The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-07-01

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forest-crowned hills, had other thoughts
than the beauty of the landscape. Their
hearts were with their brothers and
friends their thoughts turned towards
Him who is both able to build and cast
down, before whose altar they were
accustomed to cast all their cares and
troubles.
AS with slow and reverent steps they
filed into the meeting house and took
their seats in the square-pews, it was
easily seen that the greater portion Of
the male part Of the congregation con-
sisted of men advanced in years, and
and boys in their teens. The morning
service passed as usual, and, after a
short intermission the people again
gathered to their places, and the earnest
prayer was then offer d, and sermon,
suited to the exigencies of the times and
the wants of the audience, was COM
lmenced. Suddenly the congregation
were startled by the heavy tramp of a
horse, which rapidly approached and
halted by the Westinghouse door. In
a moment the rider had thrown himself
from the saddle and stood within the
door. Handing note to the aget
deacon who was hurrying down the aisle
to ascertain the cause of this untoward
interruption, with an audibly whispered
injunction to act with speed, he as hastily
mounted and kept on his way.
The deacon cast one glance at the
superscription of the paper, then march
ing reverently up the pulpit stairs, and
placed it in the hand of the minister,
with the same whispered injunction.
Deliberately the old man finished the
sermon aud prayer, then glancing his
eye over the paper, he laid its contents
before the people.
1t was pressing requisition from
Washington for more troops. He was
daily expecting an attack from the com
bined forces of the enemy, and each
town and village was called upon to
furnish what aid they could. After a
few apt and eloquent remarks on the
critical situation of the beloved chieftain, !,
the worthy man continued
4" Let us not be too much cast down J
my brethren. Our cause is that of
truth and justice and righteousness and
strong in these, we shall assuredly
triumph. This business is urgent and
1 trust it will not be deemed derogatory
to our Christian character, Lor an in
fringement upon the holy Sabbath, if
we take such measures as seem most
pressing, to-day Therefore, all who
are willing to take their lives in their
hands, and stand by the side of their
Commander-in- Chief in this hour of
trial, will, after the close of these SER
vices, please range themselves in single
file, upon the village common"
Then, with hands clasped and raised
towards Heaven, he took up the sublime
invocation of David
"Keep not thou silence, o God hold
not thy peace, and be not still
"For 10, mine enemies make a tu-
multi, they that hate thee have lifted upI
the head. ...f. ,-.q ,..... 4. |
"They have taken crafty counsel
against thy people, and consulted against
thy hidden ones. They have said ]
Come, let us cut them off from being a.
nation, that the name of Israel may be
no more in remembrance.
"Let them be confounded and troub-
led forever: yea let them be put to
death and perish.
"That men may know that Thou
whose name alone is Jehovah, art Most
High over all the earth"
There was silence for the space ofI
some moments, and then the strains of
old "Mear," full clear and distinct,
from all parts of the house, rose the
words of the following hymn =
"Attcnd ye armies, to the fight, |
And be our guardian God;
In vain shall numerous foes unite
'Gainst thine uplifted rod. 30
sour troops, beneath thy guiding hand
Shall gain a great renown;
IT'S God that makes the feeble stand,
And treads the mighty down.'~
The deep silence that followed the
was broken by low mur-
nuring of distant thunder, for the white
capped thunder-clouds of the morning
we're climbing with giant strides up the
western sky. Contrary to their usual
'ustom, the people waited in silence
Until their pastor bad descended from
he pulpit and passed down the aisle !;
hen the aged deacons moved forward,
ollowcd BY the congregation in due