Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-04-11

hne when II seems TO be the purpose OF God to
give all his children, both the Just and the unjust,
a holiday; while heaven lends its choicest inhu-
ences to earth, aud smiles from end TO end to see
all creatures glad
have been more happy than Gun tell Let
lis memory come over tho in other desponding
days and dark aud dreary nights, when the Whole
head shall again be sick aud The whole heart faint,
and the sun and the moon aud the stars shall not
give TO me their light let 1t come as token of the
eucr smile that my avn couded breast cannot see
let II come as sign Of the power of HIM in whom
alone live aud move, TO give al any hour perfect
bliss to my thirsllng soul lot ii come to me as |
sweet harbnger of what perchnnce tomorrow
may bring with il let it come as an antepast OF
what eternity shall be, if but trust and hope in
the stormy hour aud follow on through shade
and sun after the light Of that coun,enance whose
reflection have to day brightly seen, in order
that might know that it is that onlY for which
my heart and flesh cry out aud that might
hencetorth never let it 60 from before my longing
eyes.
Early in the afternoon, after primitive md
sweet noon feast, made up OF dainty bis from my
saddle bags and quaff from clear rivulet-the
latter shared with infinite relish by my most com
panionable horse 4 came suddenly upon little
Knot OF buildings, consisting OF three houses
with their complement OF small and rudey CON
sructed sheds for domestic unmuls all closely
clustered together in the midst of a narrow aud
partial entrance.
" IL is singular" thought, &" that see and hear
10 signs of occupancy in the most pleasant and
comfortable OF orcst-abdng places. Where are
the silver haired and trumpet tongued cherul's
that | should have looked for &c be already sur.
rounding and climbing upon The strangers horse
as they poured forth, impelled no less 10y genuine
western hospitality than by childish curiosity, from
the mu|Ium in parvo' OF n backwoodsmans a
bode ? And where are the hale and brown-vis
aged mistresses of the houses of logs ?-queens
of noble bearing of warm and honest hearts, and
of wide domain? And where are the huge dogs
that after long experience Of their harmlessness 10
on open brow, hardly dare TO face, and before
which it would i'll become Il bear 10 stand ! Sure
ly something extraordinary has Unopened to this
little neighborhood, who have nothing to protect
them bat their courage, their honesty and their
God Pray Heaven that it may bu no i'll
spurred forward, sprang TO the ground, cast
the reins freely upon my horses neck, aud enter
ed the open doors of one after another OF the butts
until all had been completely examined and found
to BE- silent and deserted Nothing within them,
however, indicated harm n hurried remove
and feeling assured that those whom sought
could he far off, took the first foo, path that
presented itself; aud went on if perchance to find
them.
Fortunately seleced the right avenue, and af-
ter q british walk of five or ten minutes came upon
the assembled parly. On looking down from
gentle declivity, standing, all uncovered, in
whose locks were long and white, but whose
form was erect aud powerful, and whose face
showed no sign of age it might be score OF en-
igrants, older and younger, male and female IN at
tudes of the protoundest reverence and as vas
easily manifest, engaged in prayer. Instantly my
steps were s,ad The influence OF the scene took
possession of my soul and although could learn
no words of their petition, let my heart so hcar
EDWARDS with theirs, in indefinite but not the ll,s
| true and earnest suppcatiOn.
As soon as n uIe stir in the asseml,nge warned
! me that the spirits of my brethren had come back
| to earth again, stepped carefully down, nnu I'M
! impeded and almost unnocsd, took my stand
| among Them. Immediately The whole mystery OF
| the scene was revealed TO me for heard the old
man who had acted us priest TO kindle the altar OF
their deyoiions say, he spread oui his arms au
! n smile like that which Illuminated the lace oil
Jrsus when he blessed little children, layed upon
| his weather worn cuunlenance: "Let the chudren
he presented for Bnptisn," He was an itInerant
evunueljst whom the SPIRIT led hitler aud lhilher
| among the wanderers ofthe wilderness, 10 publish
| sweet lidings of salvation; To break the bread OF
life 10 pour out the cup of blessing, and place Me
seul of the Good Shepherd upon the ioreheads OF
his scattered lambs, so that not one OF them should
, be lost. 80
Three fathers in turn presented each their chill
drep TO the holy man und he dipped his finger
into natural basin of rock, into which the over
flowing drops of n perennial! spring, clear as nno-
cence ITSELF trickled down, and sprInkled the sym
bolical water upon their heads; aud looking ~
to heaven, he raised his hand thl'her"nrn IRON
off each up turned and sunny brow, repealed the
deeply significant and soul moving words dlvlnely
apponcd for the sucred rite: III bapiize Thee in The
name of The Father, and Of the Son, and q the Holy
Ghost, .4men."
And now, two of the grateful sires, as soon as
thew had offered their children--who seemed tc
feel if something m, serous and holy and yet mos
i.,,ll Al, nal N Ilpm-lpu
L TO the side of their mothers, who silent and sub
: dued had waited apart al little distance Will
thrilling interest for the issue OF Inc sacred WORK
j One Of the fathers with his three sons remained
looking for tho third mother 10 come up, VINO
: carefully unfolding the clean white dfapery whlcl
= enyeloped the tenderes aud fuires OF her precious
Jewels, placed an infant OF but few days ago ii
! The arms of the holy man while he with feel
: ing of reverence us if he were dealing with al
= uiltaeu angel, just rutied The water IN the bow
y OF rock, aud raised his hand lremulous from tn
. sincerity of his interest," TO place me mystical slS
n net upon brow that reflected the pu'i'y oil heav
= ell
n Every eve was instantly fastened on him, AM
d every heart was altogether gone out TO him. Blu
:. his hand remained lifted OH high; an asly pale
+ ness spread over his check, aud pausing for on
IS moment to command his evdentlal agonze
n emotions, while we all Stood GREATNESS III o''tef
Al est SUSPENSE at length calInness and tenderness
of tone that could not fail 10 still the most ten
i pesteous grief instead Of the wonied baptisnit
IT words he calculated, us Inc gave back Tie soul
Il less body to the bosom of the awe stricken moth
II er: "Thc Lord gave, and The Lord hath taken a'0al
a and blessed be his holy name
Is Dandies are some fools in The worl
q who, alter long ncubalion viii latch out iro'
d a hot bed OF pride a sickly brood OF fuzzy idea
N and then 20 strulting along the path OF ponpos
J. ,y with ali the self importance OF a sreckled he
l. with black chicken have entipathy TO su c
" people, They are mere walking sticksio iema
es flirls- ornameuled with brass heads, did say
Sc No! their capuis are only half ripe musk melon