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

az fliA ahfAtAs iltlA ARttAifNftt- ~ 'N''''-f'
became a. be grew up, noted among the lam
f iy Cor bis faihlulness, activity and capacity
F Tor business; and. before he had arrived n
/ the age of twenty nc was acknowledged by
| all TO bc one Of the most skilful and ciiicien
hands on the farm. So Ear nothing important
had occurred to him to vary the dull monoto
ny Of the Shaker life. But about this time
Seth began TO think for himself and become
DESTROYS Of acquiring informatlon-a very
great error he was taught TO believe by the
Leaders, who hold that Ignorance is the moth
or of DEVOTION and that the youth and all the
common members Of the family should yield
implicitly to those who are gifted 10 think for
them and instruct them in all that is necessa-
" TO be known. The young man, however
witully persisted in his notions and, by the
promptings of this hcretcal spirit he sought
the acquaintance of two or three young men
of the rorid las all without the pale of the So
ciety are termcd,) who occasionally visited the
establishment for the transaction of business
or from motives of curiosity. Being eager OF
inquiry and quick TO comprehend, he soon
gained information from these which showed
him the ialsty of many of the strange ideas
and impressions he had here mbucd respect
ing society at large, and otherwise afforded
'''' wv ii'huo VI lu'l8luS lIbu NlliNl HC Iid'l
been wholly dcbarrcd for it is the settled pol
ICY of the leaders of this people, in order to
make faithful and contented subjects, not on
ly TO instIl into the minds of their youth the
greatest possible adherence of the world,
which is constantly represented as dishonest,
lIcentous and every way corrupt, but TO guard
with untlring vigilance every avenue Of nfor-
nation that might have tendency to under
min orr lin, ,b,
thus lnculcated. Scth's mind, however, when
once called into action, was Of cast not ca
silly to be thus trammeled and the doubts,
which his own reason at first suggested, being
constantly strengthened by the facts gathered
In his intercourse with these young men, and
the books he borrowed Of them and secretly
read, in spite Of his masters spiritual and tenn
poral, he at length became a confirmed dis
believer in the creed TO which he had been
brought up, and began seriously TO mediate
on the expediency of sundering the ties which
bound him to the society. But before his
views had become very definitely settled on
these subjects, or any plans of future action
matured, the Shaker leaders themselves made
a move which was intended to anticipate or
remedy any evils of the character Just men,
toned that might be growing; for these wa
ry men, who watch the intellectual progress
OF their youth as anXiously as ever did peda-
gogue his pupils, though with far different
motives, began to perceive about this time that
our hero's mind was becoming rather danger
ously expanded; and, although not appiised
OF the means or extent of his information, vet
Judging from what they had noticed that he
could not long be retained without more than
ordinary inducements, they held a secret con-
sultatIon, and finally came to the conc fusion
that Scths merits were such as entitled him
to promotion. Accordingly they proposed,
Unexpectedly to him, to make him an assistant
deacon, or one of the ovcrsccrs Of business,
naming some future day, not far distant, for
HIM to enter on the duties Of his office and be
admitted TO a seat with them in council, which
met from time TO time TO deliberate on the
temporal concerns Of the family. This gave
a new direction TO his thoughts, and for a
while quoted his growing discomfort. Still
extremely anxious, however, to know more of
the world, he soon claimed the privilege OF
going abroad on missions of trade--a priyi~
lcge which he knew was sometimes accorded
TO those exercising the office that had been
offered him. provided they were considered
sufficiently tried and trustworthy but in this
fond wish Of his heart he was Unexpectedly
uooilcu 10 DISAPPOINTMENT, Tor Which he was
indebted, as he soon discovered, 10 the inhu-
cnce of one man, the person whom we have
already introduced as playing the spy upon
the young couple in the orchard. This man,
who went by the appellation Of Elder Hig-
gins, had for sometime manifested towards
Seth an unusual degree Of GOODNESS and dis.
trust, which the latter till now had but little
needed But this last act caused his i'll will
to be heartily reciprocated on the part of the
young man, and circumstances soon occurred
which made the breach irreparable These
circumstances were found to bavc reference
TO third person-the young, innocent and
lovely Martha, towards whom the Elder about
tins time began TO pursue a course Of conduct
as strange as IT was questionable.
Martha had been brought TO this establish
ment when eight or ten years Of age by her
parents, both Of whom at the same time ioin-
cd the family, turning into the common fund
the whole Of the liulc property they possess.
Cd All the acknowledged relations between
parent and child from that moment entirely
cetslng, the little girl was left wholly to the
guidance and instruction Of the elders and cI-
dresses 10 whom the care of the Vouth - in.