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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 .—