“George, my brother, my dear brother, how could you do that thing?” she exclaimed, and her whole frame shook as she spoke4. After a while she became more calm and asked the keeper to allow her to be alone with her brother for a short time; he consented, and she sat down on the bed, close beside her brother, as she did years ago, when they played under the elm-tree at their dear old home. He told her all—“But,” said he, “I was in liquor, and a fiend seemed to drive me to the awful deed! I was not to blame so much; I did not use to be so, did I, Mary?”
“No, George,” she gently replied, “you were once a good boy;” and then, after hesitating a moment, she said, “do you pray now, brother?”
He looked at her in a dreamy way, and[154] said, “I pray! I cannot pray!” then his eye kindled5, and he continued, “I am not to blame; when you and I wanted to be good father would not let us, but taught us that Sabbath-breaking, swearing, dancing and drinking were only amusements that everybody should enjoy; and we soon learned to like these things, Mary—and where am I now?” She leaned her head upon her hands and sighed; then rousing herself, said hopefully, “It is not too late yet, George; God has been merciful to me, and has pardoned all my sins; if you repent6 as I did, He will not cast you off; but you must pray, George, with all your heart.”
Looking into her eyes, he replied by saying, “You pray for me, Mary.” Kneeling down, she brought her poor, sinful brother’s case before the Mercy-seat; but there was no godly sorrow for sin in his heart—the fear of death made him wish for prayers. Had he been at liberty, he would have been as bad[155] as ever; and no wonder pardon was not granted. After Mary rose from her knees, she had some further conversation with her brother, and then took leave of him with a heavy heart. This was their last meeting. The time for George’s trial arrived; the court-room was crowded with curious and idle spectators; the prisoner was brought forward to answer the charge of murder; he pleaded “Not guilty.” A plea of insanity7 was set up by his counsel, and an artful defense8 made for him; but the case was clear, and the testimony9 against him overwhelming.
The Judge of the district was Henry Brown. The prisoner was directed to stand up; the Judge asked him if he had anything further to say, why sentence of death should not be pronounced; he shook his head and faltered10, “No.” After receiving his sentence, he desired to see the Judge. They met. Neither could speak—a convulsive pressure[156] of hands was all that passed between them.
What a contrast is here! Both men occupied the same social position in childhood; yet a difference in training and associations brought about the present result. May God help us to take warning!
Thirty days were given the prisoner to prepare for the eternal future. His jailer was kind to him, and offered to get him any religious advice he desired; at first he refused to see any one, but as the time of death drew nearer, he consented; the missionary11 to whom he had given a cup of water in his boyhood was ready and anxious to go to him; and no sooner had he received George’s permission, than he was at his side, endeavoring to shed light upon his darkened understanding; but the good man’s prayers and advice seemed to produce little or no impression upon the mind and heart of George. He felt that there was no hope for him, and as the missionary left him he requested him[157] to preach his funeral sermon, and in doing so, warn others not to follow the example of one whose earthly career was short, and ended in death and everlasting12 misery13.
We will now draw a veil over the closing scene in the life of this young man. In doing so, we would say to the Sunday-school scholar, bear in mind your great privileges—do not abuse them—do not consider it a task, but a pleasure, to prepare the lessons given you—keep ever before your mind the fact, that it is your soul’s eternal interest, and God’s glory, for which you must work.
The missionary lived several years after his return to his Eastern home; and, like Paul, he would frequently write an epistle to his brethren in the West—thus could their hearts still commune with each other. But the time came when this laborer14 in the Master’s vineyard was called to rest. The close of his life was as calm as the summer evening upon which he was called. With the apostle[158] he could say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give at that day—and not to me only, but unto all them that love His appearing.”
Compare the death of the earnest, working Christian15, with that of the opposer of truth or of the cold-hearted formalist. After death comes the judgment16!—and the Saviour17 has said, that the former shall live and reign18 with Him, whilst the latter shall go away into everlasting punishment.
Reader, to which of these classes do you belong?
THE END.
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1
steadily
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adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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2
rumor
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n.谣言,谣传,传说 | |
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3
suspense
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n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
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4
spoke
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n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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5
kindled
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(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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6
repent
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v.悔悟,悔改,忏悔,后悔 | |
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7
insanity
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n.疯狂,精神错乱;极端的愚蠢,荒唐 | |
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8
defense
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n.防御,保卫;[pl.]防务工事;辩护,答辩 | |
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9
testimony
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n.证词;见证,证明 | |
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10
faltered
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(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃 | |
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11
missionary
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adj.教会的,传教(士)的;n.传教士 | |
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12
everlasting
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adj.永恒的,持久的,无止境的 | |
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13
misery
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n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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14
laborer
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n.劳动者,劳工 | |
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15
Christian
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adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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16
judgment
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n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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17
saviour
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n.拯救者,救星 | |
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18
reign
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n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势 | |
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