The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-12-05

awe-strickcn, under the yoke OF sP""u" ""u '""PV
rnI despotism grinding from generation 10 genera
lion in despair which had passed complaining ne
couss uperstition, in alliance with Tyranny had fill
ed their upwnrd pathway TO Freedom with shapes
orTenor-t tho spcctrcs orGods wrath TO the uiternost
the Fiend and his torment the smoke Of which rises
Moreover Through fear Of u Satan for the future
a sort of bad dog of priescralt held in the leash
and ready to be let loose upon the druers OF It's M
thoity our oing brothers Of past nges hive permit
cd their nhumnn task masters TO convert Coos beau
tiCul world so adorned and fitted for the pence nnd
happiness Of all, into grent prsonhouse OF suffering
filed with tho actual terrors which the Imagination
Of the old poets gave 10 the realm OF Rhadam"hthuS
And hence, while l would not weaken in the slight
est degree the Influence Of that doctrine oiulure ret
,ribu,ion the truth Of which, reason, revelation ana
conscience unto in a,eslng, the necessary result
Of the preservation & continuance in another state oil
existence, Of the souls individuality and identity,
must nevertheless dice that the many no long
or willing to permit the few for their especial benefit,
to convert our Common Fathers heritage into pies
,ent hell where in return for undeseryed suffering
and toll unccmpensated, they have gracious and
comfortable assurance Of reense from future one
Better s the fear of tho Lord than the fear Of the
Devil. IIoler and more acceptable the obedience OF
love and reverence that the crushing submission of
slnvsh terror The heart which has felt the beau
" Of holiness which has been in some measure at
tuned TO the divine harmony, which now as Of old
in the angel hymn Of the Advent, breathes Of glory
to God , peace earth and good will to men,, in the
serene atmosphere ofthat perfect love which throng
-he sick dreams of the sensual which draw aside the
nght,eurtains Of guilt md stnrto with whispers Of
revenge the oPpressor of The poor
There is beautiful moral in one Of Fouquc's min
iature romnnces 'Die Kohlcrfamilie.' The fierce
spectre, which giant like in its blood red man
te before the selfish and mercenary merchant, ever
increasing in size and terror with the growth Of evil
and impure thought in the mind Of the Inter, sub
ducd by prayer and penitence, and patient wachlu-
meas over the hearts purity, became loving and gen
tie visitation Of soft light and meekest melody
beautiful radiance at times lowering and flowing on
before the traveller, illuminating the bushes and (o
ego of the fountain forest--a usre strange and love-
", such as tho soul may conceive, but no words OK
presa lie felt its power in the depths of his being
felt it like tho mystic breathing Of the spirit Of
God!
Il, is confessed of that magician is other
than Dirinorum cultor Ell interpres, studious OBJ
server and 'expounder of things Sir W. Raleigh.
The old tales OF New England wchcraft famil
inr to all shall therefore speak only of some ofthe
more recent manifestations glamour and magic which
have been vouchsu(ed to an unbelievng generation,
which, as KingtJnmes lamenicd in his times main
tans We old orye Saducees ye denying of spir-
lts' give the incidents in the order in which they
occur to my memory
Some forty years ago, on the banks orthe pleas
mt little creek separating Berwick in Me- from Som
ellsworth in N. II. within sight Of my mothers bome
dvelt plain, sedate member OF the society Of
friends, named Bantum. lie passed throughout q
circle Of several miles, conjuror, and skilliul
adept in the art Of magic To him resorted farmers
rwho had lost their cattle matrons whose household
gear silver spoons, and table linen had been stolen,
or Young madens whose lovers absent, and
,hs auie, meek-spirited old man received them all
kindly; put on his hugo iron-rimmed specaccs, open
ed his 'conjuring book, which my neither describes
as large clasped volume in strange language and
black letter type; and after due reflection and cousid-
era,on gave the required without money and
without price. The curious old volume is still in the
possession Of the conjuror's family. Apparently MS
inconsistent rs was the practice OF the black nrt with
Aho simplicity uuthfnness ofhs religious profession
have not been able to learn that he was ever sub
Sected to censure on account Of it.
Still later another member Of the friends society
in Vermont, of the OF Austin, in answer, as he
supposed prayer, and long CHERISHED, desire to
benefit his ofiicted fellow creature, received, he
believed, special gift of healing For several years
applicants from nearly all parts Of New England Wis
tied him with the story of their sufferings and pray
ing for a relief which it is averred was in many cases
really obtained. Letters from tho sick who were un-
able to visit him, describing their diseases, were sent
him, and many yet living who believe that they
restored miraculousy at the precise period Of
ttipe when Austin engaged in reading their let
ters.--One Of my uncles commissioned to con.
vey to him large number of letters from sick per-
sons in his neighborhood. He found the old man
sitting in his plain paror, in the simplest garb of his
sect-grave, thoughtful, venerable-a drnb-coated
Prince Hohenone He received the letters in silence
read them slowly, cast them after another uPor
"A large pile of similar epistles in a ofthe
,pattment.
In the town Of Kingston, N. IT., there lived few
years ago, family Of reputed dealers in magic
There were two poor old sisters who used to fright.