The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-04-13
ST. JOHNsBURY, VIZ, APRIL 1s, 1sAa.


The great horror of the distressed maiden and the
ngon,zing fears of Seth, who became appriscd oi
the GIRO umstauce, and but too well conecitrod the
secret motives Of the Elder in summoning her in.
| siend of him, 10 meet him in private--though what
passed IN these occns,ons he had no other means
of judging hnn by the mingled expression of grief
and outraged feeling that very yisiby marked the
stained face of the poor gl for hours after her
return from Tie scene of her trials.
With Seth different course was iaken--though
y rebuke nd mini stered, word hinted to him
! respecting tho offence Of which he, in common
with Martin, wns suspected to he guilty, he yet
soon found that Go was not for that reqsdn any the
less marked FIR punIsRneht. lie soon discovered
that The Elder secretly attempting 20 under
mine his character with tine family, while system
petty annoy was made 10 meet him in every
thing he did, till his life became Of constant
vexaiion and msery-and, being no longer tempt.
ed by the proposed Office without the coveted priv.
ilege of going abroad, he again began Ia mediate
about leaving the society. But checked IN this
wish by want of confidence his ability TO :.
coed in tho world Of hich he little inform
ed, aud above by his love for Martha and his ap.
prehensions for her safety, marked AZ he believed
she was the vicilm Of the lcencous Elder, he here
also became the prev of onaictng emotions. The
Treatment of his malicious prosecutor, however
nj length drove him TO final decisi0n--and, hav.
ing formed new plan in regard TO his fair friend
whom he had been reluctant 10 leave, he waited
only for opportunity OF seeing her alone, (rom
which, owing To the prpcaution of the Elder, he
had been for a long while debarred9 before carry
marks we win now return TO the events which
form the action of our story.
On returning to their buildings, aher the Iabors
Of the field were over, the family as usual, soon re
paired TO the rooms allotted 10 daily Fopasts. For
this purpose three tables always spread in SO
arae buildings-one for The ordinary male men,
bers, for the females, and one for the leaders;
the two former of VIII ch are furnished with . lain
substantial food, while the latter is loaded with the
best The land is capable of afordng and not unfre-
quently with foreign uxurrs-for these dignitaries,
If they do not always go on the principle of iRdpl
gence involved in the reported saying ci the Elect
Lady, whose authority we have heretofore quoted
that 'spritnous liquors ,cas ono IF God good crea
lures, have at least no hesitation in acting general
ly on the assumption that the gift of good living is
peculiarly their own.
Immediately after supper the whole family as
sembled in house especially consccraied 10 thni
so well known is their meaningless
mode of worship, their long drawn, nasal chant of
Hoitentot sbbersh, set TO the inspired tune of per
haps Nancy Dawson, (for their tunes well as !
their words they contend are insp'red2-'he'r for
NAL, unvarying kangaroo dance, performed with |
uplifted hands ami varieus conorfons of features
or the occasional exhibition, by some freshly inspr
ed elder or eIdress, ofn nav gift of c!aPping The !
hands, for shaking, jerking, jumping, stamping and
groaning-so well known are all these that we will
pass over them for matters more Immediately con-
nected with our story-and for this purpose will
repair the trystlng of the prosecuted lovers,
who had generally, as now, fixed upon for their |
inter view tho hour Immediately succeeding wor
ship, which allowed the family for attending !
to their individual concerns, and which, therefore,
afforded oppo tuuitv for absence less likely to be
noticed by the Arsus-eyet leaders.
The brond, bright harvest moon, rising ma iestc>
ally the eastern hills, was beginning to pour
down her floods of quiverirg light upon the qnie,
scene--now striking up the taller, then the
shorter shrubbery Of the field, and seemingly con-
vertng its pendant boughs into sIiterng tissues Of
silver-now bursting IN brightness upon the wave.
ess waters of the pond, and now glancing abroad
ipOn The whole OF the surrounding landscape, and
lighting il up with her dim and solemn splendors.
The young man, The first to reach the spot,
TODD pensIyaly leaning against tho trunk of wide
elm standing but short DISTANCE from r
he margin of the water. As the moonlight CLEAN b
across his face, tokens Of deep and struggling g.
,otious were there visibly Gapic:cG-and even a
,ar might occasionally be seen start out and v
thinner on his manly cheek. Presently the white 4
ut;ering robe of a female was seen gancing along 4
mong the obstructing of the orchard, and rap
div gliding towards the spot. In another moment a
he lgh; figure rushed into the open arms of the b
oath, then heads dropped each others t
houldcrs, and for a brief interval not word was
poken. i
ooh Martha, Martha!' at length uttered the '
Dung man in tones of deep and troubled feeling,
nd again was silent .... ... - ......
thee seems much ugtlted to. night, Seth,' SAID a
he girl in meek, Tnquiring manner, after waiting d
while for the other to proceed.
Il am, Martha replied he-'my heart is indeed
led, most sorely tried. o
And why art thee thus disquieted, Sethe again
sked the grl-'and why, she continued, in a 'ono j
tond sxpostulation. 'why hath thee urged me Il
this meeting, when thee knows that am .pot
thout my misgivinss and doubts about commun- "
,g with thee in this manner, and when, also thee
, " ell knows the great risk we both rup Of being
ell cad punished, aud Of being brought To
,ame before people, or in other ieariirl Ways ri
Il know-l know all, Martha, and should be
-ieved to be the means of causing thee trouble at
ut so many things have happened since we met b.
nd had SO MUCH which desired to say to thee,
lat could find it in my heart to go away with n
Ut seeing thee al
eco away Surely! Hast thee we'll considered, e'
ctb?' '..-. ... p
yea, long and deeply. can no longer endure W
10 vile mlsusago l have lately rockwell can no to
niger endure TO be a slave'-a slave to those in
no would letter both the mndt body-i have de
rmined that this night will leave them. re
.But whittier would thee go?-into the wide We
ick cd w"rId? no
.If / thought, Martha, I should find the people ed
the world more wicked than sumo OF those l Ike
all leave behind, l would remain But It Is uot ge
at which now perplexes and troubles me We
ar We nave heen taught Alright, Seth, what is,
ould trouble thee more? ed
tAy. if arig,-but thee knows my opinions Of in
absurdity of our creed, and the f'lsty of hal vi,
nj Is told u.s. No, it is no scruPes OF that KIND, tel
II NV doubts aud fenrs about the reception may ne
Get Win in tha world of whose ways l know SO de
t.Nnlul Il