The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-04-19

me never forget this day. Let its memory como
over me in other Responding days and dark and
dreary nights, when the whole head shall again
bo sick aud the whole heart faint, and the sun mud
the moon and the stars shall not give TO me their
light; let il come token of the smile that
my own conded breast cannot then see; let 1t
come as sign Of the power of HIM in whom alone
live aCd move to give at any hour perfect bliss
10 my thirsting soul; let il come TO me az n sweet
harbnger OF what perchance to morToso may bring
with il; let il come as an antepast OF what eternity
shall be ,if but trust and hope in the stormy hour,
and follow on through shade and sun after the
light Of that counienance whose reflection have
to day brightly seen, in order mat might know
that il is that only for which my heart and flesh do
cry out, and that might henceiorlh never let it 60
from before my longing eyes!
Early in the afternoon after primalivo and sweet
noon feast, made up dainty Bit from my sad
die bags and quaT from clear rivuet--ie latter
shared with infinite relish by my most compan.
lonrbe and temperate horse-l came suddenly up.
on "A little knot Of buildings consisting of three
houses with their Implement of small and rudely-
constructed sheds for domestic anmals all closely
clustered together in the midst Of narrow and
partial clearance.
"It is singular" I thought, "that see and hear
no signs of occupancy in this most pleasant and
comfortable of forests abiding places. Where arc
the silver hard and trumpet ongued cherubs that
should have hooked for 10 be already surround.
ing and climbing up the strangers horse they
poured forth, impclied no less by genuine western
hospitality than by childish curiosity, from thesmul
tnm in paIvo oi n bickwoodsman abode? And
where the hale and brown visage mlstresses of
these houses Of logs ?queens of noble bearing, of
! warm and honest hearts, and of wide domain? And
where are the huge dogs, that even after long
! periencc Of their harmleSsness TO open brow
hardly dare TO face, and befnre which il would i'll
become bear 10 stanf? Surely something extra
ordinary has happened to this little ghborhood
who have nothing 10 protect them bu, their courage,
their honesty and their God. Pray Heaven that IL
! be no ILL?
spurrcd 70 rward, sp,ang TO the ground cast
the reins freely upon my horse neck, and entered
the open doors o. one after another Of the huis,
until all had been completely examined and found
To be silent and deserted. Nothing within them,
however, indicated harm hurried remove
and feeling assured that those whom sought could
not be far of, took the first loot-path That
ted itself, and went on if perchance 10 find them.
| Fortunately selected the right avenue, and after
a brisk walk of five len minutes came upon the
assembled party. On looking down from a gentle
| ACTIVITY saw standing, all uncovered, in easy
and graceful group around an old man (whosc locks
were long and white, but whose form was erect
| and powerful, aud whose face showed signs Of
age) il might be Of cmigrants, Older and
younger. male aad female, in attitudes of the pro-
oundest reverence, and, easily manifest,
engaged in prayer. Instantly my steps were stad
| The Influence of the scene took possession of my
SOUL and although could learn words of their
petition,I let my heart go heavenwasd with theirs,
IN indefinite; but not the less true and earnest sup
| plicatiun
! AS soon n little sir in The asscmblage warned
me that the spirits ofmy brethren had come back
10 earth again, stepped carefully down and unim
pcded and almost unnoticeG, took my stand among
them. Immediately the whole mystery of the scene
was revealed TO me; for heard the old man who
had acted priest 10 kindle the altar oftheir devo
lions, say, as he spread out his arms, and smile
like that which illuminated ME face OF Jesus when
he blessed little children, played upon his weather
worn counienance. 'Let The children be present.
cd for BAPTISM. lie was an itnerant evangelist
whom the SPIRIT led hither and thilher among the
wanderers of the wilderness, to publish sweet ii.
d'ngs Of salvation to break the bread of life to
pour out the cup of blessing, and place tho seal of
the Good Shepherd upon the foreheads Of his scat.
tered lambs, SO that Of them should be lost
Three fathers in turn presented each their chill
dren TO The holy man and he dipped his finger in
TO natural basin OF rock, into which the overflow
ing drop of perennial spring clear innocence it.
sell, .rickled down, and sprinkled the symbolical
water upon their heads and looking up to heaven.
as he raised his hand thiherward from off each up
turned and sunny brow, repeated the deeply sgnifi
cant and soul sring words divinely appointed for
the sacred rite: 81 baptise thee in the name of the
Father, md Of the SonS- cfthc Holy Ghost .4men''
And now two OF the grateful sres as soon as
they had offered their children who seemed 10 feel
MS IT something mysterious and holy, and yet most
happy had been done unto them-led them back
10 the side of their mothers, who, silent and subda
cd, had waited apart at little distance with thlh
ling interest for the issue of the sacred work
One Of The fathers with his Two sons remained
looking for the third mother TO come up, who care
fully unfolding the clean white drapery which en-
veloped the farest and tenderest Of her precious
jewels, placed infant of but few days age in the
arms of The holy man white he, with a feeling Of
reverence, as il he were dealing with an unfiiiIen
angel just rufled the water ia the bowl Of rock and
raised his hand, teniulous from The sincerity OF his
interest, to place the mystical signet upon brow
that reflected the pnrity of heaven.
Every eye was intentIy fastened on him, and es
cry heart was altogether gone out 10 him. But his
hand remained lifted up on high; an ashy paIeness
spread over his cheek and pausing for one mo-
ment to command his evidently agonzed emotions,
while all stood brea,hIess IN bterest suspense,
at length calmDess and tenderness Of tone that
could not fail To still the most temp estuous grief in
stead the wouted baptismal words, he circulated,
he gave back the souliess body to the bosom Of
the awe stricken mother: s'THE LORD GAVE, AND
THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY AND BLESSED b &c
HIS HOLY NAME!' t-a HN.aJ
a sccret for q Fan mers fife While the milk.
ing of your cows is going on, let your pans be ra>
ced in kettle of boiling watar. Strain the milk
into one Of the pans taken hot from The kettle and
cover the same with another of the hot pans, and
proceed in like manner with the whole mess OF
milk, and you will find that you will have double