Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-03-30
POPtLtR READINGS.



Drpcying on hof.cb4rA 10 ,ha, Wild and plc-
resguc tract OF county ~ New Hampshire
Asch botdcts on the upper portion Of the
kxn,ain. born Mcrrmac. when datk thun-
.fs-eio0d that had been gathering unpctccly-
vi b. me IN the distance. rose up suddenly
',3pm behind The screening hills, apprising me
. ~ pocc 10y rs threatening aspect, aud the ra-
atsd'iy with which II Was rolling towards me.
ssss,Nai n thorough drcnchng was only 10 be
= HUosded boy an immediate flight 10 some place
fsheltcr.
Applying the spur, therefore, put my horse
his best speed, and fortunately succeeded
bvcsching a substantial looking farmhouse
! ~ The road side Just the bug, bright drops
J ~ rain, as II shaken down by the crushing
( al OF thunder that hcraIdcd their descent,
INC mcrriIy dancing to the smoking earth
While standing "a the open she'd that had
scn so lucky as 10 gam, listening TO the roar
y sST The elements, and marking that almost ter
4{tsc sublim'ty With which thunderstorm in
se mountains becomes invested, the owner of
fxhe establishment, fine, halc-looking man of
sAsbsty, came out, and very cuuftcuusy invited
I41ne into the house, adding, at the same time.
Mai he thought, from the unpromising APP
SGafancc OF the clouds, might as well mako
mp my mind at once TO remain with hun tllro'
The night
As II was late IA the afternoon, and the
RAIN stlll continued 10 pour down, with little
d prospect OF abatlng IN I'm" for me To- resume
& my journey before dark, soon concluded TO
accept the pfoiiercd hospitality when | was
inmedlatel! ushcfcd IN by my kind entertain
sr, and introduced to his interesting family as
astranget who had concluded 10 accept their
poor iare for the night.
I had at,eat, I,,, c,,,,cL ,,,,I, ,I, ....z..
ancc Of ,hrif and good management in every
thing about tins establishment without, and
my admiration was now equally awakened by
the ncatness and rustic taste of all within. and
the quiet and order with which the family con-
Germs seemed 10 be conducted under the SUI
perln,endancc of my hostess, one Of the most
comely and engaging maron. | remember
ever TO have seen. very soon discovered my
host 10 be man of much native shrcwdness
and oil liked and welcomed opinions on al
most all subjects that presented themselves
and these qualities, united with spice Of sly
humor and good tact for description, failed not
10 mpart high degree of piquancy aud in
terest TO his conversation. After the oxccl-
lent supper, with which we were soon favor
ed. was over, the household affairs regulated,
and the smaller children disposed of for the
night, the amablc mistress Of the house took
her knittlng-work and Joined us in the sitting
room, adding a stlll further interest to the
converse 10y her quiet presence. and the well,
tuned and pertinent remarks which she occa-
s'onalIy threw IN on the different subjects that
were introduced. The conversation al length
turned on the Shakers, an establishment of
whom had visited that very morning Per,
cel'lng that my host appeared TO dissent from
some general remark had made in praise of
tina, singular society, | turned to him and
said
You believe them TO be an industrious.
quiet and very honest people, surely, do you
not, sir :
Industrious and quiet enough doubtless
and Just as honest as other people, but not
whit more so,' he replied.
Why, had supposed them reioincd,
not only peculiarly honest aud sincere. but
IN great degree devoid OF those passions and
wees that most move and agltate the rest Of
society,"
All that IN the exterior they generally pre-
sent, grant you; but are YOU willing TO take
that as criterion of their true character he
asked.
BY no means said |.
Well, SIR, could YOU lift the curtain. and
sec all that THIS sober and wonderfully honest
exterior IS sometimes made to conceal YOU
might perhaps be little less inclined 10 cx-
empt them from the common feelings aud fra
ilues OF other people | have half mind to
tell you story Of an affair which occurred
some twenty years ago at the very establish
ment YOU VISITED, and which would show
Now don't husband interrupted my host
ess, with doprocatlng look
Only 10y way of argument, wife briskly
replied the man, casting an arch look at the
other Il want 10 show him that love and IN.
trgue may sometimes be found under a broad
bfm a. well as a narrow one
oh pray le, Us have II; 20 ONO on. by
all means ! eagerly intcrposed delighted at
the novel idea OF love story from such an un-
promising source as that OF the Shaking Qua.
bCn.
With another rosu.sh glance At his shghl,
disturbed though now acquiesccnl compan
ION, my host. after brief pause, began
!, was delightful evening IN the month Of
October, and the setting sun Was throwing In,
parting beams over the yellow forests Of the
surrounding uplands whose FURNISHED foliage
h.f L.. - a