Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-04-02


corrupt, but to guard with untiring vigilance
every avenue of information that might have
a tendency to undermine or diminish the pre-
JUDGES and opinions thus incuca:cd. Scth's
mind, however, when once called into ac-
ton, was of a cast not easily to be thus
trammcled; ahd the doubts, which his own
reason at first suggested, beng constantly
strengthened by the facts gathered in his in
tcrcoursc with these young men, and the
books that he borrowed of them and secretly
read, in spite of his masters spiritual and
temporal, he a, length became a confirmed
disbeicvcr IN the creed to which he had 1eo.i
brought up, and began seriously to mediate
on the experience sundcring the tics which
bound him to the society. But before his
views had become very definitely settled on
these subjects, or any plans Of future action
maturcd, the Shaker leaders themselves
made move which was intended TO antici-
pate or remedy any evils of the character
just mentioned that might be growing for
these wary men, who watch the intellectual
progress Of their youth as anxiousy as ever
did a pedagoguc his pupils, though with far
different motives, began 10 perceive about
this time that our hero's mind was bee oming
rather dangerously expanded; and, although
not apprscd Of the means or extent of his
information, yet Judging from what they had
noticed that he could not long be retained
without more than ordinary inducements,
they held a secret consultation, and finally
came to the conclusion that Seths merits
were such as entitled him to promotion. Ac-
cordinrly they proposed, unexpectedly to
him to make him an assistant deacon, or one
of the Ovcrsecrs of business, naming some
future day, not far distant, for him to enter
on the duties of his Office and be admitted TO
a scat with them in the council, which met
from time to time to deliberate on the tenn
poral concerns of the farsilly. This gave a
new direction TO his thoughts, and for while
quoted his growing discomfort. Still extrc-
mcy anxious, however, to know more of
the world, he soon claimed the privilege of
going abroad on missions of trade-a pri-
vilcge which he knew was sometimes accord
ed 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
doomed to disappointment for which he was
indebted, as he soon discovered, to the in
Thence of one man, the person whom we
have already introduced as plying the spy
upon the young couple in the orchard. This
man, who went by the appcla;ion of Elder
Higgins had for some time manifested towards
Seth an unusa degree ofcoldness and distrus,
whichthc latter till now had but little needed
But this last act caused his i'll will to he hear
lily rcclprocatcd on the part of the young
man, and circumstances soon occurred which
made the breach irrcparablc. These cir
+ cumstancrs were found TO have reference 10
a third person-thc young, innocent and To-
vely Martha, towards whom ne Elder abou,
this time began to pursue course Of conduct
as strange as it was questionable.
Martha had been brought to this establish
mcnt when eight or ten years of age by hei
, parents, both of whom at the same time
joineu the family, turning into the common
/ fnd the whole of the little property ;hcy
possessed. All the ackAowlpl gel relations
between parent and child from that moment
entirely ccasing. the .;lte girl was left Who'll.
" to the guidance and Instruction of the el.
, dcrs and addresses, to whom the care Of tho
youth is intrusted; and, through her docility
and her meek and confiding disposition, she
had readily imbiood the doctrines and, fol
the greater part of her girlhool implicitly
: trusted IN the creed that was taught her. eX
hibitne in her exemplary conduct a brigh
pattern Of all that was esteemed good an'
lovely among the family. But as she vergct
| upon womanhood aud began to give hcrsel
to reilexion, her naturally clear and discrimi
mating mind, moved, perhaps, by the asso
! Citations of her childhood that still hung abou
S her, or the observations she had made upol
S the conduct of some of tho leaders, force
upon her questions and doubts which per
. picked her to answer or solve. These, it j
true, at first though, the pious impulses o
&, hcrtruly devotional heart, were often reject
$ cd as the temptations of Satan but they ii
] often returned TO dsturbthe quiet of her pur
: and gentle bosom, and at length, in spite o
y her strivings to the contrary, she also be
t came, though less decidedly than the yout
e we have described, disbelicver, at least il
a many dogmas of that creed which she ha
been taught to look upon rs nfallble.
b Such was Martha Hilson and it wa
, nothing strange thai two such young person
c of the different sexes as she and Seth, in tn
| daily habit of seeing each other, and pos
sHSSlnn Characters us COnpenldl DIS ilcN WcTt
: in many respects distinguished from thos
Y around them, should attract each others par
G ticular notice. Nor is it much less to b.
wondered At, perhaps, that such notice SHOULD
t be followed by the bringing up of mutua
t sympa,ias in their bosoms; though tina
n these sympahics should be defined and &C
knowlelged by their true name, and mad
, known by reciprocal avowals, was, indec'
at such place, rare occurrence. Blu
r Love is a cunning dcyiSer of occasions; and
\ as dlii al, as it NIGH. be in tins case, lie a
: II ngth found way 1y which tne young comp!
g in question eventually discovered the natur
t of those feelings that were silently DRAWN
their hearts towards each other. Fora Ion
time, however, no word or communicate
ever passed between them, save that whic
v was conveyed in the language of the eye
: But after while the silence was broken, a
d they casually met in the yard, by smpl
>, inquiry for some third person, and as brio
e an answer. This was followed, after anot
!. or interval of perhaps month, when the