Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-08-22

In this and the ne1gh0Orlng town
there was great complaint of drought,
and Parson Fivepoints had appointed
meeting to pray for rain, which was
to be- generally attended by all his par
ishioners, and by all the members ofthe
family with which live. The appoin-
ted service fell on hot afternoon. I
rode in company with my aunt and cou-
sin towards the meeting house, and
found myself joined on the road by most
of the neighbors who had not already
gone before US. A negro man of my
uncle's whom we found industriousIy
hoeing potatoe field by the road eide,
was the only one who in spite OF Inyl-
tation or even threats, refused to leave
his work, but was excused for this very
good reason, that he was dressing the
field, and getting it ready for the rain
that no doubt was coming. go, said
he,. 6 but there must be somebody at
home to fix for the shower. The me-
gro's faith seemed so.great, that it be-
came a matter of conscience to let him
alone, and we left him pursuing his
sweaty work under. clear sky, with q
zeal at least as practicable as that OF
the departing Practitioners. We kept
on towards the meeting house, forming
as we went an irregular troop OF horse,
! which was constantly increased by such
| as fell in at the road and bye paths, to
hsay nothing of very considerable body
| ofinfantry, male and female, that pour
ed in from all quarters, when at turn
of the road near the breach, l discover.
ed my Shetland friend digging CLAIMS,
| and pursuing an employment which de-
! pended little on the weather. left the
cavalcade, and rode to the shore where
{ he}was. "Joe," said /, "are you not
going with us p" ooh! yes' said he' "if
you wish it, but to tell the truth, l am
so grateful for what Ihave, that don't
care to ask for more" "John," con.
tinued he, dropping his hoe.handle, and
looking up to me with unusual earnest.
ness, sis it decent, is it proper for a
man who has just escape when his yes.
sci has been blown down, when his
friends have been drowned--after be.
ing wrecked and saved and rescued thro'
two years peril-after having prayed.
and had his prayers granted--just as
with q light heart he sees his friends
and feels as though he ought to be ten
times moro grateful than lam, is it de-
cent to ask any more? "-" Why" con-
tinued he. with increasing energy,
when l find my father, my mother,
my sisters and brothers all we'll and
joyful even to tears, but two days ago
to receive me, when the old man in his
evening prayer said that his son who
was lost had been found, who was dead
and was alive again-why in the name
of oil that is:greteful should Task more,
Just because that little spindling patch
of corn that the sun has twisted, may
or may not come straight with the dew
of the night? In short, have no fault
to find, and am too overjoyed to ask for
any thing. The best way to get more,
/ as to be grateful for phat you haze"
But Joe," said /, consider the neigh
bors attend, though they do not feel SO
grateful as you, not having the same
cause, though agree they have been
preserved from the same dangers that
! you have been exposed to-" YES"
said Joe, see you understand it, and
Pm sorry told you that I'd go if you
wished it but, as my hands are dirty,
Just write small note of thanks for
my return, and put in the thanks of the
family, and your own if you please,
well, be honest John or I'll write it
myself in q minute, when l catch the
horses"
Joe went for the horse, and soon ap.
peared with several of the family dres.
sed with unusual care, and with looks
of more than common seriousness. As
we travelled on to overtake the rest of
the neighbors, he came up to me and
asked to see what had written, which
he took and corrected in one or two pla-
ces with pencil as he walked his horse,
and then returned it.
Though Joe was SO particular about
his-uote, it was forgotten by every bo-
dy and by me too, after it was read.
gave it to Parson Fivepoints at the
meeting house door, and as he shook
me by the hand. had moments time
to tell him little about Joe's feeling
and the reason why he attended.
Ican hardly.tell why it was but the
clergyman in his prayer spent most of
his feelings upon Joe. He prayed that
he might have "the blessings of the
land and of the sea, and perhaps from
the Resemblance of his name to tha