The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-11-14
MISCELLANEOUS
From tho Token and Atlantic Souvenir for 1888
THE SHAKER BRIDAL.
BY MISS sEpGMIcK

rain, who.had been forty years the presiding ell
der over the Shaker settlement mt Goshen, there
was an assemblage OF several OF the CHEF men
of the sect. individuals had come from the rich
establishment at Lebanon, from Canterbury,
Harvard and Alfred, and from all the other To-
caliies where this strange people have tertilized
the rugged hills of New England by their sys-
tematic industry. An elder was likewise there,
who had made pilgrimage of thousand miles
from village of the faithful in Kentucky, to visit
his spiritual kindred, the children of the sainted
Mother Ann lie had paraken OF the homey
abundance of their tables, and quatied the far
famed Shaker cider, and had joined in the sacred
dance, every step of which is believed to alienate
the enthusiast from earth. and bear him onward
TO heavenly purity and bliss. His brethren of
the north had now courteously invited him TO be
present on an occasion when the concurrence of
every eminent member Of their community was
peculiarly desirable.
The venerable Father Ephraim sat in his easy
chair, not only hoary headed and infrm with
age, but worn down by lingering disease, which
it was evident, would soon transfer his patrlarcha
staff TO other hands AT his iootstool stood n
man and woman, both clad in The Shaker garb.
"My BRETHREN" said Father Ephraim to the
surrounding elders feebly cXcrting himself TO ut
ter these words, I" here are the son and daughter
to whom would commit the trust, OF which
Providence is about to tighten my heavy should
ers. Read their faces, pray you, and say whetll-
er the inward movement of the spirit hath guard
ed my choice aright.",
Accordingly, each elder looked at the two can
didates with most scrutinizing gaze. The man,
whose name was Adam Colburu, had il face sun
burnt with labor in the fields, yet intelligent
thoughtful, and traced with cares enough Tor
whole lifetime, though he had barely reached me
middle age. There was something severe in his
aspect, and Il rIgidity throughout his person.
characteristics that caused him generally TO be
taken for Fscho0master; which vocation, III
lact, ne had formerly exercised ior seNera years
l'he woman, Martha Pierson, was somewhat a
hove thirty, thin and pale, as shaker almost IN
rarabIy Is, and not entirely Tree from their corpse
like appearance which the garb OF the sister
hood is so we'll calculated TO ImFat.
This pair are slH III HE summer oi their
years.. observed The elder from Harvard, shreWd
Old man; " would like better to see the boar
frost of autumn on their heads MeiInnkS, also,
they will he exposed to peculiar temptations, on
account OF the carna desires That have heretofore
SulSsied between them.
Nay, brolher," said the elder rom Cnntcr-
tlIy, "the boar frost ana the black frost hntIl
done It's work on brother Adam ana sister Martha,
even as we sometimes discern lis traces III our
corntelds, while they are yet green And why
should we question the wisdom or our Venerabie
r"''ier purpose, a''llouSn tis par III 'hci, curry
y9u'h nave loved one another as the worln peo,
PIE love Are mere not many piethleii nii'I
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