Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-04-02
From the New World.
II II Z s HAk Err Low Err s.
By THE AUTHOR OF THE GREEN NOUN
TAN Boys 'MAN MARTINI &c.

| was once, upon warm summer after
noon, journeying on horseback in that wild
and picturesque tract of country in New
Hampshire which borders on the uppor por
ton of the mountain born Mcrrimac, when
dark thundcr-c cloud, that had been gather
ing unperceivcd by me in the distance, rose
up suddenly from behind the screening hills,
apprisng me at once, its threatening aspect,
and the rapidity with which it was rolling
towards me, that thorough drencliing was
only to be avoided by an immediate flight TO
some place of shelter.
Applying the spur, therefore, | put my
horse to ms best speed, and fortunately sue
cecdcd in reaching substantial looking farm
house by the roadside just as the big, bright
drops of rain, as if SHAKEN down BY the
crashing peal of thunder that heraldcd their
descent, came merrily dancing to the smok-
ing earth.
| While standing in the open shed that had
been so lucky as to in, listeningto the roar
Of the elements, and marking that almost
terrific snblimty with whcha thunderstorm
! in the mounains becomes invested, the ow-
, nor OF the establishment, fine. lalc-looking
man offorty. came out, and very courteous
! ~ invited me into The house, adding, at the
same time. tha, he thought, from the unpro-
missing appearance Of the clouds, might as
well make up my mind at once to remain
with HIM through the night.
As it was then lite in tic afternoon, and
hc ram still continued to pour down, with
Y7ine prospect OF abating in time for me to
resuu," my journey before dark, lsoon con-
t1Lded t. accept the pro'ltrrd hospitality
when was Immediately usbcrrd in By my
kind entertainer, and Introduced TO his in
tercSling family AS a stranger who had con-
cuded to accept their poor fare for the night,
had already been struck with the APP
pearancc Of thrift and good management in
every thing about this establishment without
and my admira'ionwas low equally awakened
by the neatncss and rustic tast of all within,
and the quiet and order with which the f,mily
concerns seemed to be conducted under the
comtly and engaging mat o1s | remember
eve. to have seen. very soon discovered
my host to he man Of much native shrewo-
rcss, and Of fixed and wcll-iolmcd opinions
on almost all subjects that presented them
selves; and these qualities, united with a
spice of s., hunor and good tact for de-
scription, failed not to impart high degree
Of piquancv and interest to his conversation.
.ittcr the rXcclen: supper, with which we
were soon favored, was over, the household
affairs regulated, and the smaller children
disposed Of for the night, the amiab!c mis-
trcss of the house took her knitting work
and joined us in the si:ting-room, adding a
still further interest to the CONVERSE by her
quiet presence, and the wcl!-,imcd and per-
tincnt remarks which she occasionally threw
in on the different subjects that were intro
duccd. The conversation at length turned
pn the Shakers, an establishment Of whom
| had visited that very morning. Pcrcrivng
that MY host appeared to dissent from some
general remark had made in praise of that
Singular society, turned to him and said:
"Iou believe them to he an industrious,
quiet and very honest people, surely, do
you not, sir,
"lndustrious and quie, enough, doubtless,
and just as honest as Other people, but not ii
win, more so," he replied.
"Why, had supposed thcm,' reioined
mot only peculiarly homes, and sincere, but
in great degree devoid Of all those passions
and vices that most move and agitatc the rest
Of society,""
'tn that IN the exterior they generally
present., great you; but are you willing to
ta..s at us a criterion Of their true charac-
Il, 2 .e asked.
"Weli, sir, could you lift the curtain, and
see all that this sober and wonderfully honest
exterior is sometimes made to conceal, YOU
might perhaps be a little less inclined to en-
cmpt them from common feelings and fail
ties 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 do Mt, husband ~ interrupted my
hostess, with doprccating look.
SONY by way of argument" briskly re.
piled the man, casting an arch look at the
other. 81 want to show him that love ant
intrigue may sometimes be found under
broad brim as well as narrow one"
sob! pray let US have il; 60 on--go on
by all MEANS" eagerly interposcd, delight
ed a, the novel idea of a love story from sucl
an unpromising source as that of the S,akin,
Quakers.
With another roguish glance at his slight,
disturbed ouah now acquicscent companion
my host, after brief pause, began:
= ltw"s delightful evening in the month o
October, and the SETTING sun was THROWN!
his parting beams over iae yellow forests o
l. the surrounding upauds, whose FURNISHED
y foliage threw back the mnging streams o
reflected light, and spread red, quverin,
glow over the Masonry and the beautiful
meadows that lie stretched along its shores
y Nearly the whole of the Shaker family, mum
- bering al that time something less than hun
- dred were in the field "a short distance from tn
. pond, engaged in gathering the rare fruit 0
: their extensive orchards-the women, vii
= their hand-baskets, picking the choicer kind
e TOR market or winter preservation, and tin
= men ga'h ring and conveying to the teams
IL stationoc 81 Hero points of the fiel' :
the purpose, 'hat part Of the fruit wnicn va