Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-03-23
THE VILLAGE CHURCH.

THE VILLAGE CHURCH.
It stood on the west side of the green, and be-
hind it and all around it, lay the sleeping villa
gers. They slept WELL Their lives were not
so tempestuous as ours in the world; neverthe-
less, when their work was ended, they folded
their arms more willingly than we do, and went
to their rest. | used to sit on the fence when
was boy, and look over the many mounds, and
wish that the covering might be removed, and
every face restored to the appearance it bore
when the eyes were closed, and the sleep came
down on them. What smiling countenances in
calm and hopeful slumber were they all No
passionate expressions, nor agony-marked fea-
lures, nor murdered men, nor murderers, nor
selfdestroyers, nor any that passed away by rea-
son of mans hatred to man. But each in his
time had fallen on sleep. Maiden and matron,
man and boy, one by one left the field, and the
cottage and the rose-covered porch, and the en-
braces of the loving, and were carried to the fam
lily tyrst in the churchyard.
And how could the church be other than sa-
cred place, when the loved ones lay thus all
around it, Close by the side of the path up to
the door, rested the old Elder who died when
was still boy, and his long grave reminded us
of his giant form as we walked slowly and rev.
erently to the church of Sunday morning.
There has been a grave made by the side of his
since then, and there is one sleeping there who
was the light of the village. Will you listen
while tell you the story?
Elder M'Lean was stern man. Tall, gaunt,
and stout limbed, and with harsh countenance
that frightened the children into submission
You have seen such men. Their religion is not
exactly bigotry, but il is harsh and unpleasant.
They would drive men into heaven by the ter
rors of the law, rather than win them by the
beauties of our holy creed. There are not ma
ny such left. They passed away, am glad to
say, with generation now almost gone, and yet
they were good men in their way, honest,u upright,
manly and firm.
John M'Lean had family of four sons and
one daughter, who had grown up around his
hearth, and who were well worthy of the admi-
ration they received. Three of the sons were
brawny-fsted men. The fourth, Allan, was a
slightly formed boy, with keen, quick black eye
and thoughtful face. The youngest child, Jes-
sic, was like him, and she was maidenly and very
beautiful.
see them now as they used to walk down
the road under the Elm row every Sunday NOR
ming side by side. The others of the family
were married, and had left home before Jessie
was sixteen, and she was her mothers pet and
only companion. Then her mother died, and
was carried to the church-yard and Jessie wept
bitter tears after that John MLean was not a
man to win love from his children. They fear.
ed, but had rone of that affection for him, which
makes home happy. They trembled when he
came in at evening, for his words were seldom
of pleasant things, but he usually found fault
with Jessie, and scolded Allan, and sat gloomily
down before the fire all the evening. At nine
o'clock he called all the household to prayersan
then saw every light in the house put out before
he retired.
One night when the bell was rung for prayer
all were present but Allan, and he was nowhere
to be found. Jessie professed ignorance of his
whereabouts, and none of the servants had seen
him since dark. A frown gathered on the FL.
der's face as he commenced, and his voice was
uncommonly harsh. While he was yet reading
Allan entered and took his seat in silence. His
father paused and looked at him.
"Where have you been, sir, as late as this g
81 have been at Mr. Whites, sir, spending the
evening"
Now Mary White was by far the prettiest girl
in the country except Jessie, and smile passed
over the face of the latter as she heard Allan's
explanation. A smile during prayer time was
objectionable, and the anger of the Elder came
down on both of them in voice of thunder.
Allan had long been growing more and more
impatient of his fathers severity, and his condi.
ton now bordered on madness. | do not com.
mend his course. 1t was wrong, and he bitter.
ly repented it afterward, but let him who con.
demns, remember the palliation. There is nc
agony greater than that which a child experen'
ces from severe father. A parent needs 9
heart as well as head, and if John MLean had
heart, no one ever discovered it.
Allan arose from his chair while his father
was speaking His face was pale, but his eye
flashed insanely. He walked across the room
bowed his lips to Jessie's face and kissed her
and whispered, "Good bye, JESSIE God keeI
you safe . and without look toward his father