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


leaders were not slew to propose to him 10 Join the
family, and at once take up his residence attheir
establishment.
To this the fellow replied that he had often henrn
say that Tho Shakers a mighty good people,
and he sometimes though, he should like to live
with them but, as he had never seen them before,
ho should like to go round and look at things be-
for he told them sarain about stayiug-and if they
wonld give him something TO cat, and then lei
him 60 .ound where he was n mind to that after.
noon, he would tell them night what he
would do. p
The accordingly soon furnished with
excellent meal, at which he appeared highly
gratiied. After this, free permission having been
granted him for the purpose, he commenced his
rambles over the farm, through the barns, yards
and out-houses inspecting the crops, stock and
ry thing connected wuh the establishment with
childish curiosity and the greatest apparent inter.
est, often leaving the objects of his examination &
running to the shakers 10 ask some question, and
then racing back IN great glec 10 his employment.
When he seemed To have satisfied himself with
viewing every thing out of doors, he went to the
Elders aud told them he wanted to The ,oomen
aoorks. He did not, to be sure he said, think the
women Of much generally but, but, they had
10 get Victuas anu make Tue CLONES, nc
like well to go in and how they carried on a.
whilo.
Although this was contrary to the general custom
, ct tho leaders, conceiving they had the making of
proseire at stake, and evidently viewing the fel
low weak minded harmless creature, soon con
cuded to humor him in this freak they had done
in every Thing else-and, therefore, told him to be-
have we'll, but go where he pleased
Quickly availing himseifof the permission, he
began the rounds of the different femnle lodges,
making however, but brief stay in any one till he
came TO The room where Marina was at work with
the small party other companions. Here no leis-
urely walked round, reviewing with Of won
derng simplicity tho work OF these demure ar,i-
zans making his silly comments, and, usual ask
ing variety of irrelevant questions, and among
the rest the names of all tine different females in
the apartment.
Although ia conversation and condpct of the
stranger went clearly to show him to be n very
great simple ton, ye, there certain something
about him which led the discerning Martha
TO doubt whether he was quite what he pretended
and what the rest Of the family obviously consider
ed him-und that doubt greatly strengthened
in a short time, as looking up. she caught him fix
ing keen, steady, intelligent look upon her face,
entirely at vara nee with the vacant or diotic ex
precision which had seemed 10 characterize his fca-
lures. And il was with of undesirable IN
terest that she the next moment saw him approach
ing her, as he did, with the remark that he
wanted to what this making too.
Accordingly he took up Part OF tho work lying in
her lap, when, he was lourishng il about, un.
der the pretenco Of exam ming it, he silly dropped
n small, closely sealed billet into her open hand
e
per, he threw down her work over her hand, and
W ith the eagerly whispered Injunction, 'Read ard
giUs token, whipped Off to look at something
else which seemed suddenly TO have caught his at
tenton.
Feigning some errand ont, Martha soon and
Disappeared on her way to her private chamber.
In few minutes the stranger returned 10 finish the
inspection of Martha's work, during which, though
as busy and ;alkative ever, he might have been
seen to throw many keen and anxious glauce tow
ards the door through which the fair absentee was
expected to return. AT length she made her ap.
pearance. close observer would have at once
noticed that during absence she had been agiIa.
ted by powerul emotions, and had wept rrofuseIy
and yet through the subsiding shower the first
smile that had lit up her features, while any thing
but dispeasure marked the general expression of
\
On entering the room she went Immediately to
an Edress and, with the air Alone slightly annoy
ed, asked if she had better hint 10 tho the
propriety OF his reiring-and, having receiv-
ed permission to do so, she approached him, and,
with a look which he seemed readily 10 understand
Observed:
'Thy visit he's been very nccep,able,a and Thy CON
munica,iops shall DO heetled-but we think that
now, perhaps, thee would find more to divert thee
among the men in the field
With some careless remarks in good keeping
with the character he had been acting,the man i'm
medinteIy left the apartment and proceeded to tho
fed where The men at work and where, IN
chatting with Them, trying his hand occasionally
at work and rambling over the premises, he spent
tho remainder of the afternoon, apparently highly
delighted with his situation.
When the family assembled for supper, however,
IN. fellow was unaccountably missing but the
Shakers had seeen much of his cratic move
ments mud supposng him sui To be somewhere IL
bout The farm or buildings, did not seem to pay