The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-11-24

discourse, he preached 10 them ana e&
hOrted with great earnestness, but withou
seeming to make any impression. Not al
amen was heard from any part of th'
house not an eye grew moist /; not an au
dible groan or sigh disturbed the air. Moth
ing responded TO his appeals but the echC
of of his own voice.
Never had the preacher delivered dis
course in which he felt so little freedom -
His words came back upon his ears with I
kind of duh reverberation, as if the heart:
of his hearers were Of ice instead o.
flesh.
Before singing the last hymn, Mr. OdelI
gave out that at the conclusion of the ser
vice he would hold cass-meeting. Al
ter he had foally pronounced the bene-
diction, there was a pretty general move
ment towards the door. Only seven re-
mained, and these were all female men
bers most of them pretty well advanced
| in their lile-iourney. Mr.. Martin was at
meeting, but, ere the preacher had descen-
ded the pulpit stairs, he was out ofthe house
and preparing to leave for home.
"Where is the new preacher going ! as
ked a member of Mr., Martin, as he led
out his horse.
80 sister Russel's, presume
Sister Russell is not here"
Isn't she 2
No. She's SICK
He stayed there last night, suppose,
and will 90 back after class Martin sPrang
upon his horse as he said this.
I'VE ought to be sure of it, remarked
the other.
Il can't invite him home said Martin.
If | do shall have linn through the whole
year, and that is not convenient. The
preachers have always stayed at sister
Russel's, and there is no reason why they
shouldn't continue TO do So
i havn'ta corner to put him in,' remar-
ked the other. Besides these preachers
are too nice for me-
1T is all right no doubt said Martin, as
he balanced himself in his saddle /; all
right. He stayed at sister Russels last
evening, and will go back and stay there
until tomorrow morning. Get up Tom
And with this self-satislying remark, the
farmer rode away. The man with whom
he had been talking, was, like him, mem
Der, and, like him, had omitted to attend
class, in order to shift off upon some one
else, the burden of entertaining the new
preacher for whoever first rendered him
the hospilalilies of his house and table,
would most probably have to do it through
the year. He, too, rode of, and left oth-
ers see that the preacher was duly cared
for.
An icy coldness pervaded the class NEE
ting. Only four out of the seven sisters,
one Of whom was an old black woman,
could muster up courage enough to tell in
answer to the prGaChars call, the dealings
of Providence with their souls: and only
two of them could effect an uttcrance loud
cr than a whisper. What they did say
had in it but little conference: and Mr..
Odell had to content himself with an ex-
horation to each, Of general rather than
of a particular character. When the hymn
was sung at the close, only one thin, whis-
periOg voice, joined in the song of praise,
and not sob or sigh was heard in response
to his prayer. The class paper showed
the names Of thirty members but, here
were only seven! This was rather dis
couraging for a commencement. Mr..
Odell hardly knew what course to take
whether to stir up with some pretty sharp
remarks the little company of believers who
were present. and thus to seek to impress
the whole through them, or, to wait until
he came round again, aud have a good
chance al them from the pulpit. He con-
cludcd, in the end, that the last course
might be the best one,
In calling over the names on the class
paper, he found that sister Russe was alb
sent. On dismissing the meeting, all ex-
cept the old black woman retired. She
| fingered, however, to shake hands with the
new preacher, and to show him that, if she
was old, her teeth were good, aud her eyes
white and lively,