The North-Carolina standard., 1845-05-21
4sf tsJJtft 81 Ss{EsfIf-
"A CHRISTIAN COLONY.
BY I. MARIA aCHILD,l

its worldly pilgrimage, have often been bestowed
| by those who were poor, both in money and IN
fteileetual cultivation. Among these donors,
particularly remember avhard-porking, aneoucat-
ed mechanic, from Indiana or Illinois. He told
me that he was one Of thirty OF forty New Eng
landers; who, twelve years before, had gone out
to- sehie in the Western vilderness- They were
neighbors;o and had been drawn to unite together
in emigration from general unity of opinion on
various sui jects. For some wears previous, they
had been in the habit Of meeting occasionally al
each others houses, to- talk ;over their dnfits to
God and men, in rail- simplicity of heart Their
library was the gospel, their. priesthood the in
ward light. 5rrti -..s.. ~ s-,~ .srs s,--
Rich in spiritual culture4 this little band started
foEs the~Far West Their inward homes were
blooming gardens; they made their Outward in
wiidternfss. Fhey were industrious and frugal,
and all things prospered under their hands Bot
soon wolves came near the fold, in the shape, Of
reckless, uhprincipled adventures; believers in
force and. cunning, and who acted according to
their creed The colony of practical Christians
spoke Of their depredations in terms of gentlest
remohstTance, and repaid them with unVarying
kindness. They went fafther-they openly an
nounced, ' You may do US what evil you choose
we will return. nothing but good" Lawyers
came into the neig ghborhood and offered their SER
vices to settle disputes. They answered, /" We
you iRthe most friendly spirit but for as; your
occupation hasceased to exist" -" What will ye
ldo, rascals burn your barns, and steal your har
vests2" We will return good for evil We
believe this is the highest truth, and therefore the
best fxpediehcy"'
When the rascals heard this, they considered it
a marvellous good joke, and said and did many
provoking things, which 10 them seemed witty,
Bars were taken down in the night and cows let
into the corn6elds The Christians repaired the
damages as well as they could, put the cows in
the barn, and at twilight drove them gently home
tsaying Neighbor, your cows have been in my
field. have fed them we'll during The day, but
would not keep them all night lest the children
should suffer for their milk" - ....-.
If this was fun, they who planned the joke
found no heart to laugh at it. By degrees visi-
BILE change came over these troublesome neigh
bors. They ceased to cut off horses tails and
break the legs of poultry Rude boys would say
to younger brother, Don't throw that stone,
Bhl2 When killed the chicken last week,
didn't they send to mother because they thought
chicken broth would be good for poor Mary l
should think YOU would be ashamed to row stones
at their chickens" Thus was evil overcome with
good till not one was found to do them wiful in
jury. .' So - "-e~
Years passed on, and saw them thriving in
worldly Substance beyond their neighbors, yet be
constable Obtained no fees. The sheriff stammer-
ed and apologized, when he took their hard-earn-
ed goods 10 payment for the war tax. They mild.
ly replied, S'Tis a bad trade friend. Examine it
in light Of conscience, and see if it be not soP
But while they refused opay such fees and taxes,
they were liberal to proverb in their contribu-
tions for all useful ard benevolent purposes
At the end of ten years, the public lands, which
they had chosen for their farms, were advertised
for sale by auction. According to the CUSTOM
those who had settled and cultivated the soil were
considered to have the right to bid it IN al the
Government price, which at that time was 81 25
per acre But the fever Of land speculation then
CHANGED to run unusually high. AdEenturers:I
from all parts of the country were fockngsto the
auction; capitalists. in Baltimore. Philadelphia,
New York, and Boston, were sending agents to
buy up Western lands. No one supposed that ,
custom or equality would be regarded. - 81
The first days sale showed that speculation
ran to. abe verge of insanity. Land was eagerly
bought in at seventeen twenty-five and thirty dol
lars per acre. The Christian colony had small
hopes of retaining their farms AS first setdci i
they had chosen the best land; and -perseveringi
industry had Brought it into the highest 'cHhiva-
ton. It's market value was much greater than
that of the already sold exorbitart prices
In view of these facts they had prepared their
minds for another remove into the wilderness per-
haps, to- be again elected by a similar process.
But the morning, their lot was offered for sale,
they sobser ved, with grateful surprises that their
nelghbors were~eveFy where busy among the |
crowd, begging and xpostulatiNg ;'"Dont bidNon3
selands1 These men have bern Vor king hard
on them for ten years - During all that time they
never did harm 10. man or brute. They are. al
ways ready to give good fol; evil They, are al
blessing 90 any peg bboJhood.f 4swould be sin
and shame To bid en their lands Let, them go at
the Government price, t7.I se2 4e salsJ&rs@e II
TIE saleaeame on 1.-the cultivaters0of' the sofif
offered &f rs, intending to- bid higher if neeessa
ry But among all that crowd OF selfish, ,recf-
less SPECTATORS, not 5'e Bit orer them E Without
opposing voice, The fair acres returned tothem 81
do NOT knew a more femar kabie instance ofeviff
overcome byagood so TIE wfsest pe1iticai econo.
nv lies folded dp ia the tiiaxihis. Of Christ 80
With deI7g hted reverence I listened to this uii-
lettefed backwoodSnan, as he exptained his phi
Iosopffy Of universal foVe. ':as Whas would Won I
said fa'if an fdfes thfeving sagabond came
amoung you resolved to stay, But dete rnihed not
to- work e." e. I" We, wenh give hin. feod swhen
hungry, shelter him lWhen cold, and always treat4
him as a bfot6eE", Would Ypot This process at
tract SUCH scharaetets? How would you avoid
being. overrun with themar G Such charaeieEsd
would either reform or not remain. IT'D us4 !. We
should not speak an p1gry wordso refaseto mins
isler to their necessties; bat we should nyafiab
regard them with The deepest sadness, az we would
guilty, but beloved son This IS harder St the
human soul 70 beaf, than whips OF Pgisonsa They
could moi stand h II am sure they could notss IT.
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