The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-04-20


qubbIing 81 sophslry sill the voice Of conscience
and lie soon becnme the Piay of The most horrid
fancies. lie remembered tho occidental threat
made by Seth among tho last things he ut,ered--'l
will haun, you when am dead and the fearful
words. Il will haunt you when ] am dead will
haunt you when l nm deadv rang constantly in
his ears-and so strong were his guilty fears, and
so nervous and excitable had 10 become, that to
him the menace wis ofien fulfilled in the dread
shap,ngs of his imagination BY day he appeared
distracted or resrless-now needless and lost to
every thing around him now wildly staring at the
rus'ling of every eaf-and by night roaring out in
his sleep, and disturbing his wondering people by
his strange and almost unearihy outcries.
Such was The punishment Of the miserable Elder
blu t,whetier this n rather the result Of his
fears than any sincere penitence making for his
own benefit, we will not attempt decide. One
thing however, is certain--it operated greatly to
the relief of the before presented Martha-for
from the eventfiil night which she parted from
her lover, she for several weeks Indications
Of any renewal of her trials Much, indeed, did
she won der TO what cause she owed this happy ex
empuon-though she believed it, without being a
BILE TO tell exactly why, to have some connection
with the fate of Seth, concerning which a horrid
tried, however, to Danish such suspicious from her
thoughts, and charitably strove to believe that her
prosecutor had resolved to lay aside bis designs n
gainst her peace and become better man. But
she at length began perceive that her hopes wero
TO be disapponed-she again saw in the demeanor
of the Elder towards her, that which unequvocaiIy
told her that she still :he marked victim OF is
unhallowed designs-and from day To day she liv-
-, l-,n h.:-
the scene OF her former trials. Nor was such sum-
mons long delayed. One day, as tho family were
retiring from their meals; the Elder approach
ed the terrified girl and notified her 10 meet him a
lone after worship, in The which lie had be-
fore desecI ated by his infamous conduct-bu, the
hapless Maiden was not reserved for wre,ched
fate that which now menacingly hung
her. An unexpected incident interviewed between
that aud the dreaded hour, which was destined to
form the most important of her lie, while it
brought defeat and confusion upon her enemy
|, mild and pleasant afternoon in Novem-
Der, just four weeks after the melancholy event
just described Martha sitting in one of the
comp9,n working rooms of the women, at work
with several of the sisterhood, some of whom like
herself were engaged in sewing, some at the loom
| and sumo at The distaf. As she plying her nee
de- AN air OF deer Ponsiveuess, swee,iy tempered,
however, by resignation, was resting her lovely
brow. She had been viewing with dismayed feel
! ings and gloomy approximations the dismal prospect
before her, and, having schooled her feelings into
submission to whatever fate Providence might al.
| lot her, she turned to the images OF tho past md
her mind was now wandering among the dearest
memories OF her existence. She recalled The si.
most forgotten circumstance that the coming night
was the proposed by her departed lover for his
return to meet her, and n thousand mournfnl ian
cies took possession of her mind. She imagined
how, if her lover had lived, her heart would be
Guuering at the thought ofthe approaching meet.
ing; and then her excited imagination took wing
and she wondered if it were not true, as she had
some times heard, that the dead perui tied to
keep the appointments made by them while living,
ard come in spirit to the place to and com.
mune with their friends; and If SO Nv beher should
she repair the TWISTING the appointed hour,
Seth would be there 10 meet her. Faith and love
answered ga; and, conscious OF nothing which
should make her fear such meeting, at which,
per hsps heavenly council might be impaired to
guide and direct her in her threatening difficulties,
she half resolved to bravo the summons of the FL
der, 10 meet him at the same hour, and keep the up
pointmcnt. While she thus INDUCING in these
sad though pleasing reverles, her attention was ar
rested by the sound OF strange voice in the yard,
belonging to some who had JUST arrived, and
I now engaged in conversation with several Of the
Shaker men. Thinking there was something sah
er peculiar in the c,ecss, rafting manner Of the
new conner discourse, she arose, and went TO the
window, when it was with mixture of wonder
and surprise that she beheld the singular and vaga-
bond appearance of the man who had attracted her
attention. His dress was not only taitered and
patched, but l.flting and whimsical, consisting Of
small clothes altogether too big with coat AS
much to little and these surmounted by an
old straw hat, entirely rimless before and not much
better behind. lie was evidently quite young
man. and, but for n certain kind of foolish, staring
cast of countenanace, would have been accounted
very good looking. He seemed quite a; home n
mong his new acquaintances, and was not at all
bashful about making Inquiries, many Of which
were so very simple and childish as 10 provoke u
smile upon the sober v,sages even If the elders
, themselves Alter asking thousand fool
ish questions and ratllng away while disconneo.