The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-04-09


be wished, yet force, whatever may be said to the
contrary il, or at least was formerly, not unire-
quenty resorled to for the purpose of restraih<ig
those detected in aeu ptiug TO escape Seth there
fore, with the view Of avoiding collisions growing
out of any attempt that might be made, in case he
had been suspected and watched, 10 prevent his
going away, deemed it best to depart III direction
and manner which the Shakers would be the least
likely 10 suspect him of taking In pursuance OF
this plan he had determined to take the boat ana
cross over TO some point which was to place nm
beyond the family Possessions, within The bo"hda-
res of which the pursut OF their lug'lnts was US
uaily confined Congra,ulaing himself on the re-
sui, of his interview with Martha, which, besides
filling his bosom with the blissfu consciousness that
his love was rcciprOcaiei. and inspiring his mind
with tie joyful hope that the prize OF his affections
would soon be his, had passed over, as he suppos-
ed, rndeectcd, he pursued lis way with light
and rapid step along the path leading to the water
lie had not gone many reds, however, before, 10
his utter surprise his old prosecutor, the sIeepess
Higgins, stepped out from behind covert, and,
with a look Of malicious Indignation, confronted
him in his path Deeply 'eAed, but neither dannt-
ed nor turned from his purpose the young man
paused and threw back Il look Of indignation and
scorn at his detested opponent; for, perceNng inc
Elder to be alone and conscious OF his own bodly
mower, he disdained either TO cover or nee, hul'
with an air Of cool defiance, stood waiting MS
movements.
sAh! thou vile young herctic' at length exclaim-
ed the Elder tauntnyly; Il have caught thee al
last, them in thine cwn uiquilie-, Ell? What was
thee saving 10 the maiden =
What thee will no, be likely TO be much the
wiser for indignant, replied Seth, who 'eN foh-
fdent that, whatever The Elders luck had h'tn as
l, from thp Ii-tnnCe Of Ills posi-
on have gained much in the character Of an caves
droPPcr.
lla! dos, thou defy thy appointed rulers, young
man? Confess lhy sins unto me, lest make an
exam ple Of both thee and her in punishment Tor
lhy heimous offence.
.I!,pccri,e, know thee. and for myself defy
thee! hu, bid thee beware how thee shall further
pe,sccu,e that innocen. GIRL for, rs sure as thee
INJURIES hair Of her head, will haunt thee while
| live, and haunt thee when AN dead
Accustomed to witness only tokens Of the most
ahirc, submission in the dtlud,d people over whom
he had so long brunnin,d, aud totally unntephIeu
for such bold language from the Young man whose
spirit he had greatly uudeHHted, The as'ohhhea
Elder stood moment hirl, choking with rage,
unable, from tho violence Of his passions, to utter
single word.
.Gcl-Cc,-gct thee back to the buildings at
length he sput,cred in exploding rage Get NEE
hack. thou ugdacious-thou-thou God-iorsaken
reprobate! Get ,hee lack, | say, instantly
Man, | shall no, obey thee SAID seth IN cool,
determined tone. : no longer acknowledge my
| authority, and, fum this hour, am 10 longer one
of thy blinded aud deiudrd people. 20 hence.
he added, turning out Of the path WIN lie view oi
passing hy the other.
Il viii d.,ain thcc-I will seize thee will
curse thee, and, verify, will suite thee again
exclaimed the flaming Elder, sprircirg a, the other
and making desperate Crn,p at his collar
The yourg man, however, was rot taken unprc-
par.d fr the onset aud the next instant the "ralh-
| ful Quaker was Spawning upon The earth
Founding forward for the pond with the Object OF
getting oct upon the water b,lnTe hl' GI'ronI'.d
antagonist could recover himself IND reach I've
shore in rur.ui,. Seth quickly gained the landing,
h,.,i, unlas,,u,d the ii III and lcap,d rlcurd; hut.
h.forc he could succeed in clearing tie boat fairly
from III. .lore, and ~ he was stopping backwards,
with handled oar to take his seat in the stern, The
iullru,cd Elder cane putting III hot haste down. me
bank and dashed into the water up to us knees al
ter the rrccdrg boat which even at that neh'ht
had u. passed out Of his reach. lsp'wc, HOW
ever the end of the tie-rcPr whch III the nut'! Oh
uufIsl.uiny had not been taken up, and "hnh was
nnw dangling though the water " Inn reach no
Instant, seized it and gave II a sudden and furious
Jerk Unconscious Of the oversight he had COM
u.,,,cd AID, therefore, wholly uiprcparcd for this
movement. the ,ourg man lost his balance IN the
40 cnre Of the shock. was prec ipiatcd backwards
o,er the crd Of The sr into the water, rnd IN
.,ar,l, DISAPPEARED beneath the surface. With
desperate effort the Edrr first drew the shilf up
hrh and DRY on the shore, then hurricdly catching
up IN oar aud sprnsinr back to the waters edge,
l,e held the formidable III p'enent upiied over his
head AZ il in readiness for fatal b'ow the instant
hi, victims head should rerppear on the surface.
| l. e.. IL lao mar n
Of reach Of the wenpcn; when, percen'ng Tho
threatening attitude Of his antagonist, apparently
dc,ern med on his destruction should he attempt TO
come ashore, he seeming, became panic struck
and confused: aud after glarng wildly around him
an instant, sunk again: with gurrrg sound be-
meath the surface 10 rise no ore TO the view.
with look of still unni'igned na'acr aud fc-
rori'y, and with the sane uenaclng ai'iuce, the
ruthless Elder stood waiting for a second appear
ance Of his victim fall moment, When he began
TO ., hbi, tokens of surprise and lowered his weapon
a little, sill keeping. however, his eye keenly fixed
! ON the spnt hner waiting in vain nearly another
moment for the drowning to rise, the Ilderh he
cane thoroughly alarmed and. throwing down his
oar hurrird!, re,rra,od rod or two on the bank.
Here he turned ard threw another anxious and
: troubled lonk upon and around the fatal spot. A
few faint bubbles rising sncccssiyey 10 the surface,
alone answered hi. inquiring gaze; aud, reading m
them conclusive cNi'thcp ~ lHp hNIIu Hu''' VIC
gave cnnvulsi,e start, and fled with terror iownrd
the buildings as fast rs his quAkirg limbs could
; carry him, munrbiins and chaiterlng to hinst rs
he went
Now. who would have thought! II the Youth
could have swam:--ahd am 10 blame Tor that he
L never learned 10 swim, az n surei, ! am not
And ,hcn dial he not III, his hard against gifted
Eide, Of Gods rhurth, Aud. moreover, have |
no, sa,ed the fauiy's boat, which he was about
to pur'cn' Verify. I haze done good thing
:. though think viii not name the matter TO the
people, lest i, lerd The temptation Of evil speaking
" against rulers and, prrnd,enturr get To The world
y magistrates And ,hrn, again. there ia the youth
r,cncr,y. which he was so forward and per,er-e
IL ahcu, re'inqushrg TO the church. Nay. vii not
v let the affair he known hu, 20 TO work right cum
r rirrl, and secure it all for Gods heritage Yea,
le yerllv. have done a good thing
L. Thrs strangely reasoning, and TINS de'pe'a,el!
va.c,rs A savol fcr his troubled Feelings The ter
10 -. rido, ,.,rhed home, and. without Ut