The old colored woman.

Anecdote.

his feet struck the rounds of a ladder, to which, by clinging also with his hands, he was mercifully preserved. On another occasion, he endeavored to provoke that noble, but sometimes fierce animal, the horse, to make use of his natural weapons of defence, and narrowly escaped a severe if not a fatal kick. And thus he could speak of his childhood as "in perils oft," but there was One, who had given "His angels charge concerning him, to bear him up, lest at any time he should dash his foot against a stone."

"The only religious instruction," says Walton in a paper found among his manuscripts, "I received, was from an old negro woman belonging to the family, who professed to be a Christian, but who probably was mistaken; for she was very inconsistent. I would however hope she was sincere, though extremely ignorant. I remember hearing her, and a little daughter of her's, who nursed me, sometimes talk of Heaven and Hell, and the day of Judgment, and I remember sometimes at the close of the day, while looking towards the west, I have felt very solemn in thinking of the world's coming to an end." How serious and profitable a train of thought may often be originated in the mind by the utterance of words that seem purely accidental ! * How much more reasonable to expect an actual blessing to follow words uttered with the design to awaken the mind or convict the conscience, even if not directly addressed to the person into whose company you have fallen. There is as much practical wisdom as preceptive beauty in the apostolical exhortation, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt."

A young man was once at work in the field, when Mr. a clergyman, crossing the field, passed near him,

* Dr. Ryland, of Bristol, when 13 years of age, discovering that his father's scholars met to talk about Jesus Christ, was seriously affected, and thought within himself, "these boys are going to heaven, and I shall be left behind." He began to pray earnestly, and was soon converted-in his fifteenth year he united with the Church, and at 18 preached.

Bunyan.

Attends family prayer for the first time.

and dropped a few words of admonition in his ear. A divine influence sent them to his heart. He was awakened, convicted, converted, and in a few weeks died in the triumphs of the Christian Faith. It was in consequence of the faithfulness of Bunyan's wife, that, in the very hour of his most profound immersion in scenes of consummate profligacy, Conscience would cry out, "Wilt thou leave thy sins and go to Heaven, or have thy sins and go to Hell?" Even the random reproof of a wicked woman, who told him that "by his swearing he would corrupt all the youth of the town, that came into his company," was as a poisoned shaft within him, stinging him with shame and remorse.

About the time of which we have been speaking, an Uncle of Walton, a professing Christian, residing in Louisa County, Virginia, in journeying to the vicinity of Richmond, stopped and spent a night in the family. Before retiring to rest, at his instance, the family were assembled for the purpose of worshipping God. The pious Uncle sang and prayed. This was the first time William Walton, then seventeen years of age, ever attended family worship. The very novelty of the thing made some impression on his mind, but there is reason to believe that as a holy exercise, recognizing the government of God and the mediation of Jesus Christ, it was by the divine blessing productive of spiritual effects on a mind, predisposed to serious and anxious thought. On the return of this Uncle, a proposal was made that William should accompany him to his home, and spend some time with him, but it was never carried into execution. A casual expression of the old colored woman at that time also affected him; she suggesting as a reason why he should go, that "he would perhaps become a Christian," not seeming to think it possible such a thing should take place at home. The failure of this visit was a great disappointment to William.

After the removal of the family to the vicinity of Moorefield, he was sent to a very indifferent school, where he

Sent to School at Moorefield.

An absurd maxim. A singular attack of Illness.

heard much low, indecent, and profane language. His resolution however being fixed to resist these abominations, and if possible to gain the confidence and the affection of his Teacher; he succeeded in both these objects, became a favorite with the Instructor, and a standing reproof to the ill mannered and evil minded with whom he was sometimes compelled to associate. It should be recorded to the credit of his moral character, and as a reminiscence of his good moral behavior, in the giddy and dangerous season of childhood and youth, that neither from parent, teacher, nor any one else did he ever receive corporeal punishment.

It is far, very far from being the fact, that, as a general result, the "worst boys make the best men." A few striking instances of entire revolution in moral character out of a multitude of the opposite description, seem to have led to this hasty conclusion. The notion, for such only it deserves to be called, resembles that, which in the fashionable world once grew into a maxim, that "reformed rakes make the best husbands." It is a notion equally at variance with the manifest tenor, and the fundamental principles of the Holy Scriptures. If there be any general principles revealed in the Bible, it is not one of the least of these, that the moral character of an individual is for the most part formed in the early period of his existence. This position is confirmed equally by the analogy of nature and by individual history.

During the first summer of Walton's residence at this place, he was attacked with a severe illness, from which there was at the time little expectation of his recovery. For some days he lay in a state of insensibility, being nearly unconscious of what was going on around him. Being destitute of the aid of a physician, it seemed as if the hand of God was immediately stretched out to impart efficiency to the unaided efforts of nature to recover the expiring energies of the system. As the process of recovery commenced, it seemed to him like life from the dead. was raised indeed, but with enfeebled health, and without

He

His rapid improvement.

the enjoyment of that vigor of body and that elasticity of spirits, which indicate a thorough exemption from disease.

Again he applied himself to the acquisition of knowledge, and with such steadiness of purpose and correctness of deportment, that his new Teacher became much attached to him, an attachment readily and cordially reciprocated by his pupil. While the scholar was apt to learn, the master was diligent to teach. The partiality resulting from this relation led the teacher to distinguish William in the distribution of honors. At the public exhibition, he delivered no less than four speeches, while few of the boys had more than one, and none more than two. It was while he was committing these speeches, that he first discovered the readiness of his memory. They were easily and speedily learned. With this Teacher he continued till he could instruct him no more. Besides the usual English studies, he had gone through a course of mathematics even to some of its higher branches. A taste for vocal music had also been elicited. The teacher gave to each scholar a tune, to be learned, raised and sung by him independently of the rest. When any particular tune pleased the fancy of William, on his passage to and from school he would make the woods and fields re-echo with its notes.

But these sober pursuits were occasionally diversified by his attendance on a dancing school held in the neighborhood, the amusement of which proved an effectual antidote to any pains of conscience, which might remind him that he was a lost sinner. The time had come however, when he must do something. He had reached a point in his life, when a very small circumstance might determine its future character and final issue; when the decision of the present hour might give a coloring to his whole life. He had no father, either to provide him a situation, or to counsel him in his own plans for obtaining one. His mother was a perfect stranger in a strange community. Who was there to take care of him but the God of the fatherless and the

Enters on a new scene.

Interposition of Providence. widow? The finger of the Lord pointed out the path in which he should walk, as follows: A gentleman from Frankfort, in Hampshire County, having heard that Mrs. Walton desired to dispose of some property, came to see her on that business. To this stranger, young William ventured to show his manuscript books, in which, according to the custom of the schools, he had kept a neat transcript of all that he had done in Arithmetic, and the other branches of study, which had engaged his attention. The stranger was pleased, and being asked whether he knew of any merchant who wanted a clerk, he replied in the affirmative. Soon after his return home, Mrs. W. received a note from the brother in law of this gentleman, Mr. P of Frankfort, requesting that William might be sent down to him. This request was readily complied with, and in the employment of this gentleman, through many temptations, he continued for two years. He was pleased with his business, attentive to all his duties, and with great promptitude, not only obeyed the directions, but anticipated the wishes of his employer. By the probity of his character and the assiduity of his conduct, he won the entire confidence of Mr. P—, who at length confided to him the most difficult portions of his business, leaving his most intricate accounts to be settled by the young clerk. During the second year, besides the business of the store, William transacted the affairs of the Post Office, his principal having been appointed Post Master. When the year was concluded

and the time of separation came, the merchant wept. Perhaps no more affecting tribute to the fidelity of his clerk could be rendered. A more substantial one, however, was rendered in the offer which he made, to take William into partnership with himself, and establish him in business eighteen miles from Frankfort.

At this point of our narrative, we must pause for a moment to admire the goodness and the grace, which in the midst of powerful temptations and threatening dangers,