Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-09-20
From the N. Y. Observer.
A Beautiful Incident.

weeks since, in village Of one Of the
southern counties of our State. 1t was a
warm Sabbath afternoon, and the door of
the church was thrown open Without
The congregation had assembled, and while
the minister was reading the first hymn a
beautiful dove entered the door and came
walking up the m ain aisle.
Such visiter Of course drew universal
attention. But as the choir rose to sing
he seemed startled, and, lifting himself on
his wings, alightcd on the stove pipe above
him, where he sat bending his glossy neck
and turning his head so as 10 catch the
harmony as it swelled through the tenn
pie of God. Whether it was the chorus
Of voices or the full tuned notes Of the or
gan that captivatcd him, cannot tell; but
he sat the perfect picture Of earnest atten-
ton till the music ceased.
Waiting moment as if to hear the strin
commence again, he stated from his perch
and sailed to the top Of the organ, where
he furled his pinions and sat and looked
down on the audience. The clergyman
arose to pray. He is distinguished for the
earnes,ness and fervor. Of bis invocation;
and as he stood with his hands around the
bible which lay clasped before him, hum
bly, beseeching the Father of all good tc
send his. Holy Spirit down, that beautiful
bird pitched from its resting. place on the
org-.., and sailing dow II on level wing the
whole length Of the church, perched or
the bible directly between the hands Of the
clergyman.
L Il was merely natural occurrence, but
how beautiful the picture. There stood
the messenger Of God with face toward
Heaven, pleading Heavens blessings-the
bible before him, around which his hands
were .reyerently clasped, while on it stood
that beautiful and innocent dove. The
three thus together formed a group full Of
interest, apd symbolizirg all that is dear
to man. The word Of God was before the
people, with Gods chosen emblem upon
it, and Gods herald clasping them both
as he prayed.
|, What wonder is It if assaperstitious
feeling ran through the house as the peo-
pie watched that doye-the emblem OF in
nocence and purity and the Divine Spirit
;tself-standing on The bible and looking
gently on them. Beautiful bird, it cen
tered for time the affections Of all on II
and he who could have injured it there,
would have injured hundreds Of hearts al
the same time. The pressure Of its tiny
feet would haye been no sacrilege there,
for the expression of its soft eye was inno-
cence and love. y,
Il The clergyman, feeling the presence Of
the bird, and fearing'it might distract the at
tention Of his hearers, gently passed his
hand over the bible. The dove, unstart-
led, merely hoped over it on the cushion,
where it sat till prayer was ended. 1t then
rose and sailed away In former times the
dove would have been regarded as spir-
itual visitant from the unseen world, sent
on special mission in answer to prayer,
and awakened feeling Of awe and rever-
ence.s sa
To usit was only natural but unusual
occurrence, awakening simply the. senti,
ment Of beauty. 1T y as II new and acct.
dental, figure introduced suddenly into :
beautiful picture, giving, greater .hameny
and perfection to what we deemed perfec
before. There was no religion in it, bu
it was full Of beauty,