Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-05-30

cDutt III HIS WhtOh QUINN NSOP INV
the hearts of those who listened to him.
Elizabeth found it so mafvellously applica-
BILE to the trials and temptations Of her own
soul, that she almost deemed it was spoken
on purpose for her. She said nothing Of
this, but she pondered upon it deeply. Thus
did few days of united duties make them
more thoroughly acquainted with each 9th
er than they could have been by years Of
fashionable intercourse.
The young preacher soon after babe fare
well, to visit other meetings in Pennsylvan-
ia and New Jersey. Elizabeth saw him no
more until the May following, when he
stopped at her house to lodge, with numer-
Gus other Friends, on their way to the Quar-
terly Meeting at Salem. In the morning
quite cavaicade started from her hospiia-
Bile door, on horseback, for wagons were
then unknown in Jersey. John Estaugh,
always kindly in his impulses, busted him
self with helping lame and very ugly old
woman, and left his hostess to mount her
horse as she could. Most young women
would have felt sighted but in Blizabeth's
noble soul the quiet deep tide Of feeling rip
pied with am inward Joy, 'He is always
hiuuCot W tuC pun anu tiC uCRiCNtCu, tuO l
She Verify he is good youth She was
leaning over the side of her horse, to adjust
the buckle Of the girth, when he came up
OH horseback and inquired if anything was
out of order. With slight confusion and
voice less calm than her usual utterance,
she replied, Nothing, Friend John; was
merely looking to see if Joseph had buck
led the grth securely They trotled along
leisurely behind the procession Of guests,
speaking of the soil and climate of this new
country, and how wonderfully the Lord had
here provided home for his chosen people
Presently the girth began to slip, and the
saddle turned so much on one side, that
Elizabeth was obliged to dismouns. II took
some time TO re-adjust it, and when they
again started the company were out of sight
There was brighter color than usual in the
maiden's cheeks and unwonted radiance in
her mild deep eyes. After a short silence,
she said, in a voice slightly uemulous,
Friend John, l have subject Of great i'm
portance on my mind and one which nearly
interests thee. am strongly impressed
that the Lord has sent thee to me as a part
ner for life l tell thee my impression
frankly, but not without calm aad deep re-
Election; for matrmony is holy relation
and should be entered into with all sobfiety.
IL thou hast no light on the subject, wilt thou
gather into the stiffness, and reverenty lis
ten to thy own inward revealings? Thou
art to leave this part Of the country to NOR
row, and not knowing when l should see
thee again, felt moved to tell thee what
lay upon my mind
The young man was taken by surprise /;
though accustomed to that suppression of
emotion, which characteristics his religious
sect, the color went and came rapidly in his
face, for moment; but he soon became
calmer, and replied, This thought is new to
me, Elizabeth; and have no light thereon.
Thy company has been right pleasant to me,
and thy countenance ever reminds me Of
William PENIS title page, Innocency with
her open face have observed, too, that
thy warm-heartedness is tempered by most
excellent discretion and that thy speech is
ever sincere. Assuredly, such is the maid
en- would ask Of the Lord, as most prec-
ious gift but never thought ofthis in con-
nexion with thee. came TO this country
solely on religious visit, and it might dis
tract my mind to entertain this subject at
present When have discharged the du-
ties of my mission, we will speak further"
1T is best So rejoined the maiden, but
there is one thing disturbs my conscience
Thou hast spoken Of my true speech and
yet, Friend John, have deceived thee, even
now, while we conferred together on sub
ject so serious. know not from what
weakness the temptation came; but will
k.Io I 4
looking TO see if Joseph bucked the girth of
my horse securely; but, in plain truth, ]
was loosening the girth, John, that the sad
die might slip, and give me an excuse to fall
behind our friends; for | thought thou
wouldst be kind enough to come and ask if
! needed thy services
This pure transparency Of motive seemed
less wonderful to John Estaugh than il
would to man more accustomed to world
ly ways, or less familiar with the simplicity
of primitive Quakers. Nevertheless, the
perfect guilelessness of the maiden endear-
ed her to his honest heart, and he found il
difficult to Danish from his thoughts the i'm
portant subject she had suggested. 1t was
observable in this singular courtship, that no
mention was made Of worldly substance
John did not say, i am poor, aud theu ar,
rich;' he did not even think Of it. And il
had entered Eizabeth's mind only in the
form Of thankfulness TO God that she was
provided with home large enough 70,
both.
They spoke 40 further concerning theil
union : but when he returned to England, IL
July, he pressed her hand allectionateiy, al
he said, Farewell, Elizabeth. If it be thu
Lords will, ] shall return to thee soon' II,