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for I knew she wished sympathy of heart,,
not words, and that she could better bear
her suffering alone. That night 1 was call
ed to the bed side of Constance, raving in
brain fever. It made my heart weep to
hear her frantic calls, intermingled with
scornful epithets of'ttobert- Sherman ; and
as I looked and listened, I learned a lesson
in seeing the admired, intellectual, proud,
cultivated Constance deVere, stretched
powerless by the almighty power of love
for one, who had been worthy, with every
quality of brain and of heart, had he been I
less governed by avarice and more by feel- 1
ing. Weeks passed before the delirium of,
Constance left her, and then it was but to'
die; and God was kind to give her that;
one short lucid week. I was with her to;
the last, and she begged me to take warn-1
ing from her life, and not place too much
confidence in myself. 1 But above all, dear
Eva, shun the world, for the men there,
whom we call the votaries of the world,
will deceive, no matter how pleasant an as
pect they wear. Ido not mean by vota
ries of the world, men who frequent ball
rooms, for they are the most innocent
among them; but those who, having no
principles of their own, are governed in ev
ery thought and action by conventionality.
“ ‘ I believe, Eva, that only in the retired
paths of life do we meet those we can
trust, those who have principles of their
own, founded on a rock that can not be
shaken.
“ ‘ I have delighted in society as in books,
classing the quiet of society and the reli
gious of books together, in the reading of,
which 1 never indulged ; hence my want of,
consolation in my last great trial. I have
lived in an ideal world, and the only thing j
that ever has been real to me is this my
death bed. Yes, I feel that death is real.
Faithful and true, as such, I can meet him
with joy. I never thought I could have
been ever brought willingly to contemplate
death, but when the hollowness of this
world is once presented to view, we imme
diately fly to religion for comfort, and to
death for relief. I know I have not long to
live. My first thought before religion re
ceived rne in her arms, was to live and be'
revenged ; my second, since death has lost ■
its terrors, is to pity and to die.’
“ That was the last conversation I had
with Constance. She died. 1 mourned,;
and all mourned her; and he, Robert Sher
man, mourned her too. I saw him six
months after her death ; he was pale and
emaciated.
“‘Miss Eva,’ he said, ‘you loved her
too—pity me.’ His voice became too
choked for utterance; he turned away; it
was the last time 1 ever saw him; but I
pitied him from the bottom of my heart.
“Sometime afterwards I heard of him
in the far South, where he had gained a
name, reputation and the wealth, for the
want of which he had broken her heart.
“ 1 wondered if he was happy. I doubt
ed it. and m.v dai.iLt wyfirmoA by «
letter 1 received just before 1 came to the
Springs, addressed ‘ to her friend,’ and all
that was in it was ‘pity me, I live. — Rob
ert Sherman.’
“ Not a week after the reception of this
letter, 1 saw a notice in a New Orleans pa
per of the death of Robert Sherman, a
young, but distinguished lawyer, who died
of yellow fever, after a very short illness,
aged twenty-eight years.
“Clara, is your question answ’ered ? Can
any one who was Constance’s friend, fre
quent these scenes which speak so plainly
of her ? ”
Contributors to The Banner.
Rev. 11. C. Hornady, Atlanta, Ga.
“ J. M. Wood, Newnan, Ga.
“ J. S. Baker, Thomasville, Ga.
“ 1). P. Everett, Orange Hill, Fla.
“ N. M. Crawford, Penfield. Ga.
“ J. 11. Campbell, State Evangelist.
“ J. R. Graves, in the Army.
“ B. F. Tharp, Perry, Ga.
“ W. N. Chaudoin, Albany, Ga.
“ R. J. Mays, Florida.
“ A. E. Dickinson, Rluhuiumi, Va.
“ W. 1). Mayfield, South Carolina.
M. W. Philips, Edwards, Miss.
Agents for The Banner.
The following brethren will act as Agents
.or the Banner, and will receipt for money
paid for the paper.
Elder J. S. Murrow, Traveling Agent.
“ F. M. Haygood, do
“ J. 11. Stockton, ThomUbn, Ga.
“ Thos. Muse, Cuthbert, Ga.
“ Robt. Cunningham, Macon, Ga.
“ Thos Aldridge, Millwood, Ga.
“ G. F. Cooper, Americus, Ga.
“ <l. H. Campbell, Griffin, Ga.
“ W. J. Speairs, Starrsville, Ga.
“ John 11. Clarke, Henderson, Ga.
“ P. A. Lawson, Gaiffin, Ga.
“ William Lowe, McDonough, Ga.
Dr. E". R. Carswell, Waynesboro’, Ga
William Roberts, Byrumville, Ga.
R. 11. Jackson, Franklin, Heard Co., Ga.
J. 11. B. Shackelford. Spring Place, “
Dr. John Cheney, Columbus, Ga.
We notice on our mail-books the names
of many subscribers whose time is about
to expire. As our paper is conducted on
a strictly cash system, we would remind
such friends of the necessity of at once re
mitting three dollars, if disposed to renew
their Jsubscriptions.
It ia gratifying to know that The Baptist
Banner is rapidly extending its circulation
—and we trust its usefulness, also. W ith
an enlarged list of excellent contributors,
and the editor's determination to do his
best to merit success, we present the claims
of The Banner to the favorable regard and
patronage of all who desire a good home
journal.
Terms of The Banner, $3 a year.
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‘The entrance of Thy Word giveth light’
JAS. NATHAN ELLS, Editor.
ATLANTA, GrEOJEtGrIA:
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1863.
The War.
During the past week the war news has
been of an exciting character. Hearts have
been made to rejoice at the signal successes
of the Confederate arms in various quarters,
and especially at the result of the naval
encounter in Charleston harbor. All eyes
are now turned towards this point, as well
as to our own seaport, and many entertain
I the belief that it is the design of the enemy
to attrek Charleston and Savannah simulta
jneously. Our readers need not be told
that, according to the Law of Nations, the
raising of the blockade makes it incumbent
on Lincoln to give sixty days’ notiSe before
an attempt be made to renew it; but as
this interpretation would, virtually, end the
war, and as our people have not yet been
‘ crushed out,’ it is probable that the Fed
eral government will say it is merely ‘ a
raid,’ and, beigg considerably nettled there
by, will double exertions for the mastery
of Carolina’s seaport.
—On the Ist instant, the Federate re
newed the attack on Fort McAlister, at
Genesis Point. In the engagement, Major
John B. Gallie, commandant of the post,
was killed, and seven of our soldiers were
slightly wounded. The- damage to the gar
rison is but slight.
—A federal iron-clad ram passed our
batteries at Vicksburg, on the 2d instant.
She attempted to grapple the confederate
steamer Vicksburg, but was prevented by
our sharp-shooters. Our forces are on the
: alert, ready for any more such attempts.
—(General Ury or was attacks I on last
' Saturday by a heavy force of the enemy,
; near Suffolk. After a hard fight of tlwee
hours, the enemy were repulsed with great
s I loss. Among the killed on our side is the
- gallant Colonel Podge, of Virginia.
L —On the whole, it has been a good week
i for the Confederates, embracing the enemy’s
disappointment in reaching Savannah ; the
i brilliant success of our little fleet at Charles
-Jton; the capture of the gunboat in Stono
river ; the successful battle at Suffolk ; the
I exploits of Wheeler’s ‘ Horse Marines ’ in
capturing steamboats in Tennessee, and
other characteristic pranks.
The Weather, Etc.—For several days
, past, the ground in this locality has been
covered with snow to the depth of four
inches, and present appearances indicate
that there is ‘ more of the same sort ’ com
ing. The railway trains to and from the
Gate City have suddenly met with a block
ade, in consequence of the ice-covered
tracks; the gas-metres are frozt n; coal has
‘gin out’; wood-wagons are invisible;
peopleshiveringly inquire, 4 Did youever?’;
8 the oldest inhabitant affirms he ‘never’;
and the editor has just arrived, in a semi
frozen condition, after a twenty-one hours
ride from Augusta. Hence the sparseness
of editorial.
Acknowledgements.— The following
I sums have been received to send The Ban
ner to the soldiers :.
Mrs. L. M. Felton, - - - - $2 00
Rachel A. Stargel, - - - -200
Important Decision. — Substitutes.— At
a recent session in Macon, the Supreme
’ Court of Georgia decided : that when a
substitute became liable to conscription
(under the’new law), the employer also be
came liable ’
i The Atlanta Commonwealth.—This
sprightly daily, after a brief suspension,
has re-appeared, considerably improved in
every way. Its editorial corps consists of J.
S. Peterson, U.S. Hill, Duff Green, and Ben.
E. Green. We know of no daily journal
better edited, and hope its patronage will
be commensurate with its merits. Terms:
daily, $lO per annum; weekly, $2. Ad
dress J. S. Peterson & Co., Atlanta, Ga.
. Those wislwag papers changed, should give
the Post-Office they wish changed from, as well
as the one to be changed to.
Money due the Office, may be sent by mail ati
our risk— always mail it in presence of a friend
(other than the P. M.,) or procure a friend to
mail it for you—never register.
The Sabbath.
How dear to the heart of the Christian
is the Sabbath—that day of God’s own ap
pointing—so old in history, so sacred in its
associations, so blessed in its results. As <
the labors and duties of the week draw to I
a close, spent and weary with bodily toil, ’
and sick at heart with worldly cares and .
the consciousness of life’s duties imperfect- (
ly performed, he lays his head upon his
pillow, consoled and comforted as he thinks
of the “ One Day in seven,” by
the Giver of all good to His unworthy '
children; and awaking, he hails with glad
emotion the incoming of the day of rest,
during whose sacred hours it becomes, not 1
only his privilege, but his solemn duty, to
forget the carking cares of every day life,
and enjoy to the utmost the sacred exerci
ses and holy duties of the day.
With the age of any institution, our ven
eration and regard for it increases ; and this
tendency of the human mind is both natu
ral and good. How great, then, should be
the respect of all hearts for this day, co
eval almost with the light of heaven and
the creation of man. Not, as are many
time-honored observances, ‘lost in the depths
of antiquity ; ’ for we have the record, true
and faithful, certain and sure, of its appoint
ment and its object—“ In six days the Lord
made heaven and earth, and rested the sev
enth day ; wherefore the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
Ages have rolled into the irrevocable
Past; empires have arisen in their might
and glory, and sunk again into nothing;
and the most enduring monuments of man’s
power and greatness have mouldered to the
dust, and his deeds have been forgotten ;
but as lasting as the great works of crea
tion, continues the Rest Day of the Lord.
We suppose that some unhappy descen-;
dant of the Ancient People—favored once,
but now, how fallen I—may say that the
day we Christians so much revere is the
. first day of the week, and not the seventh
. of God’s appointment. Granted, such is
the case, certainly, as regards the order ofj
, the days of the week, but only the rejecter;
of Christ, the equal Son of the Father,
would urge this as an objection. The Son
. of man is Lord of the Sabbath, we are told,
and by Him were the heavens made, and
, without Him was not anything made that
, was made. Hom natural then, and how impos
, sible almost that it should be otherwise, that
when “ Love’s redeeming work was done,”
r and the Messiah’s sabbath-day of rest in
the grave was ended by His triumphal re
-5 surrection on the morning of the first day,
t the affections and devotions of His follow
j ers should be transferred from that day of
doubt to the first day of glorious hope and
c blest assurance. Though we can point
s to no express command for this change,
j we know that the change* was made from
that auspicious morning; and we have the
j practice and witness of the Apostles and
s Fathers to the desirableness thereof.
1 It might be shown that the Sabbath ises
j sential to the well-being of all animate cre
ation, or at least that portion of it which is
engaged in the labors so necessary to our
s existence. Were it not for this weekly rest,
j their energies would be exhausted by con
r tinued toil, and their powers overtasked by
3 constant use ; but this is sufficiently evident
. to our minds from the ordinary course of
3 nature around us.
In the city, especially, the Sabbath comes
] as a blessing, with all its sacred exercises
s and holy duties. To the young, a well-
• conducted Sunday-school is a place of de
. light as well as instruction. To young and
old, the chiming of the Sabbath bells is a
. sweet and cheering sound, and we envy not
3 that soul, possessed of never-so-much silver
j and gold, that can not be moved to emo
tions of gladness by those speechless, yeti
eloquent monitors, calling our thoughts
; away from things of earth to things of
- heaven ; calling upon us to contemplate the i
joys of that never ending Sabbath of which
the earthly is but a forerunner and ante
type. How blessed the lot of those who
are permitted to enjoy the regular minis-
- trations of the faithful and devoted man of
» God, whose six days of labor are spent in,
i devising the best means and choosing the
i best thoughts to interest the Sabbath lis-I
• I teners and affect their hearts. How pleas-;
ant to listen to, and join in uttering, the songs;
of Zion—sweet foretaste of the songs of the
1 ! redeemed ones in the New Jerusalem !
In the country, tho’ perhaps deprived of
the sanctuary services, the devout heart
finds no lack of Sabbath enjoyment, for
“ The groves were God’s first temples,”
and amid the stillness of Nature, unbroken
save by the hum of insects, the carol of
birds, or the lowing of cattle—aJJ seaming
to delight in the holy time—the lncense of
thanksgiving can arise to the great Jehovah,
and communion be held through Nature
with Nature’s God.
This, then, is “ the day which the Lord ,
bath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” 1
i “ Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love, .
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our longing souls aspire j 1
With ardent hope and strong desire.” ! <
1 - S. 1
- »■
[#or TKe, Baptist Banner.}
Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 2, 1863.
Dear Brother Wood:
I thought I w’ould give you a ac ’
count of my labors among the Wave de
fenders of our noble cause, for the last
three weeks. Soon after I received your
letter of the 31st December last, contain
ing my commission as missionary to the
Confederate army, I went to Chattanooga,
where I found some eight or ten who had
been in the hospitals in this city. As soon
as they saw me, they inquired if I had any
good tracts. It afforded me much pleasure
to present them with religious reading, for
which they expressed much gratitude, and
from which they said they received much
comfort. I found the hospitals full of sick
soldiers. Among them were many bright
Christians. One sick man requested pray
er that he might be more resigned to God’s
will. I was in company with brother Wil
liams, a faithful worker among the soldiers
in Chattanooga, and I hope his labors will
not be in vain.
After spending two days in Chattanooga,
I took the train for Tullahoma, where 1
found Gen. Bragg’s army. I went at once
to headquarters, and was cordially received
by the General and his staff, who welcomed
me to visit any portion of the army. The
soldiers and officers gladly received tracts,
and said they wished I would stay with
them all the time. In consequence of bad
weather, 1 did not preach but two sermons. '
The congregations were large and attentive.
1 formed the acquaintance of three chap
lains, whose hearts seemed to be in the work,
and their regiments spoke highly of them
as being truly enlisted, not only in the com
mon defence, but in the cause of freedom
from the bondage of sin. These men of
God were of great assistance to me in the
proper distribution of tracts and Testa
ments, as I had a few of the latter with me.
The citizens of Tullahoma treated me with
great kindness, I enjoyed their hospitali
ties at night without price. The day was
spent in the camps. Indeed, every encour
agement is held out to me, and 1 desire, by
God’s help, to do some good in return.
The helpless women and children are suf
fering at the hands of the thieves and mur
derers in the vicinity of Murfreesboro’. I
saw two ladies who had fled to Tullahoma
for refuge, who told me that the Yankees
had robbed them of everything they could
■carry off, and burned their dwellings and
■ out-buildings, and even threatened their
I lives. While they were relating to me their
troubles, a messenger came with the sad
news that Mr. Smith, a soldiei&jh the 17th
Tennessee regiment and husband to one of
the refugees, had just died. It was a sad
moment —it seemed to be more than she
could bear; but she finally consoled herself
with the thought that the day of retribution
was near at hand. God grant it may be
so. As soon as I gather some more tracts
I shall return to the open field of labor.—
Pray for your brother in Christ.
P. A. Hughes.
The Baptist Banner.
FOR 1863.
The proprietors of The Baptist Banner
would inform the reading public, especially
heads of families, that, as an excellent
HOME PAPER,
THE BANNER shall be surpassed by none.
It will be published every Saturday morning
in Atlanta, at the rate of three dollars a year—
subscriptions taken for any length of time.
The LADIES, the CHILDREN, and thft
SOLDIERS IN OUR ARMY, will receive
special attention ; and each number, in addi
tion to a carefully prepared synopsis of reli
gious and secular NEWS, will contain a good
STORY —together with entertaining Miscella
nies, Sketches, etc.
It will be, emphatically, a FAMILY paper.
The editor’s motto is, ‘ Make Home Happy’
Those desirous of subscribing will please en
close the amount of their subscription, with the
name and post-office, and address
JAMES N. ELLS & CO.,
Atlanta, Ga.
The avidity with which the soldiers in
hospitals receive the copies of The Baptist
Banner circulated among them, every day,
has determined us to make an effort to
■ place our journal in the possession of every
soldier in the hospitals throughout the con
federacy. This can, and will, be done if
our people are disposed to aid us. Can
we get a thousand dollars, to help carry out
this purpose? We firmly believe that
this amount can be raised in a fortnight, if
pastors would bring the subject to the no
tice of their congregations and give them
the opportunity to contribute. And we
' earnestly solicit contributions, at once, from
! all who may be disposed to aid in this
i work. Shall the sick and wounded soldiers
i have The Baptist Banner ?
■—Mill— 11l ■■nrniriii W
There are some elements which enter
essentially into the character of every
Christian woman. She must have a mind
capable of appreciating the various and re
sponsible relations of life, and a heart so
fortified as to meet these responsibilities.—
To act well the part of wife, mother, mis
tress, and a Christian, requires no ordinary
degree of patience and fortitude ; and who
can tell how much the success of a man’s
business in life, as well as the harmony of
a family, depend on the exercise of these i
qualities ?
C. P. Pelham, Esq., of Columbia, 8. C.,
has secured a site, and is making arrange
ments to establish a paper mill near that
city. Now is the time for Southern inge
nuity and invention to be exhibited in ref
erence to new materials or new process and
machinery for paper.
THE LADIES’ COLUMN. '
“I WANT TO BE AN ANGEL.”
Wc sigh to think that the trusting faith
and simplicity of childhood should be cor
roded by contact with earthly doubt and
unbelief; and yet, when the good Shepherd
“ comes and asks for one of our little lambs
to hold,” we fold them closer to our yearn
ing hearts, and bj<| Him go.
My little boy of scarce two years and a
half was seated beside me, engaged in some
childish pastime, while with maternal pride
I watched his sunny face and busy hands,
calling him “my boy,” “my man.” “O,
nd, mamma,” he answered. “ W hat, then,
will my darling be?” I asked. Turning
his dark, earnest eyes to mine, he replied,
“ I want to be an angel,” and for a moment
a shadow rested on my heart. Was the
wish prophetic? and if so, why did I shrink
to have my darling boy attain to the com
panionship of angels, ere his young life had
known the blight of sin and sorrow ?
I gazed into that upturned face, and the
beaming eye, and rosy hue, on cheek and
brow, bade the cloud vanish.
Unseen, however, a mysterious disease
had already fastened on that little form,
and months of weary suffering were allot
ted to him. With fond, almost wild te
nacity, we clung to that frail thread of life,
while the despairing cry of our earth-bound
spirits was “ not yet.”
■ ‘-Go! go!” I cried —
For once again that Shepherd laid his hand
Upon the noblest of our household band ;
Like a pale spectre, there he took his stand
Close to his side.”
How insignificant did earthly hopes be
come beside that couch of pain, and what
eloquent teachings fell from that lisping
tongue, as the prisoned spirit gave vent to
its heavenly breathings, in the sweet songs
of Zion.
He is an angel now. “No sickness there,
nor drooping head, nor fading eye, nor
weary feet.” In all the hereafter no ago
nizing fears shall fill my heart with forebo
dings that those little feet shall tread in
forbidden paths, for they linger beside the
still waters of life.
Little garments are folded sacredly away
and treasured memorials are often gazed at
through dewy eyes, for the past, with its
tender memorials comes stirring the inmost
recesses of my lonely heart.
Our homes never echo to the musical
footfalls of merry childhood, and only in the
shadowy aisles of memory float the glad
tones of that childish voice, but its soft ca
dence lingers in my ear like far off music,
wooing me to that better land, and to my
heart it tells of angel bands, of golden
I harps, and songs before the Throne.
> A Mother.
F
i The following resolutions were adopted
- at a female prayer meeting at Carrollton,
J Ala., and their publication was requested :
TO ALL SOUTHERN LADIES.
Whereas, Almighty God, in his infinite
wisdom, has permitted a cruel, unholy and
destructive war to come upon us as a scourge
for our sinfulness and wanderings from
Him ; and believing that the Omnipotent
Arm alone can save us from the impending
dangers: therefore, the Ladies of Carrol
-1 ton, at their female prayer meeting, resolv
r ed that they would set apart a half hour the
first Monday in every month, for special
prayer for peace, and ask every lady thro’-
, out the South to engage with us. We do
r not make this request because we think
. Christians are not praying; for we believe
there has never been a time when more
; earnest prayers were offered up for the
; same purpose, and never has there been so
. great a necessity for importunate prayer as
. now. We believe our people are becom-
I ing humbled, and it is the best indication
of peace we have had, but we are not hum
ble enough yet. God is a prayer-hearing
and a prayer-answering God. Then let ev
ery woman’s heart be united in prayer.—
Let ea r h wife, mother and sister retire at
sunset (on the above mentioned day), and
beseech the Lord to save us from our cruel
enemies, to watch over, preserve and restore
to us our beloved ones; and grant us a
speedy and honorable peace. We consider
prayer the most powerful of all weapons.
The very idea of so many being engaged
in prayer at the same hour is impressive of
itself; we think it would encourage many a
poor soldier to look forward with pleasing
hopes for peace and a safe return to his be
loved ones.
All papers favorable to this proposition
will please copy. A Lady.
Street Education.—A city missionary
once visited an unhappy young man in jail,
’ waiting his trial for a State Prison crime.
“ Sir,” said the prisoner, tears running do vn
his cheeks, “ I had a good home education ;
it was iny street education that ruined me.
I used to slip out of the house and go off
with boys street. In the street 1
learned to lounge; in the street I learned
to swear; in the street I learned to smoke;
in the street I learned to gamble; in the
street I learned to pilfer. O, sir, it is in
the street the devil lurks to work the ruin
of the young.” Is this so? Beware, then,
boys, of a street education, and stay at
home. And let parents see to it, that home
training is pleasant and strong, and sound
enough to grapple with and conquer the
bad and dangerous influences ot street soci
ety.
The ladies, God bless them, are the true
patriots in this struggle; for while the
pseudo lords of creation are in the
prime necessaries of life, eau|^Bt f fear and
I trembling to seize even the
well-wisher of the Southern cause, the fair
sex, as ministering angels, are pouring oil
on the troubled waters, and doing their ut
most in assistance to bring about an honor
able peace, by rendering the soldier com
fortable, and thereby nerving his arm, so
that he may be able to withstand the rigors
'of the winter and successfully contend
i against fearful odds on the battle-field.