The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-04-27
MAGNETISM AMONG THE SHAKERS.


i
tbare ia a moral mower. analogous TO some chem
ical test which ELECTS from every form OF hu-
mqnity whatever OF sweet and genla Is IN 1t
Our yisiter was an old acquaintance, and an old
member Of his order, having joined 1t more than
forty years ago with his wife and two chlldren'
| have known marked individuals among these
people, and yet it surprises me when see an
original stamp OF character, surviving the extln-
gushing monotony of lite, or rather suspended
animation among them. What God has Impress
ed man cannot ehace. To chid's eye, each
leafof tree is like the other; to philosophers,
each has its distinctive mark.
Our friend WIS individuality might have struck
careless observer. He has nothing OF the
gular, crusty, silent aspect OF his yea and nay
brethren, who have a perfect conviction that
they have dived to the bottom of the we'll and
found the pearl truth, while all the rest of the
world look upon them as the bottom of well in.
deed; but without the pearl, and with only SO
much light as may come in through the little
aperture that communicates with the outward
world Neither are quite right; the Shaker has
no monopoly of truth or holiness, but we believe
he has enough OF both to light dusky path to
heaven. Friend W 10 a man of no preten-
sion whatever; but content in conscious medioc-
rlty. We were at dinner WHEN he came in; but
friend W is too childlike or too simple, TO be
disturbed by any observance of conventional po-
ing he had eaten and was not hungry, and seated
himself in the corner, after deposiung some APP
pies on the table, OF rare size and beauty.
81 have brought some notions, too" he said,
"for you B. and lie took from his ample
pocket his handkerchief, in which he had tied up
parcel OF sugar plums and peppermints. B
accepted them most affably, and without any APP
parent recoiling, shifted them from the old mans
handkerchief to an empty plate beside her.
"Half OF them" he said, remember, B, are
TOR -. You both played and sung to me last
SUMNER don't forget it, She is likely wo-
man, and makes the music sound almost as good
when was young This was enthusiasm
in the old Shaker but to us it sounded strangely,
who knew that she who had so kindly conde-
scended to call back brother WIS., youth, had
held crowds entranced by her genius. Brother
WI is a genial old man, and fifty years of alb
stinence from the worlds pleasures has not
made him forget or contemn them. He resem-
bes the jolly friars in conventual life, who never
resist, and are therefore allowed to go without
bits or rens, and in d very easy harness. There
is CALLING in restraint where there is no
desire for freedom. 1t is the s'immortal long
ings'' that make the friction in life. After din
ner, B, at brother WIS request, sat down to
the piano, and played for him the various tunes
that were the favorites in rustic inland life forty
years ago. First the Highland Reel, then
'Money Musk" 81 remember who | danced
that WITH" he said 'Sophy Drury. The ball
was held in the school room at Feeding fields
She is tight built, and cheeks as red as rose.
(past and present were coniounded in broth
er WIS. imagnaton.) went home with Sophy
it was as light as day, and near upon day.
them was pleasant times" concluded the old
man, but witt out ope sigh of regret, and with a
CLEAN OF light from his twinkling grey eve
"There have been no such pleasant times since,
brother W, has there % asked B.. with
assumed or real sympathy. 81 can't say that
B, it has been all along pleasant i have
had what others call crosses, but don't look at
them that way-whats the use B-w
The old mans philosophy struck me. There
was no record OF cross in his round iolv'tace.-
severe you married." | asked, "when you Joined
the Shakers?" sob, yes; | married at twen.y-
it's never too soon nor too late to do right, YOU
know and it was right for me to marry according
TO the light had then. Nav be YOU think it
was cross to part from my wie-all men
don't take it so-but own should; liked Eu-
nice. She is peaceable woman, and we lived
in unity, but it rather hard times, and we
felt call 10 join the brethren, and SO we walked
out of the world together, and took our two chill.
dren with US. In the society she was the first
woman handy in all cases. "And she is still
with you:" "No. Our girl took notion and
went off, and got married, and my wife went al
ter her-thats natural for mothers, you know.
81 went after Eunice, and tried to persuade
her to come back, and she felt so; but its hard
roofing out mother love; it's planted deep, and
spreads wide; so | lett her to nature, and trou-
bled myself no more about it, for what was the
use! My son, too. took liking to young Eng
lish girl that was one of our sister-rnay be YOU
have seen herr" We had all seen her and adj.
mired her fresh English beuaty and depIored
her fate." Well, she was picture, and speak.
ing after the manner of men, as good as she was
handsome. TheySwent off together: could not
much blame them, aud took no steps after
them-for what was the use i! But come, B
strike up again; play Haste to the wedding -
b obeyed, and our old friend sang or chant
ed a low accompaniment; in which the dancing
tune, and the shaker nasal chant were ludicrous.
iy mingled. B played all his favorite airs.
and said, 'You do love dancing, brother W-.''
eyes, to be sure-'prase him in the cymbals and
dances!''
''Oh, but mean such dances as we have here.
Would not you like, brother W., to come over
and see us dancer"
"Why, may be | should.'
"And would not you like to dance with one OF
our pretty young ladies', brother W-3''
'sMay be | should;" the old mans face lit up
joyously-but he smiled and shook his head
'they would not let me, B., they would not
let me-" Perhaps the old shakers ina gination
wandered for moment from the very straight