The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-07-06
From ne Boston Gassils.
HOBOMOK.

HOBOMOK.
We took up this book with that care
lcssness which many suporifc tales o.
the aborigines Of our country had
made habitual with Us f; but were hap
lpily disappointed in the perusal ofthi.
work. Its from the pen Of NJ ordina-
~ writer. His Imagination i elevat-
cd, his taste classical. and he describes
with warmth and accuracy. lie also
seems we'll versed in the early history
OF our country, aud understands the
character of our puritanical ancestors.
His Indian Chiefs well drawn. and in
most particulars, makes a good pic
ture but We eannot forgive the writer
for throwing his spirited and lovely
Mary Conant into the embraces Of a
savage, however elevated his senti-
mcnts, unless the writer intended their
iates should be forever united. 10
degrade such girl was as unnccessa-
ry as unkind-pcrhaps he did not
think 20. Certainly, if we understand
the writer's design, it was to give a
view Of the primitive manners and ka-
bats Of our ancestors, with their quaint
reasonings upon the scriptures-and
this sacrifice gives neither beauty nor
interest 10 the tale. We extract the
account of the ordination and the SER
mon Of the Rev. Mr.. Higginson, as a
specimen Of the writer's felicity in
catching the language and spirit Of
those days. The" Doctrines " uses. =
" improvements" with a " faallv." come
down, in some places, nearly to our
own time. Not thirty years since. a
Rev. Divine, in our hearing, divided
his subjects 50 often, that we rocollect
the expression " sixteenth ninthlv." On
a cold day in January, this was dis
dressing to the hearers, at least to the
young ones. The refreshing influence
Of a three hours discourse was then ra-
lPldly losing its effect on the psrverse
generation then growing Up, and is
now altogether gone.
| The assembly were at length collected. and
with serious, staid department. awaited the
commencement Of the services. The Ply
mouth elders, detained by contrary winds,
had not yet arrived, and there was long
pause Of expectation, during which nothing
was heard except the occasional movements
uf The sentinel, as he stood at the open door OF
the building. II was indeed, strange sight
to see men in the house of God with pistols in
their sword belts; but alarms from the IN
dams we're then so much to be dreaded, that
the protection Of the Bible needed the aid OF
dagger and hrelock. However, the expected
brethren arrived not, and wearied with The
delay Nr. Higginson arose and made sol.
emp and impressive prayer. A psalm was
then read BY MIR. Shelton; and though in the
music which followed there was no deep tun-
ed organ to dive down into the recesses OF
the soul, and carry from thence mans warm.
est aspirations after heaven, vet there were
some fine tones, which struck upon the ear 10
their bold harmony. And now every one
was preparing TO give earnest and devout al.
tentlOn to the reverend speaker, who was
about TO name his text; for in those DAYS a
sermon WIS an exhilrating draught, though
converted BY the impious chemistry ofmodern
times into a sopOrifc drug. Notwithstanding
il was loaded with some dozens Of doctrines.
and more uses than twenty sermons of these
days will ever arrive at, and an improvement
at The close, and finally at the end of that
vet the manuscript asserts, that the eies Of
men slumbered mott, neither were they wea.
rie with hearing" Indeed the appearance o.
the learned and pious minister predsposed the
mind TO attention. His manner was dignifec
aud simple; and as he rose to speak, he seem
ed bowe down with humble and conscen
tious sense Of his own unworthiness -Encum
bered as | have mentioned. il cannot be sup
posed that the whole sermon would be inter
esting even TO The antiquarian; but as a spe
cimen Of the eloquence Of those times,
cannot forbear few extracts.
ANY text" said he, is in the 105th Psalm
43d verse. " lie brought forth his people witt
loy and his chosen with gladness. And who
| nv hearers, hath more need than ourselves
bring to remembrance this passage SureyC
be hath brought as out with mighty han.
and a stretched out arm. And shall we no
| find the wilderness sweet, fed as we are with
the mama ofhis grace? And is there not abun
daut cause to ill the vessels Of our affection,
daily herewith? Yea, though God hath
brought rs out from among the horsemen an.
chariots Of Pharaoh, though he hath sweeteneC
the waters of Marah aud given us Elm where
il 10 encamp. yet may not the name OF Jeho
yah be forgotten in the desert, as well as il
Egypt! Yes, even 10 these days when HEAVIER
and earth are trembling at the voice Of Al
mighty wrath, I fear there are many drows,
souls among US oh. awaken, pray you; les
Satan have A commission from God 10 rocl
YOU. and YOU be lUst forever. Its fearful L
think how you may fall asleep on the brink o.
precipice, and dream that you are created {
king, and guarded with'a goodly train Of an
Gent mobiles and stately places, and enriched