The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1837-11-14

faith and feelings had, in some degree, income
assimilated to those of their fellow WorshIppers.
Adam Colburn gradually acquired reputation,
not only i'm The management of the temporal AT
fairs Of the society," but as clear and efficient
preacher of their doctrines. Martha was not less
distinguished in the duties proper to her sex.
Finally when the intirmties OF Father Ephram
had admonshed him to speak q successor in Ills
patrarchal office, he thought of Adam and Mar
tina, and proposed 10 renew in their persons, the
primitive form of Shaker government as estab-
lished by Mother Ann. They were to he the
Father and Mother of the village The simple
ceremony which would constitute them such was
now TO be performed.
"Son Adam, and daughter Martha" said the
venerable Father Ephram, fixing his aged eyes
piercingly upon them, off we can conscentously
undertake this charge speak, that the brethren
may not doubt OF your irmness."
Gather" replied Adam, speaking with the
camness of his character,"I came to your vii
lage disappointed man, weary Of the world,
worn out with continued trouble, seeking only
security aginst evil fortune, as | had no hope Of
good. Even my wishes of worldly success were
almost dead within me. | came hitheras a man
might come to n tomb, willing to lie down in its
gloom and GOODNESS for the sake of its peace and
quiet. There was but one earthly affection in
my breast, and it has grown camcr since my
youth so that was satisfied to bring Martha to
he my sister i'll our new abode. We are brother
and sister, nor would have it otherwise. And
III WIS pCuNClul nave lOlln(l ill lilul
hoped tor-all that l desire. will strive with
my best strength for the spiritual and temporal
good of our community. My conscience is not
doubtful i'll this matter. am ready to receive
the trust"
"Thou hast spoken WELL son ADAM said the
Father. GOOD will bless thee in the Office which
| am about TO resign"
"But Our sister !" observed the elder from Ilar-
ward, "hath she not likewise a gift to declare her
sentimenls?"
Martha started, and moved her lips as if she
would have made a formal reply to this appeal.
But had she attempted il, perhaps the old reco-
leclons, the long repressed feelings of childhood,
youth and womanhood, might have gushed from
her heart, in words that it might have been II
proclamation to utter there.
| "Adam has spoken" ssd she, huriedly, "his
sentiments are likewise mine
| But while speaking these few words Martha
grew pale, that she looked filter to he laid in
her coffin, than TO stand in the presence of Fa-
Their Ephraim and the elders she shudGrrcd also,
as il there were something awful or terrible in
her situation and destiny. 1t required, indeed, Il
more than feminine strength of nerve, to sustain
the fixed observance of men exalted and ia
nous throughout the sect these were. They
bad overcome their natural sympathy with hui
man fraities and affections. One, when he Joined
The society, had brought with him his wife and
children, bot never, from that hour, had spoken
ii fond word 10 the former, or taken his best loved
child upon his knee. Another, whose family
refused to follow him, had been enabled, such
was his gift of holy fortitudc, to leave them to
the mercy of the world. The youngest of the
elders umn of about fifty, had been bred from
infancy in Shaker village, and was said never
to have clasped woman hand in his own, and
to have no conception of Il closer tie than the
cold traernal one of the sect Old Father Eph-
RAIN was the most awful character OF all. In
his youth he had been dissolute libertne, but
was converted by Mother Ann herself, and had
partaken Of the wild fanatcism of the early Sha-
kers. Tradition whispered, at the fresides OF
the village, that Mother Ann had been compelled
to scar his sheart with Il red hot iron, before it
could he purified from earthly passions.
However that might be, poor Martha had a
woman's heart, and Il tender one, and it quailed
within her rs she looked around at those strange
old men, and from them to the calm features of
Adam Coburn. But perceiving that the elders
eyed her doubliuIIy, she gasped for breath; and
again spoke:
with what strength is left me by my many
troubles" said she, 81 am ready to undertake
this charge, and to do my best in it,"
"My children, join your hands," said Father
Ephraim.
They did so. The elders stood up around,
and the Father freely raised himself to more
erect position, but continued sitting in his great
chair.
81 have hidden you to Join your hands, said
he, not in earthly affection, for We have cast off
its chains forever; but as brother and sister in
|
allotted task. Teach unto Others the faith which
We have received. Open wide your gates--I de
liver you the keys thereof-open them wide to all
who will give up the iniquites of the world, and
come hither to lead lives of purity and peace
Receive the weary ones who have known the
vanity OF earth-receive the little ones that they
may never learn that miserable lesson. And a
blessing be upon your labors; so that the time
may hasten on, when the mission OF Mother Ann
shall have wrought its full effect-when children
h.
vivor Of mortal race, some old and weary man
like me- shall see the go down, never more
to rise on q world of sin and sorrow"
The aged Father sunk back exhausted and
the surrounding elders deemed, with good reason,
that the time come, when the new heads Of
the village must enter on their patriarchal duties
In their attention to Father Ephram, their eyes
were turned from Martha Pierson, who grew pa
Ter and paler, unnoticed even by Adam Colburn
He, indeed, had Withdrawn his hand from hers