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The rural party.

however, the aspect under which the matter was presented to the young members of the church who were invited to join the party. Still, their sense of propriety was such, that they declined the invitation. To overcome this backwardness on the part of those who had united themselves with the people of God, a committee waited upon Rev. Mr. O. V., and extended to him a pressing invitation to meet the assembled party at the place appointed for rendezvous.

At first, he promptly declined, but when the invitation continued to be pressed, and he received the assurance that every thing would be conducted with the most strict regard to decorum and propriety, he at length yielded to their importunity and consented to go, remarking, however—

"If I go, I must go in the character of a minister of Christ, and you must not be surprised, if I speak to you in reference Master's business."

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To this they readily assented. The great point was now gained. The news flew through the village like wild-fire, that the Rev. Mr. O. V. was to be one of this party. The invitations were reiterated to the young members of the church, accompanied with the invincible argument, "Surely, there cannot be the slightest impropriety in going, since the minister is to be there." In most instances, the argument was successful.

The company were soon on their way, eager to reach their place of destination, where so much pleasure was anticipated.

The spot selected for this rural recreation, was truly picturesque. An area of several acres had, many years previ ous, been partially cleared up, so that the earth was covered with thickly matted grass, which appeared like a firm and unbroken carpet of green. There had been left a sufficient number of the ancient giants of the forest, spreading abroad their lofty and leafy branches, to furnish a perfect and delightful shade, to the assembled group.

The scenery around them was uncommonly fine. On the east there stretched away, as far as the eye could extend, a dense, and deepening forest: and on the west, there rose in the immediate vicinity a precipitous mountain, whose top reached to the very clouds. Around its base, separating it from the plot of ground, where the party were assembled,

Remonstrance of the fruit woman.

flowed a beautiful stream, whose gliding waters catching, by reflection, the color of the verdant foliage that overhung the banks of the stream, presented in its course, as far as the eye could follow it, a rippling surface of deep emerald. On the north and south were caught, here and there, through the openings in the trees, a view of a rich, and finely cultivated country.

The whole company were now assembled, and began to make preparations for their repast. There was all of the usual quantum of glee, hilarity, and mirth.

To this scene of rural gaity, Mr. O. V. was now directing his steps. As he wended his solitary way through grove and field, and was passing along thoughtfully by the side of a bramble, a voice suddenly cried out—

“Ah—ah, I am sorry you are going there!"

Startled from his reverie, he looked up, and saw an old woman of homely appearance, in the act of picking berries. He fixed his eye upon her for a moment, and immediately recognised in her one of his communicants, who was very poor, and supported herself, during the summer months, principally by gathering fruit in this way, and bringing it to market.

When Mr. O. V. was sufficiently recovered from the momentary surprise into which he was thrown, he replied"My good friend, is it you?"

Intent on the idea which had taken possession of her mind, the simple hearted woman could neither hear, nor think, of any thing else, and she again uttered her lamentation—

66 'Ah, I did not think that you would go there !"

"Go where?" said Mr. O. V.

"Why to meet those frolicsome young folks: a deal of hurt it will do, I am sure, to the church!"

"And what leads you to think so?"

"Because," said she, "I have heard already many lament over it, and say that Mr. O. V. was coming down from the work of the Lord,' and beginning to get into worldly amusements."

"They are greatly mistaken, my friend," said he.

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"Well, well," she replied, "I heard a lady say, as I came along, how can Mr. O. V. ever preach any more against the pomps and vanities of the world!"

Reflections of Mr. O. V.: Course pursued.

"Indeed, I shall be truly sorry," responded he, "if my consenting to meet our young friends on this occasion will interfere in the slightest manner with my future usefulness.” "Well, you will see," said she.

Mr. O. V. passed on. A new train of thought had been started in his mind. He began to reflect that, perhaps, he had acted unadvisedly. The inquiry suggested itself, "Whe ther the scene, though fraught with no special evil to himself, might not exert a deleterious influence upon those whom it had, hitherto, been his great object to lead in the way everlasting? They were constantly exposed to influences calculated to destroy and deaden all spirituality of mind. Would not the step he had taken seem to give countenance to those scenes of amusement, where the very excitement is enough to intoxicate the mind, and bring it under the power of error?"

While indulging in this train of thought, the voices of the gay group broke upon his ear: He was soon in the midst of the party, where every face seemed beaming with animation, and every heart bounding with rapture. The rural board was tastefully arranged, and exhibited every description of - delicacies. As soon as the repast was finished, Mr. O. V., desirous to repair the injury that his appearance at this place might have occasioned, begged the privilege of addressing a few words to the company. The whole group immediately clustered around the spot where he stood. Taking a hymn book from his pocket, he remarked:

"The creator of this beauteous scene, is worthy of praise and adoration. Will you join me in singing a hymn?" He then read two or three verses of the following hymn.

"Should nature's charms, to please the eye,

In sweet assemblage join:

All nature's charms would droop and die,
Jesus compared with thine."

The whole company united in singing, and their voices sounded amidst this wild woodland scene, as they were prolonged, and died away in faint echo, not unlike the sweet minstrelsy of heaven.

The hymn being closed the minister knelt down on the grass, and looked up to the Eternal One in prayer. The solemn and affecting manner in which he supplicated the throne of

The address of Mr. O. V.

grace, dissipated every feeling of levity, with which any of the group at first gathered around this man of God.-The prayer being finished he addressed them in a strain of remark something like this:

"When two of your number waited upon me, with an invitation to meet you on the present occasion, I yielded to their importunity, with the express understanding, that I should come here as the minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have not come here to frown on your innocent joys, but to say to you in the kind accents of friendship, that you are immortal beings, and that you ought never to lose sight of your high destination, as accountable and undying intelligences. I cannot but hope that there are none in this assemblage,

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"My purpose is not to interrupt your enjoyment, but to direct your thoughts, to considerations of high and everlasting importance. Look around upon this scene of nature. He who planted these lofty trees, under whose shade you are sitting-who reared up that mountain, whose summit is lost in the clouds-who rolls along that emerald stream that bathes the mountain's base-who planted yonder sun in the firmament of heaven, and covered yonder forest with its foliage, has said, by the mouth of his inspired prophet:

"We all do fade as a leaf. And again; let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might. Let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth, glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgement and righteousness, in the earth.

"To understand and know God, to be the subject of his loving-kindness, and the partaker through Christ of his righteousness, is an attainment infinitely more desirable, than any possession of earth.

66

Youthful beauty is regarded by its young possessor, as a gem of inestimable value. And no one, who has ever gazed upon the finely moulded features, the glowing countenance, the sparkling eye, the symmetrical form dignified in

Youthful beauty: Worldly amusements.

its attitude, and graceful in all its movements, can look with indifference on these marks of beauty, which the Creator sometimes impresses upon the human face and form. No one can question, but that this visible loveliness, which stands combined with one's external existence, is in itself desirable. The Creator meant that it should be regarded as a blessing, and like every other earthly blessing, that it should lift the heart of its possessor with increased gratitude to the source, whence it was derived. But this gem has inscribed upon it, these monitory words, Look to heaven, there alone blooms immortal beauty. This earthly possession fades like a leaf. It lasts but an hour. Its existence is as brief and evanescent as the spangled dew drops of morning. The very rays of the bright luminary which impart to those drops their lustre, drink them up.-Disease, death, or continued life itself, shakes blight and mildew upon every opening bud of youthful beauty. Even while we are gazing upon the bright vision, it vanishes away forever. Who then will be so unwise, as to build his happiness on such a foundation? Who will glory in the possession of this short lived and quickly fading flower, and reject the riches of redeeming grace?

"We are told that there is in the youthful bosom a redundancy of spirits that seeks to expend itself in all the diversified amusements of the dance and the song, the gay sallies of mirth, and the joyous festivities of the merry meeting. Every benevolent mind must feel a sympathetic throb of delight, in witnessing the happiness of others. But every thing which excites and exhilarates the spirits, does not bring substantial enjoyment.

"Just look into some scene of earthly pleasure, where all is gay and joyous-where every glowing countenance is covered with animation, and every sparkling eye filled with rapture. Will that scene last? Look again: the dance is finished-the song is ended-the company have separated— lassitude and feverish restlessness now sit, like an hateful incubus, upon each individual of that happy group. Disease has fastened upon one of the number: Whither can he now turn for relief? The physician tells him his case is hopeless. Parents and friends gather around his dying couch, and wring their hands in despair: The fell destroyer presses on, regardless of their tears, to overturn and demolish the citadel

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