her
husband, who now lay on the drenched soil
of Paoli—there was a tap at the door.—
She opened it; and that husband, living,
though covered with wounds, was in her
arm*.
lie had fallen at Paoli, but not in death.
He was alive, and his wife panting on his
bosom.
That night there was prayer and praise
in the happy cottage of Wissahicon.
Death.
Beneath the molded hillocks,
Far mid the singing pines,
Near by the glancing streamlet,
'Neath a summer's sunset lines,
The soulless dead are lying,
With folded hands soft press’d,
Their bodies slowly crumbling
During the long, long rest.
There is many a silent cottage,
There is many a mirthless hall,
There is much of silent anguish
In this beauteous word to all;
There is many a slumberer startled
By sorrows that never sleep;
There is many a hist groan given
While Death his watches keep.
Night, with her shadowy horrors,
And morn with hergoldeu glow,
And twilight with silver fringes—
All wear a veil of woe.
Childhood with flower-strewn steppings,
Age with his hoary crown,
Youth with his earnest passions—
All bow at Death’s -dark throne.
Okleana.
Let no man say, when he is tempted, 4 1
am tempted oT God,’ or, having once
yielded to the power of the tempter, that,
like the giant slumbering in the lap of De
lilah, he can not break the green withs with
which his passions have bound him, and
find in after years the shorn locks of his
glory mustering once more around his brow.
■ BASIS!®*
§amtr anil
“Holy Bible, —Book
Precious treasure, thou art mine.”
11. C. HORN ARY, Editor.
J. M. WOOD, )
J. S. BAKER, -Associate Editors.
D. P. EVERETT, )
Correspondents of the Rasmer.
Elder N. M. Crawford, Pen field, Ga.
“ J. H. Campbell, State Evangelist.
“ J. R. Graves, in the Army.
“ G. C. Connor, Army Chaplain.
“ B. F. Tharp, Perry, Ga.
“ W. N. Chaudoin, Albany, Ga,
“ R. J. Mays, Florida.
“ A. E. Dickinson, Richmond, Va.
“ W. D. Mayfield, South Carolina.
M. W. Philips, Edwards, Miss.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA:
Saturday, Sept, SO, I 80S.
Public Virtue.
One writer has asserted that “ Education
is the cheap defeuce of nations.” Before
giving in to this idea we would like to
know what the writer meant by Education.
If he had in his mind simply a course of
academic and collegiate instruction, then
we most heartily dissent from the proposi
tion. Facts show that some of the basest
and most dangerous men are the most
highly cultivated—persons whose education
al advantages have enabled them to be
great in crime, and artful in escaping its j
penalty.
Had the aforesaid writer stated that j
public virtue is the chief bulwark of a na
tion’s liberties, he would have asserted
truth. As long as a nation in its official
relations with other countries, or with its
own people, maintains a scrupulous regard
for the right rather than for the politic, and
as long as private and social virtue are re
garded and encouraged, it will be prosper-,
ous and happy. But as soon as luxury and
social corruption creep in, and official short-,
comings shall be winked at, that people are \
in the broad way of ruin ; and nothing but!
a speedy return to. the “ old paths ” can
save them.
As long as men are satisfied to be no
thing more than human beings, all will be
well; but whenever they aspire to be gods,
by outward adornings aud luxurious equip
age, evils dire and numerous will most as
suredly follow'. Man’s true position is a
subordinate one, and while he is satisfied
with it he will be happy himself and con
tribute to the happiness of others; but
when he shall become restless under Divine
restraints and attempt to become independ
ent of the God who made him, he will
plunge himself into a vortex of suffering
where he can, and will, bewail his folly
when too late for remedy.
The people who fear God and keep His
commandments will be strong, and their
institutions will be enduring and permanent,
because founded upon the eternal principles
of righteousness. “ Blessed is the people
whose God is the Lord,” is a statement as
much to be admired for the soundness of
j its philosophy as for the earnestness of its
piety. If a nation’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even its enemies to be at peace
with it, and it will stand through all the
changes of times and seasons.
Right is conservative in itself, and those
who have it are invincible, provided they
adhere to it through every change of for
tune; while Wrong will invariably work
the destruction of those who bind their ddl
tinv to its fate.
Army Chaplains
These devoted workers for their country
and their Saviour, find that religious read
ing for the soldiers helps them very much
in their labors of love. Hence, they ca.ll
for tracts, Testaments, and religious papers.
These brethren say that the soldiers are
very fond of religious papers, and many of
them have written and asked for The Banner
to be sent to them weekly for distribution.
But while brother IT. would gladly furnish
large numbers to his country’s defenders,
he can not do so unless the means are fur
nished. Will not these Chaplains take up
contributions for this object? and will not
brethren, pastors and others, at home do
the same, and forward the amount to bro
ther II.? Each The Banner
will be worth more to the soldier than an
ordinary tract. J. M. W.
minutes.
We have received from brother Toon, of
the Franklin Printing House, a copy of the
Minutes of the ninth anniversary of the
Lawrenceville Baptist Association. The
late session of this body was held with the
Baptist church at Lawrenceville, Ga., on
the 23d and 25th ultimo. Eider A. Hada
way was elected Moderator, and Thomas
Pittman Clerk.
One of the most important movements
of the body was a public collection taken
up on Sabbath to supply religious reading
to our soldiers. This was a move iu the
right direction, and we hope that other
Associations yet to eonvene will follow the
example.
The next meeting of the Association will
be held with Liberty Church, commencing,
on Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in
August next.
Revival.
The revival meeting of the First Baptist
Church in this city has resulted in the re
ception of sixty persons by baptism, and
thirteen by letter. Besides a number of
colored persons have also been received by
experience and baptism.
Since the meeting of the Stone-Mountain
Association a year ago, this Church has had
a nett income of more than one hundred
members, about this number having been
baptized during that time. To God be all
the glory !
Association Meetings.
Appalachee, Bay Creek, Walton county.
Saturday before 3d Sabbath in September.
Union, Reidsville. Saturday before 3d
Sabbath in September.
Western , Alt. Lebanon, Coweta county.
Saturday before 3d Sabbath in September.
Sarepta , Van’s Creek. Saturday before
4th Sabbath in September.
Middle Cherokee, Bethesda, Gordon Cos.
Saturday before 4th Sabbath in September.
Flint River, Liberty Hill, Murray Co.—
Saturday before 4th Sabbath in September.
Georgia, Clark’s Station, Wilkes Co.—
Friday before 2d Sabbath in October.
Piedmont, Consolation, Appling Co.—
Saturday before 2d Sabbath in October.
Hepzibah, Way’s Church, Jefferson Cos.
Saturday before 4th Sabbath in October.
Bethel, Pine Bluff, Dougherty County.—
Saturday before 3d Sabbath in November.
The Countryman
Is a weekly paper published by J. A.
Turner, upon his plantation near Eatonton,
in Putnam county, at $1 per annum in
advance. This is decidedly the most read
able paper which reaches our office, and we
think a great many people would be much
benefited by taking it, paying for it, and
reading it. It is a small paper, but some
one has said—perhaps 44 Stonewall ” —that
“ Good things are usually put up in small
packages.” This aphorism finds illustra
tion in The Countryman at any rate, as
any one may prove for himself by sending
his address, accompanied by one dollar, to
Mr. Turner at Eatonton, Ga.
We write these lines simply as a tribute
to merit, and to induce, if possible, our
people to encourage Southern literature by
their patronage.
Goon Things. —The editor of this paper
desires to acknowledge the receipt of a sack
of wheat and rice flour, a present from Gen.
Ira R. Foster. Also, a sack of excellent
fruit from Rev. S. M. Pyles, at Marietta.
These brethren will accept our thanks for
their kind remembrance of us in these war
times.
Colporlage amongst flic Soldiers.
The editor of this paper has been author
ized, by Elder A. E. Dickinson, to employ
six Colporteurs in the Western and South
western armies, and he calls upon the
friends of the Soldier to aid in this good
work.
Three colporteurs are already in the
field: brother Hughes is laboring in the
hospitals of this city—brother L. G. Cobb
is laboriug in the camps of Gen. E. Kirby
Smith’s command, and is meeting with
great encouragement in the work—brother
T. M. Harbin has visited Mobile and dis
tributed tracts amongst the soldiers in and
around that city—and brother V. A. Bell
is making his arrangements to visit and
labor in the various Camps of Instruction
scattered along the line of the Western and
Atlantic Railroad.
To sustain these brethren we must have
funds. These must be furnished by the
voluntary contributions of the liberal and
large-hearted friends of the soldier. Breth
ren, friends, will you help us ?
We believe you will, and upon this faith
in your liberality and benevolence we have
sent forth the above named brethren, and
if you will furnish the means we will send
forth two others to win the brave defend
ers of their country to Christ.
H. C. HORNADY, Local Agent
COMMUNICATIONS.
Dear Brother Ilornady:
It has beer, my pleasure, this summer, to
labor with others in some very interesting
meetings where the presence of the Lord
was recognized and felt in Ilis word.
On Friday before the second Sabbath in
August, the general meeting of the third
district of our little Association met with
the church at Mmnt Paran. We had a
very small beginning, but the meeting in
creased in interest to its close, on Monday
night, when three persons were added to
the church, professing conversion during
the meeting. We also left many anxious
inquirers at the altar. Brother H. Smith
(the pastor), brother Stevens and myself
. were together.
From there I went to Mount Zion, where
brother Clouts was carrying on a revival
meeting of great interest. There I rnet
with brother Rambaut who had been sent
for by the church to aM in the meeting.—
Brother Clouts, being worn down, retired
for two days, and 1 had the pleasure of
hearing some good sermons from brother
Rambaut, which was quite a treat to me.
It was, indeed, a happy meeting. 1 left
them on Thursday evening when brother
Clouts returned, and the meeting went on
till Sunday evening, when 1 am informed
it closed with a lecture, from brother A.
C. Dayton, on baptism, and the adminis
tration of the ordinance, by brother Clouts,
| to ten willing converts—making seventeen
during the meeting.
An amusing incident occurred the last
day of the meeting. The Methodists had
been carrying on a meeting of -heir pecu
liar kind in the neighborhood, but, being
anxious to witness the baptism, they ad
journed at dinner and came up to Zion,
just in time to hear brother D.’s lecture—
the very last thing they would have chosen
to hear. Some of them, we understand,
went off very much piqued, while others,
we hear, are going to search the Scriptures
to see if these things be so. Of this class
we are hopeful. But lest the minds of any
should change upon the subject, the circuit
rider gave out that he would preach two
sermons at the next appointment at the
chapel: one on the subject of “Infant
Church-membership,” and the other on that
of “Infant Baptism.” Query —ln what;
book will he find a text?
From Mount Zion I went to Friendship ;
preached Saturday and Sunday. From
thence to Pleasant Valley, east of Rome,
where I met with brother Hamilton who
had come to the church and accepted the
call to the pastorate, §nd, with brother A.
Stevens, had commenced a meeting, which
we continued till Friday night with the
most cheering results. Fifteen precious
souls were hopefully converted, and "eight
were added to the church. The brethren
and sisters were greatly revived, and we
left many mourners around the altar, some
of whom have since professed faith in
Christ.
I was called on to preach a funeral in
the neighborhood of this church some weeks
before the commencement of the meeting
just alluded to, when a young lady, whose
mother is a Roman Catholic, was brought
to see her lost condition as a sinner, and
she was noticed and cared for by a good
sistt r of the Valley church, who her
a Testament. Her mother —if it be lawful
to call her a mother—observing her con
cert , opposed her, took the Testament and
threw it in the fire, and, to keep ner from
attending the meeting, sent her off from
home. Her case was brought to our no
tice by the good sister who had cared for
her, and we made her cause an object of
special prayer. Since the meeting closed
she was permitted to return home, and
seeking an interview with the good sister,
she could tell her the good news that the
Lord had been merciful to her in the par
don of all her sins and given her hope of
salvation through Christ. The Lord be
praised ! N. R. Smith.
Bartow, Ga., Sept., 1802.
Poplar Spring, Chattooga, Ga., )
August 30, 1862. f
Dear Brother Hornady :
At the call of the Poplar Spring Baptist
Church, at the date mentioned, the writer!
and brother C. B. Martin met as a presby |
tery, when the church presented brother j
John Young as a candidate for the Minis- j
try, and brother James Herndon as a
candidate for the Deaconship. Both were
examined, approved, and ordained.
A meeting commenced that night, and
continued for ten days. The Lord was
with and blessed His people; mourners
were converted, and sinners alarmed on
accouut of the vivid manifestation of His
presence. Ten happy subjects followed
Him in the ordinance of baptism, and it is
thought that ten or twelve moie will fol
low as the fruits of the meeting. Brethren
Warren, of Texas Valley, and Duncan, of
Rome, labored with us in preaching the
Word, which was, I think, made the power
of God unto salvation to about twenty-five
poor sinners. Yours, in Christ,
IoNATICS PARCEL.
Correspondence of The Rainier.
Before Cumberland Gap, )
Sept’r 12, 1802. f
Brother Wood :
This morning, while all is quiet along the
lines near the Gap, I thought it would be a
very proper time to have a word or two
with the readers of The Bannei.
Our Yankee friends, contrary to the ex
pectations of many hereabouts and else
where, still hold on to the Themicpylai that
overlooks the quiet encampments of the
Confederates. It seems very strange to us
that the Feds should subsist so long on
three days’ rations. They have been pen
ned up now ever since they skedaddled
from Tazewell, and still they tighten their
grip on their stronghold,as does the drown
ing man to the straw that floats on the sur
face. The oft-repeated assertion that we
will “starve them out” in a few days, has
“ played out.” Since General Smith march
and his victorious troups into the heart of
Kentucky, there have been no Southern
forces at all on the other side of the Gap.
The hill portion of Kentucky in the direc
tion of Lexington is open to the enemy for
miles. There, they can forage and procure
cattle and hogs sufficient to subsist their
forces for an indefinite length of time.—
Even on this side of the Gap hogs and cows
are frequently seen within the Federal
lines by our pickets; and with these facts
staring us in the face, this awfully solemn
question propounds itself to the Confeder
ates: Can we starve them out? If called
upon, I would answer the question unhesi
tatingly, no. The government must there
fore adopt some wiser plan for their expur
gation, or Gen’l MeCow’s forces will be
hanging around the Gap with nothing to do
for months to come. 1 make no sugges
tions, for lam no military man.
Occasionally we have stirring ti mesabout
our quarters. Sometimes, after a week’s
silence, the big bull-dog on the mountain
barks furiously at us in the valley. We
hear him growl, and then follows the weap
ons qf death that fly swiftly through the
air, reminding us of the dangers that sur
round us. There is eloquence in man, in
the burning words of the far-seeing states
man as he tells of coming revolutions and
the destinies of nations ; but there is an
eloquence much greater, more irresistible
and powerful, in the hissing bombshells
that pass over the heads of our troops in
the vicinity of Cumberland Gap. It acts as
a quietus on the soldiers, for they know not
how soon the explosion of an intrusive shell
may send them to their long homes, and
reminds them that the stern foe is near at
hand.
I suppose you have seen an account of
my peregrinations amongst the Yankees,
which was first published in Knoxville and
afterwards copied into the Georgia and Al
abama - papers. Allow me to say some
thing of the extreme wickedness of the
Army of the Ohio, in conversation with
the Major of one of the regiments, 1 re
marked that a just God would take the
matter in hand and work out the proper re
sult. To that he replied, with Napoleon,
that God was always on the side of the
heaviest artillery. 1 care not how soon
they all adopt this belief, for well assured
am I that the cause they are attempting to
bolster up, dyed in Infidelity as it is, can
never succeed when arrayed against the
Bible. The 65th Ohio, with which I was a
part of the time, is composed mainly of low,
obscene vulgarians and blasphemous swear
ers, with whom it would boa living dis
grace for a respectable negro to associate.
One dozen or fifteen, it seems to me, would
include every individual member of the
regiment who does not take the name of the
Lord in vain. 1 hope the Gracious Lord
will have mercy on these misguided tools of
ambition and folly, and reclaim them from
the errors into which they have fallen.
There is one fact, above all others, to
which I wish to call the attention of Georgia
and Alabama Baptists j, the scarcity of re
ligious reading matter in this division of
the service. Brethren! if you knew with
what avidity Georgia and Alabama troops
devour every thing of the kind that falls in
to their hands, it would wake you up to the
realization of the yoor soldiers’ wants, and
nerve you with a Christian determination to
supply the destitution and bring joy to the
hearts of your brave soldiers. Remember
the situation of the defenders of our country
—sleeping on the hill sides in East
Tennessee, where it is necessary to dig out
beds toprevent them from rolling down in
to the hollow below; with nothing to shield
them from the weather, save the trees or
such temporary brush arbors as they may
hastily build. Contrast these hardships, to
which every soldier must become inured,
with the ease and comfort that surround
those at home, who sleep on their beds of
down, and live a life of perfect ease. —
These self-sacrificing and devoted followers
of their country’s fortune ought to have
Tracts and other good religious reading .—